Diversity of Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea) in the Waters of Sarang Island and the Nenek Strait, Batam City, Riau Islands, Indonesia

Devi Novianti, Ramses Ramses, Ismarti Ismarti, Fitrah Amelia

Abstract


Background: Sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea) are key benthic organisms that contribute to coastal ecosystem stability through bioturbation, organic matter decomposition, and their role in marine food webs. However, despite their ecological and economic importance, information on the diversity and community structure of sea cucumbers in the waters of Batam City, remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the diversity of sea cucumbers in the waters of Sarang Island and the Nenek Strait, as a basis for evaluating ecological conditions and supporting sustainable marine resource management. Methodology: Sampling was conducted in the intertidal zone using the sweeping method during nighttime to accommodate the nocturnal activity of sea cucumbers, using two transects at each sampling station. Species identification was based on morphological and visual characteristics, while environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, water transparency, and current velocity were measured in situ. Findings: Five sea cucumber species were identified, namely Stichopus herrmanni, Holothuria leucospilota, H.scabra, Bohadschia aegyptia, and H. fuscopunctata. Community structure was then analyzed using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H’), evenness index (E), and Simpson’s dominance index (C). At Sarang Island, 25 individuals representing five species were recorded, with Actinopyga mauritiana dominating 64% of the population, resulting in moderate diversity (H’ = 0.576), low evenness (E = 0.358), and high dominance (C = 0.453). In the Nenek Strait, 22 individuals from three species were identified, showing moderate diversity (H’ = 1.059), high evenness (E = 0.964), and low dominance (C = 0.360), actinopyga mauritiana dominated 64% of the population, likely due to its higher tolerance to local environmental conditions and its preference for sandy–muddy substrates commonly found in the study area, indicating a more balanced community structure. Contributions: These findings highlight spatial variation in sea cucumber communities related to habitat characteristics and ecological pressure, contributing baseline scientific data on the diversity and community structure of Holothuroidea in Batam coastal waters


Keywords


Biodiversity; Sea cucumbers; Holothuroidea; Ecological indices; Community structure

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ardiannanto, R., Sulardiono, B., & Wahyu, P. (2014). A Study of the Abundance of Sea Cucumbers (Holothuriidae) in the Seagrass and Coral Reef Ecosystems of Pulau Panjang, Jepara. Diponegoro Journal Of Maquares, 3(2), 66–73. http://ejournal-s1.undip.ac.id/index.php/maquares [In Indonesian language]

Baransano, N., Dimara, L., & Menufandu, H. (2019). Abundance and Diversity of Sea Cucumbers in Sasisen and Non-Sasisen Areas in the Waters around Numfor Island. Acropora: Jurnal Ilmu Kelautan Dan Perikanan Papua, 2(1), 8-14. https://doi.org/10.31957/acr.v2i1.983 [In Indonesian language]

Bethanya, E. N., Zulkifli., & Samiaji, J. (2025). Abundance and Diversity of Sea Cucumber (Holothuroidea) in Hajoran Beach, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra. In Journal of Coastal and Ocean Sciences, 6(3), 202-206. https://doi.org/10.31258/jocos.6.3.202-206

Boli, P., Lahaji, Z., Purba, G. Y. S., & Sabariah, V. (2026). Abundance of sea cucumber species in the coastal waters of Nusi Island, Nabire Regency, Central Papua Province. Jurnal Teknologi Perikanan dan Kelautan, 17(1), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.24319/jtpk.17.81-91

Cerabolini, B., Pierce, S., Luzzaro, A., & Ossola, A. (2009). Species evenness affects ecosystem processes in situ via diversity in the adaptive strategies of dominant species. Plant Ecology, 207(2), 333–345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-009-9677-1

Cömert, N., Deniz, T., & Göktürk, D. (2025). Sustainable Fisheries and Non-Target Species Management: A Seasonal and Depth-Based Study in the Deep-Sea Fisheries of Antalya Bay. Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115040

Dinata, R., Ramses, R., Amelia, F., & Ismarti, I. (2025). Abundance, Morphometrics, Length-Weight Relationship, and Condition Factors of Lola Snails (Rochia Niloticus L) in the Waters of Sarang Island, Belakang Padang, Batam. Aceh Journal of Animal Science, 10(1), 22–34. https://doi.org/10.13170/ajas.10.1.43614

González-Guirald, J. S., Osorio-Cano, J. D., & Osorio, A. F. (2024). Dataset on physical-chemical and marine water quality variables in San Andrés Island, Colombian Caribbean. Data in Brief, 57 , 111005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2024.111005

Hamuna, B., Tanjung, R. H., Maury, H. K., & Alianto. (2018). A Study of Seawater Quality and Pollution Index Based on Physico-Chemical Parameters in the Waters of Depapre District, Jayapura. Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan, 16, 35–43. https://doi.org/10.14710/jil.16.135-43 [In Indonesian language]

Handayani, T., Sabariah, V., & Hambuako, R. R. (2017). The Species Composition of Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea) in the Waters off Kapisawar Village, Meos Manswar District, Raja Ampat Regency. Jurnal Perikanan Universitas Gadjah Mada, 19(1), 45–51. [In Indonesian language]

