Diversity, Length-Weight Relations, and Condition Factor of Sea Cucumbers in Three Coastal Areas Along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Economically and ecologically important ecosystems that consist of diverse finfish and shellfish resources are found along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Thus, the current study intends to assess the species diversity, length-weight (L-W) relationships, and condition factor of sea cucumber stocks in selected coastal sites of southern Sri Lanka. The diversity of sea cucumber species was surveyed using the systematic sampling technique in three selected sites (Bandaramulla, Mirissa, and Weligama) during February-December 2019. The growth pattern of each species was identified using a least-squares regression model computed for length-weight relationships. Fulton’s condition factor (K) was analyzed for each species. There were four common sea cucumber species (Holothuria atra - Lolly Fish, Bohadschia marmorata - White Thread fish, Actinipyga miliaris- Deep Water Blackfish, and Thelenota ananas- Prickly Redfish) in study sites, with Holothuria atra and Bohadschia marmorata were recorded as the most abundant species. The length-weight relationship derived for the above four species exhibited a negative allometric growth pattern (“b” < “3”), indicating faster length increment compared to weight. The habitat qualities of all sea cucumber species were in optimum environmental condition. Our findings would benefit as baseline data for implementing sustainable management practices of sea cucumber resources.