DIVERSITY OF SEA CUCUMBER (ECHINODERMATA: HOLOTHUROIDEA) IN SABU RAIJUA WATERS, SABU ISLAND, EAST NUSA TENGGARA
Authors: Oedjoe Marcelien Dj Ratoe , Eoh Crisca B. 
Published: October 2017

<p><em>Sea cucumber has an ecological function as an organic decomposer in sediment and nutrient producer within a food chain. In addition, sea cucumber has also economic values as fisheries and trade commodities. The pupose of this research was </em><em>to investigate diversity of sea cucumber</em><em> in the Sabu Raijua waters, East Nusa Tenggara Province. </em><em>Samples were collected from Sabu Raijua waters in July -August 2014 using transect quadrant of 1x1 m<sup>2</sup> during the lowest low tide in daytime at 13:00-16:00 and nighttime at 18.00-22.00 Central Standar Local Time. Data analyses on the sea cucumber were based on composition, density, distribution, and eating habits. The results showed that there were 8 species that can be classified into 3 families i.e., the Holothuridae </em><em>(<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">nobilis</span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">scabra</span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">atra</span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">edulis</span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">impatiens</span>, and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">leucospilato</span>); </em><em>the Actinopyga (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">A</span></em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ctinopyga</span></em><em> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">lecanora</span>);</em><em> and the Bohadshia (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bohadschia</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">argus</span>).</em><em> The d</em><em>ensity of <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">nobilis</span> was 5.651 individual/m<sup>2</sup>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">atra</span> of 4.409 individual/m<sup>2</sup>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">scabra</span> of 3.294 individual/m<sup>2</sup>; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">edulis</span> of 3.102 individual/m<sup>2</sup>; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bahaschia</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">argus</span> of 2.102 individual/m<sup>2</sup>; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">mexicana</span> of 2.088 individual/m<sup>2</sup>; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Holothuria</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">impatiens</span> of 2.044 individual/m<sup>2</sup>; and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Actinopyga</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">lecanora</span> of 1.037 individual/m<sup>2</sup>. Of these sea cucumber species, 17.3% were distributed on sandy substrate and 82.7% on seagrass and coral subtsrates. All sea cucumber species have a posi-tive association with its environment indicating that the water quality was still in a good condition.</em><em> </em></p> <p> </p> <strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><em>: sea cucumber, association, diversity, composition, distribution</em>