A study on the growth rate of Holothuria atra reared in culture tanks at the DLSU Marine Biological Station Matuod, Lian, Batangas

• Main Author: Cruz, Gorgonio Magbiray
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Holothurians; Water > Analysis; De La Salle University Marine Biological Station (Matuod; Lian; Batangas); Sea cucumbers
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1428
• Institution: De La Salle University

A total of 30 juvenile stage Holothuria atra species with lengths ranging from 6 to 12 centimeters were collected from the subtidal zone of the DLSU Marine Biological Station. The collected samples were divided into 3 equal groups of ten individuals and were placed inside 3 rearing tanks with well-aerated salt water. Food supply consisting of chopped sea grasses were given once daily. The growth rate of the juvenile stage H. atra was monitored biweekly for fourteen weeks with length as indicator. Physico-chemical factors such as temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen were likewise monitored every sampling period. The results showed an apparent decline in growth on the 4th week and a gradual elevation on the 6th week that persisted up to the 14th week. The observed average biweekly growth rate was 0.585 cm/2 weeks or 1.170 cm/month. The water temperature readings ranged from 28 centigrade to 31 centigrade, pH were maintained in a constant range with 6.7 and 6.9 as the lowest and highest values respectively. The dissolved oxygen was recorded to be within 8.5-10.5 mg/L while salinity readings showed 19 % and 21 % as the lowest and highest values respectively. All of which were within the range of the optimal requirements for the growth of holothurians.