Growth pattern of the tropical sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, under captivity
Abstract
The growth of the juvenile sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, was studied under captivity to elucidate the growth variation pattern and determine the best-fit growth model to estimate age- and size-specific growth rates. Individual growth was extremely variable, with some individuals below the mean initial weight and some expanding their original body length (L) and weight (W) by up to 6.4 and 156 times, respectively; during 84 days of culture starting at 127 days of age. Some of the smallest individuals showed a higher condition factor than larger individuals in the presence of ample food, indicating that lack of food may not be the only impediment to growth. Among the three growth models compared (von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and logistic), the Gompertz model was considered optimal to express H. scabra growth; both in L and W. The age- and size-specific daily growth rate for L and W up to 365 days of age, as estimated by the Gompertz model, had a range of two and nine orders of magnitude in L (0.035 – 0.96 mm/day) and W (3.4 × 10-7 – 3.5 g/day), respectively. Use of the Gompertz model over the linear model, which tends to overestimate growth rates, is encouraged to estimate the growth of H. scabra more accurately.
Citation
Watanabe, S., Sumbing, J., & Lebata-Ramos, M. J. H. (2014). Growth pattern of the tropical sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, under captivity.Publisher
Ministry of Tropical Agricultural Research CentreSubject
Acknowledgment/Sponsorship
This study was funded by the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS).
Collections
- Journal Articles [1070]
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Conference paper
Role of growth hormone in the adaptation to sea water of juveline brown trout, (Salmo trutta)
- In CL Marte, GF Quinitio & AC Emata (Eds.), Proceedings of the Seminar-Workshop on Breeding and Seed Production of Cultured Finfishes in the Philippines, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines, 4-5 May 1993, 1996 - Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development CenterThe first part of the study investigates the ability of ovine growth hormone (oGH) to enhance the hypo-osmoregulatory and growth performance of juvenile brown trout after exposure to sea water (SW). Three groups of fish were either intraperitoneally implanted with cholesterol pellet (sham) or with a cholesterol pellet containing 250 µg oGH (treated) or not implanted (control). While still in fresh water (FW), gill Na+/K+ATPase activity of the oGH-treated group was four times higher than that of sham and control groups. Exposure to SW resulted to dramatic increases in plasma electrolyte levels of the sham and control groups, whereas the oGH-treated group showed only minor perturbations in plasma electrolyte concentrations. Further increases in gill Na+/K+ ATPase activity were observed in the oGH-treated group after SW exposure, while in the sham and control, a lag time of seven days was needed before gill ATPase activity started to increase. Additionally, by the end of the experiment, oGH-treated fish were significantly larger than non-treated ones. The second part of the study examines the time course of changes in plasma GH levels and GH free binding sites and affinity of the organs involved in osmoregulation in juvenile brown trout kept in FW or exposed to SW. Plasma GH levels increased significantly one day after SW exposure, reaching a peak on the 14th day. Concomitantly, GH free binding sites in the gills and liver decreased significantly in trout exposed to SW but remained unchanged in trout kept in FW. Reduction in GH free binding sites in SW-exposed trout indicates occupation of the gill and liver GH receptor by GH during the course of SW adaptation which may point to a direct role of GH on gill and liver physiology during hypo-osmoregulation. The second part of the study examines the time course of changes in plasma GH levels and GH free binding sites and affinity of the organs involved in osmoregulation in juvenile brown trout kept in FW or exposed to SW. Plasma GH levels increased significantly one day after SW exposure, reaching a peak on the 14th day. Concomitantly, GH free binding sites in the gills and liver decreased significantly in trout exposed to SW but remained unchanged in trout kept in FW. Reduction in GH free binding sites in SW-exposed trout indicates occupation of the gill and liver GH receptor by GH during the course of SW adaptation which may point to a direct role of GH on gill and liver physiology during hypo-osmoregulation. -
Article
Impact of AMPEP on the growth and occurrence of epiphytic Neosiphonia infestation on two varieties of commercially cultivated Kappaphycus alvarezii grown at different depths in the Philippines
-Journal of Applied Phycology , 2011 - SpringerTwo varieties of the carrageenophyte Kappaphycus alvarezii (Tungawan, TUNG; and Giant tambalang, GTAM) from Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines were used to test the efficacy of Acadian Marine Plant Extract Powder (AMPEP) as source of nutrients for growth, and to determine if applications had any effect on the percent occurrence of an epiphytic infestation of the red alga Neosiphonia sp. at four different depths in the sea. Results showed that the use of AMPEP significantly (P < 0.05) increased the growth rate of both Kappaphycus varieties tested but decreased the percent occurrence of Neosiphonia sp. The percent occurrence of Neosiphonia sp. infection (6–50% at all depths) of both Kappaphycus varieties with AMPEP treatment was significantly lower than the controls (i.e., 10–75% at all depths). Both the growth rate of the cultivated seaweed and the percent occurrence of the epiphytes decreased as the cultivation depth increased. Plants dipped in AMPEP and suspended at the surface had the highest growth rates (i.e., 4.1%, TUNG; 3.1%, GTAM) after 45 days; those without AMPEP dipping had the highest percent occurrence of Neosiphonia infection (viz. 70–75%). The occurrence of Neosiphonia infestation was found to be correlated with changes in irradiance and salinity at the depths observed. The results suggested that both varieties of K. alvarezii used in this study have the fastest growth rate when grown immediately at the water surface. However, in order to minimize damage caused by the occurrence of epiphytic Neosiphonia, K. alvarezii should be grown within a depth range of 50–100 cm. These observations are important for the improved management of Kappaphycus for commercial farming. Furthermore, the use of AMPEP treatments for enhancement of growth and reduction deleterious Neosiphonia sp. infections is encouraging. -
Conference paper
Reviews and recommendations on current and future research activities for the biological investigations on milkfish
- In Proceedings of the International Milkfish Workshop Conference, May 19-22, 1976, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines, 1976 - Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development CenterPresented in this paper are the recommendations on current and future research activities for the biological investigations on milkfish (Chanos chanos). Included were the bahavior and bio-ecology of milkfish in the wild. It also tackled the protocols in transporting broodstocks.
