Characteristics of environment and habitat of sea cucumbers in Pane Island, Tapanuli Tengah Regency

Abstract

Abstract Pane Island is one of the tourist destinations in Tapanuli Tengah Regency, visually Pane Island has some of marine ecosystems such as seagrass, mangrove, seaweed, and dead coral ecosystems. Sea cucumbers are invertebrates, it’s have high commercial value and has ecological functions. In this study, sea cucumbers identification, abundance and seagrass cover was investigated in Pane Island. The results showed that 1 sea cucumber species were found, Holothuria leucospilota. Sea cucumber abundance ranged from 0 to 1.2 ind/m2. Based on Principal Components Analysis (PCA), sea cucumber abundance is positively related to temperature, current, pH, salinity, total nitrogen, phosphate, and C-organic content. Furthermore, sea cucumber abundance is negatively related to the parameters of water depth, water transparency, DO and percentage of seagrass cover.