Effects of pH and salinity on growth and survival of juvenile sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (Jaeger, 1833)

Abstract

Sea cucumber aquaculture could provide a solution to both enhance declining wild sea cucumber populations through restocking and provide sufficient <i>beche-de-mer</i> product to satisfy the increasing Asian market demand. The growth and survival of hatchery-reared <i>Holothuria scabra</i> juveniles at different pH-salinity levels were investigated. Juveniles were exposed for 14 days in six pH-salinity levels: Trt 1 (pH 6.5 — 6.7, 26-28 %o), Trt 2 (pH 6.5 - 6.7, normal salinity), Trt 3 (pH 7.0 - 7.2, 26-28 %o), Trt 4 (pH 7.0 — 7.2, normal salinity), Trt 5 (normal pH, 26-28 %o) and Trt 6 (normal pH, normal salinity) as the control. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with repeated measurements revealed that pH and salinity had a significant effect on growth (length, width, and weight) and survival of H. <i>scabra</i> juveniles. Slight seawater desalination combined with high acidification (pH: 6.5-6.7) had lethal effects on H. <i>scabra</i> juveniles. While H. scabra juveniles could be reared in seawater with pH ≥ 7.0- 7.2 and salinity ≥ 26-28 %o, ambient seawater conditions remained the most suitable in rearing H. <i>scabra</i> juveniles for optimum growth and survival.