Limited long-term movement and slow growth of the sea cucumber Pearsonothuria graeffei
Marine Ecology Progress Series, ISSN: 1616-1599, Vol: 704, Page: 1-14
2023
- 6Citations
- 15Captures
Metric Options: Counts1 Year3 YearSelecting the 1-year or 3-year option will change the metrics count to percentiles, illustrating how an article or review compares to other articles or reviews within the selected time period in the same journal. Selecting the 1-year option compares the metrics against other articles/reviews that were also published in the same calendar year. Selecting the 3-year option compares the metrics against other articles/reviews that were also published in the same calendar year plus the two years prior.
Example: if you select the 1-year option for an article published in 2019 and a metric category shows 90%, that means that the article or review is performing better than 90% of the other articles/reviews published in that journal in 2019. If you select the 3-year option for the same article published in 2019 and the metric category shows 90%, that means that the article or review is performing better than 90% of the other articles/reviews published in that journal in 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Citation Benchmarking is provided by Scopus and SciVal and is different from the metrics context provided by PlumX Metrics.
Example: if you select the 1-year option for an article published in 2019 and a metric category shows 90%, that means that the article or review is performing better than 90% of the other articles/reviews published in that journal in 2019. If you select the 3-year option for the same article published in 2019 and the metric category shows 90%, that means that the article or review is performing better than 90% of the other articles/reviews published in that journal in 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Citation Benchmarking is provided by Scopus and SciVal and is different from the metrics context provided by PlumX Metrics.
Article Description
Sea cucumbers are heavily exploited worldwide, yet data are lacking on animal mobility and life-history parameters for fishery management and conservation planning. This study assessed movement and growth rates for a medium-sized holothuroid, Pearsonothuria graeffei, harvested throughout the Indo-Pacific. We used photographic mark−recapture to track long-term movements and growth for this species over 2 yr. Recapture rates were 67−72%. Movement rates averaged 9 m yr, and many individuals were found in aggregations and recaptured there in 2 successive years. Growth was highly variable; small animals (<700 g) tended to gain weight while large animals (>700 g) tended to lose weight. Some individuals lost weight and then regained weight, while others gained weight and later lost it. Growth models estimated that P. graeffei approach their average maximum weight (769 g) in 7−12 yr and are slow-growing (growth coefficient = 0.17). Natural mortality (M; 0.48 yr) was low, and estimated longevity was 18 yr. P. graeffei exhibits traits that heighten its vulnerability to overfishing: aggregation behaviour, low mobility, slow growth, a long lifespan and low M. The site fidelity and low mobility infer that a system of small reserves would effectively protect breeding populations and that emigration to new sites is very limited. This study provides the first published evidence from natural habitats that holothuroids can lose and later regain weight. Our empirical findings suggest that small- to medium-sized holothuroids might be slower growing and longer lived than previously believed, imploring a more conservative approach to conservation policy.
Bibliographic Details
Provide Feedback
Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know