Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.17820/eri.2015.2.1.064

Development of Ecologically Suitable Habitat Model for the Sustainable Sea Cucumber Aquafarm  

Oh, Yoon Wha (Research Institute for Coastal Environment & Fishery-Policy Center)
Kang, Min-Seon (Research Institute for Coastal Environment & Fishery-Policy Center)
Wi, Jin Hee (Research Institute for Coastal Environment & Fishery-Policy Center)
Lee, In Tae (Research Institute for Coastal Environment & Fishery-Policy Center)
Publication Information
Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure / v.2, no.1, 2015 , pp. 64-79 More about this Journal
Abstract
We investigated the tidal current, hydrographic data, and benthic environment of major sea cucumber (Holothuroidea, de Blainville, 1834) habitats in Baengnyeongdo, Jindo and Uljin to understand the optimal environmental or ecological habitat for sea cucumbers. The three study areas were characterized by a cold-water mass of temperatures ranging $12{\sim}18^{\circ}C$, with an active circulation between the surface and deep waters. According to an analysis of the tidal current map, a strong flow velocity of $100{\sim}120cm\;s^{-1}$ appeared in Baengnyeongdo and Jindo. The three sea cucumber habitats showed the common characters of a bottom sediment composed of sand-silt, a diverse seaweed colony and benthic organisms, and boulders and rocks which provide a hideout for the organisms. We aimed to draw the optimal habitat condition for sea cucumbers in Korea, and the result showed that the low water temperature, rapid water flow, active vertical mixing between surface and deep waters, bottom composed by sand-silt, large rocks, and diverse seaweed colony and benthic organism were important factors. The optimal habitat for Juvenile sea cucumbers was the intertidal areas characterized by a muddy bottom, reef, and seaweed. The optimal habitat for adult sea cucumbers was characterized by a place where sand and mud are mixed, and the body size of the sea cucumber was proportional to water depth, and the relatively large boulders and rocks compared to the intertidal area.
Keywords
Benthos; Ecological model; Sea cucumber; Seawater temperature; Seaweed;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Bellchambers, L.M., Meeuwig, J. J., Evans, S. N., and Legendre, P. 2011. Modelling habitat associations of 14 species of holothurians from an unfished coral atoll: implications for fisheries management. Aquatic Biology 14: 57-66.   DOI
2 Choe, S. 1963. Study of Sea Cucumber: Morphology, Ecology and Propagation of Sea Cucumber. Kaibundo Publishing House, Tokyo, Japan. pp. 219. (in Japanese).
3 Conand, C. and Chardy, P. 1985. Are the Aspidochirote holothurians of the New Caledonian lagoon good indicators of the reefal features. Proceeding of the 5th International Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti, French Polynesia. 5: 291-296.
4 FRI. 2014. An Investigation on the Suitable Sites for a Sea Cucumber Aquaculture Island. Fishery Research Institute, Incheon, Korea. pp. 97. (in Korean).
5 Lee, C.S. and Park, Y.J. 1999. Influence of food and density on the growth and survival of sea cucumber, Stichopus japonicus. Journal of Aquaculture 12: 39-45.
6 Motokawa, T., Toru, I., and Isamu, S. 2003. Sea Cucumbers in Japanese Waters. Hankyu Communications, Tokyo. pp. 135. (in Japanese).
7 Park, K.J., Park, Y.J., Kim, S.K., Choi, S.D., Kim, Y.G., and Choi, N.H. 2007. Histological study on the reproductive cycle of Stichopus japonicus in the west coast of Korea. Journal of Aquaculture 20: 26-30.
8 Takahashi, A. and Okumura, S. 2012, Holothurian: Biology, Aquaculture and Culture. Seizando-Shoten, Tokyo, Japan. pp. 227. (in Japanese).
9 Uthicke, S. and Karez, R. 1999. Sediment patch selectivity in tropical sea cucumbers (Holothurioidea: Aspidochirotida) analysed with multiple choice experiments. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 236: 69-87.   DOI   ScienceOn