Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:47:04.722Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Population dynamics and reproduction of Holothuria tubulosa (Holothuroidea: Echinodermata) in the Aegean Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2010

Georgios Kazanidis ,
Chryssanthi Antoniadou ,
Alexios P. Lolas ,
Nikos Neofitou ,
Dimitris Vafidis ,
Chariton Chintiroglou  and
Christos Neofitou
Georgios Kazanidis
Affiliation:
University of Thessaly, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
Chryssanthi Antoniadou
Affiliation:
Aristotle University, School of Biology, Department of Zoology, Thessaloniki, Greece
Alexios P. Lolas
Affiliation:
University of Thessaly, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
Nikos Neofitou
Affiliation:
University of Thessaly, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
Dimitris Vafidis*
Affiliation:
University of Thessaly, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
Chariton Chintiroglou
Affiliation:
Aristotle University, School of Biology, Department of Zoology, Thessaloniki, Greece
Christos Neofitou
Affiliation:
University of Thessaly, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: D. Vafidis, University of Thessaly, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Atlanto-Mediterranean holothurian Holothuria tubulosa is among the conspicuous benthic invertebrates in the shallow sublittoral zone. It is an edible species, harvested at the Aegean Sea and utilized as fishing bait. Considering the lack of information for the Aegean populations, a one-year survey, based on monthly or semimonthly samples, was carried out focusing on population structure, allometric relationships and reproductive status of H. tubulosa stocks in Pagasitikos Gulf. Population density varied around 9.93 individuals/100 m2. This value was rather low compared with other studied Mediterranean populations of the species, possibly due to the scarcity of seagrass meadows in the area studied. All measured biometric characters showed high plasticity, and all the examined morphometric relationships followed negative allometry indicating a change to the shape of the animal's body as it grows. Holothurians’ length was a moderate predictor of biomass since r values reached 60%; in contrast a very strong relation was observed between drained and gutted weight. Size–frequency distribution analysis was unimodal with the exception of spring where a second mode of larger sized individuals appeared. The gonadosomatic index showed a single spawning season per year, in late summer; accordingly the reproductive cycle of the species showed a clear annual pattern which was highly correlated with the seasonal variations of temperature.

