Amuenda, Jazriel Ann A. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2016-05)
Phyllophorus proteus is a high-value sea cucumber species in Philippines but is also one of the most exploited. Hatchery-produced juveniles are used for stock enhancement as a means of restoring depleted population however biology of P. proteus have not yet been studied on. Burrowing incidence of ball sea cucumber P. proteus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) juveniles (4-5 length x 0.05). After 4 weeks, growth of P. proteus juveniles was significantly higher (/?<0.05) when reared on profile C (growth rate: 0.79±.13mm %d-l) than either profile B (p=0.009) (0.34±0.14 mm %d-l) or profile A (p=0.030) (0.21±0.11mm %d-l). Survival is highest in profile B (S=100%), intermediate in profile C and lowest in profile A although the difference is insignificant (p>0.05) Very fine-fine-grained sediments is the most preferred by ball sea cucumber juveniles while coarse sand seems to be unsuitable.