Keywords

population structureallometryreproductionsea-cucumbereastern MediterraneanAegean Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 90 , Issue 5 , August 2010 , pp. 895 - 901
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Amon, R.M.W. and Herndl, G.J. (1991) Deposit feeding and sediment: I. Interrelationship between Holothuria tubulosa (Holothuroidea, Echinodermata) and the sediment microbial community. PSZNI: Marine Ecology 12, 163–174.Google Scholar
Aydin, M. (2008) The commercial sea cucumber fishery in Turkey. SPC Bêche de Mer Information Bulletin 28, 40–41.Google Scholar
Bulteel, P. and Jangoux, M. (1989) Dynamique de population de l'holothurie Holothuria tubulosa (Echinodermata) en baie de Naples: observations préliminaires. Vie Marine H.S. 10, 107–115.Google Scholar
Bulteel, P., Jangoux, M. and Coulon, P. (1992) Biometry, bathymetric distribution, and reproductive cycle of the holothuroid Holothuria tubulosa (Echinodermata) in Mediterranean seagrass beds. PSZNI: Marine Ecology 13, 53–62.Google Scholar
Cakli, S., Cadun, A., Kisla, D. and Dincer, T. (2004) Determination of quality characteristics of Holothuria tubulosa, (Gmelin, 1788) in Turkish Sea (Aegean Region) depending on sun drying process step used in Turkey. Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology 13, 69–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chintiroglou, C., Antoniadou, C., Vafidis, D. and Koutsoubas, D. (2005) A review on the biodiversity of hard substrate invertebrate communities in the Aegean Sea. Mediterranean Marine Science 6, 51–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Conand, C. (1981) Sexual cycle of three commercially important holothurian species (Echinodermata) from the lagoon of New Caledonia. Bulletin of Marine Science 31, 523–543.Google Scholar
Conand, C. (1993) Reproductive biology of the holothurians from the major communities of the New Caledonian Lagoon. Marine Biology 116, 439–450.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coulon, P. and Jangoux, M. (1993) Feeding rate and sediment reworking by the holothuroid Holothuria tubulosa (Echinodermata) in a Mediterranean seagrass bed off Ischia Island, Italy. Marine Ecology Progress Series 92, 201–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Despalatovic, M., Grubelic, I., Simunovic, A., Antolic, B. and Zuljevic, A. (2003) New data about reproduction of the holothurian Holothuria forskali (Echinodermata) living in geographically different places. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 12, 1345–1347.Google Scholar
Despalatovic, M., Grubelic, I., Simunovic, A., Antolic, B. and Zuljevic, A. (2004) Reproductive biology of the holothurian Holothuria tubulosa (Echinodermata) in the Adriatic Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 84, 409–414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gayanilo, F.C.J. and Pauly, D. (1997) The FAO–ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools (FiSAT) Reference Manual. Rome: FAO Computerized Information Series (Fisheries). No. 8.Google Scholar
Gustato, G., Villari, A., Del Gaudio, S. and Pedata, P. (1982) Ulteriori dati sulla distribuzione di Holothuria tubulosa, Holothuria polii e Holothuria stellati nel Golfo di Napoli. Bolletino della Societá dei Naturalisti in Napoli 91, 1–14.Google Scholar
Herencia, F., Ubeda, A., Ferrandiz, M.L., Terencio, M.C., Alcaraz, M.J., Garcia-Carrascosa, M., Capaccioni, R. and Paya, M. (1998) Anti-inflammatory activity in mice of extracts from Mediterranean marine invertebrates. Life Sciences 62, 115–120.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koukouras, S.A. and Sinis, I.A. (1981) Benthic fauna of the North Aegean Sea II. Crinoidea and Holothuroidea (Echinodermata). Vie et Milieu 31, 271–281.Google Scholar
Koukouras, A., Sinis, A.I., Bobori, D., Kazantzidis, S. and Kitsos, M.S. (2007) The echinoderm (Deuterostomia) fauna of the Aegean Sea, and comparison with those of the neighbouring seas. Journal of Biological Research 7, 67–92.Google Scholar
Massin, C. and Jangoux, M. (1976) Observations ecologiques sur Holothuria tubulosa, H. poli et H. forskali (Echinodermata-Holothuroidea) et comportement alimentaire de H. tubulosa. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 17, 45–59.Google Scholar
Mezali, K., Chekaba, B., Zupo, V. and Asslah, B. (2003) Comportement alimentaire de cinq espèces d'holothuries aspidochirotes (Holothuroidea: Echinodermata) de la presqu'ile de Sidi-Fredj (Algerie). Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 128, 49–62.Google Scholar
Petihakis, G., Triantafyllou, G., Pollani, A., Koliou, A. and Theodorou, A. (2005) Field data analysis and application of a complex water column biogeochemical model in different areas of a semi-enclosed basin: towards the development of an ecosystem management tool. Marine Environmental Research 59, 493–518.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pladellorens, M. and Subirana, J.A. (1975) Spermiogenesis in the sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa. Journal of Ultrastructure Research 52, 235–242.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shiell, G.R. and Uthicke, S. (2006) Reproduction of the commercial sea cucumber Holothuria whitmaei [Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida] in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions of Australia. Marine Biology 148, 973–986.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simunovic, A. and Grubelic, I. (1998) A contribution to the knowledge of the species Holothuria tubulosa Gmelin, 1788 (Holothuria, Echinodermata) in the coastal area of the central eastern Adriatic. Acta Adriatica 39, 13–23.Google Scholar
Simunovic, A., Piccinetti, C., Bartulovic, M. and Grubelic, I. (2000) Distribution and abundance of the species Holothuria tubulosa Gmelin, 1788 and Holothuria forskali Delle Chiaje, 1823 (Holothuria, Echinodermata) in the Adriatic Sea. Acta Adriatica 41, 3–16.Google Scholar
Tortonese, E. and Vadon, C. (1987) Oursins et Holothuries. In Fischer, W., Bouchon, M.L. and Scneider, M. (eds) Fiches FAO d'identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche (révision 1)—Méditerranée et Mer Noire. Zone de pêche 37. Rome: FAO publications, pp. 743–760.Google Scholar
Triantafyllou, G., Petihakis, G., Dounas, C. and Theodorou, A. (2001) Assessing marine ecosystem response to nutrient inputs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 43, 175–186.Google Scholar
Tuwo, A. and Conand, C. (1992) Reproductive biology of the holothurian Holothuria forskali (Echinodermata). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 72, 745–758.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uthicke, S. (1997) Seasonality of asexual reproduction in Holothuria (Halodeima) atra, H. (H.) edulis and Stichopus chloronotus (Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida) on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology 129, 435–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uthicke, S. (1999) Sediment bioturbation and impact of feeding activity of Holothuria (Halodeima) atra and Stichopus chloronotus, two sediment feeding holothurians, at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Bulletin of Marine Science 64, 129–141Google Scholar
Uthicke, S. (2001a) Nutrient regeneration by abundant coral reef holothurians. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 265, 153–170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uthicke, S. (2001b) Interactions between sediment-feeders and microalgae on coral reefs: grazing losses versus production enhancement. Marine Ecology Progress Series 210, 125–138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vafidis, D., Tsagridis, A., Chintiroglou, C., Stamatis, N. and Antoniadou, C. (2008) Fisheries, processing and trade of the South Aegean holothurian stocks. Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food, Operational Programme for Greek fisheries for the period 2000–2006, Final Technical Report, Greece, 83 pp.Google Scholar
Zar, J.H. (1984) Biostatistical analysis. Engelwood Cliffs: NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc.Google Scholar