Hasibuan, N. A., Novianti, D., Ramses., Amelia, F., & Ismiarti. (2025). Analysis of Abundance, Length-Weight Relationship, and Condition Factors of Bulleye Snails (Turbo argyrostoma) on the Batam Coast. Bioeduscience, 9(2), 258–268. https://doi.org/10.22236/jbes/17820

Helmiyani, N. A., Suryanti, S., & Purwanti, F. (2024). Community structure of sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) resources in the Kepulauan Seribu National Park, Indonesia. Biodiversitas, 25(1), 344–354. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d250140

Iskandar, A.N.K B.P., Zahidah, & Sunardi. (2023). Species composition and community structure of freshwater fish in a newly inundated reservoir, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Indonesia. AACL Bioflux, 16(3), 1577-1590.

Lestari, H. A. (2021). Spatial Analysis Of Water Quality And The Implication For Sdg Target 14.1 In South Sulawesi Province. Doctoral Theses of Fisheries Science Study Program, Hasanuddin University. 55 page. Open Accessed on 17Th November 2025

MacTavish, T., Stenton-Dozey, J., Vopel, K., & Savage, C. (2012). Deposit-Feeding Sea Cucumbers Enhance Mineralization and Nutrient Cycling in Organically-Enriched Coastal Sediments. PLoS ONE, 7(11), e50031. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0050031

Martín, P. V., Buček, A., Bourguignon, T., & Pigolotti, S. (2020). Ocean currents promote rare species diversity in protists. Science advances, 6(29), eaaz9037. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz9037

Médard, M. B., & Ohl, K. N. (2019). Sea cucumber management strategies: challenges and opportunities in a developing country context. Environmental Conservation, 46(4), 267–277. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892919000183

Moom, M. B., Sabariah, V., Handayani, T., Toha, A. H. A., Simatauw, F. F. C., Tebay, S., & Saleh, F. I. (2021). The Diversity of Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidae) in the Intertidal Zone of the “Sasi” Conservation Area in Folley Village, East Misool District, Raja Ampat Regency – West Papua. Konservasi Hayati, 17(2), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.33369/hayati.v17i2.16983 [In Indonesian language]

Namukose, M., Msuya, F., Ferse, S., Slater, M., & Kunzmann, A. (2016). Growth performance of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra and the seaweed Eucheuma denticulatum: integrated mariculture and effects on sediment organic characteristics. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 8, 179–189. https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00172

Oedjoe, M. D. R., & Eoh, C. B. (2015). Diversity Of Sea Cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) In Sabu Raijua Waters, Sabu Island, East Nusa Tenggara. Jurnal Ilmu Dan Teknologi Kelautan Tropis, 7(1), 309-320. http://itk.fpik.ipb.ac.id/ej_itkt71

O’Keeffe, J. (2004). Measuring Biological Diversity. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 29(2), 285–286. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085910409503825

Pinasthi, L. S., Hartoko, A., & Muskananfola, M. R. (2024). The Structure of the Sea Cucumber Community in the Waters off Tanjung Gelam, Karimunjawa Island. Jurnal Pasir Laut, 8(1), 12–19. [In Indonesian language]

Ramses, R., Ismarti, I., & Syamsi, F. (2019). Length-weight relationships and condition factors of four dominant fish caught by coral bubu trap on the west coast of Batam Island, Indonesia. Aceh Journal of Animal Science, 5(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.13170/ajas.5.1.14902

Raoult, V., McSpadden, K., Gaston, T. F., Li, J. Y. Q., & Williamson, J. E. (2025). Rapid surveying of benthopelagic ecosystems with a towed mini-ROV. Marine Environmental Research, 208, 107122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107122

Rivadeneira, M. M., & Nielsen, S. N. (2022). Deep anthropogenic impacts on benthic marine diversity of the Humboldt Current Marine Ecosystem: Insights from a Quaternary fossil baseline. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 948580. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.948580

Rodríguez-Forero, A., Villacob-Royerth, J., & Hernández Rodríguez, M. (2024). Thermal Behavior of Tropical Sea Cucumber of Isostichopus isabellae: Preliminary Issues. Animals, 14(24), 3613. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243613

Samdin, S., Kasim, ruf, & Arif Rahmanս, A. (2024). Study Of Chlorophyl-A Distribution In Relation To Current Velocity In The Kendari Bay Area. Journal Of Fishers and Marine Research, 8(2), 1-8. http://jfmr.ub.ac.id

Setiawan, H., Sulistiono, S., & Zairion, Z. (2025). Density, Distribution and Habitat Conditions of Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea) in the Coastal Waters of Southern Pulau Laut, Kotabaru. Jurnal Ilmiah Indoensia, 10(9), 7734-7749. https://doi.org/10.36418/syntax-literate.v10i9.61404 [In Indonesian language]

Setyastuti, A., Wirawati, I., Hadiyanto, H., Nurjamin, N., Permadi, S., Hadi, T. A., Prayudha, B., Hafizt, M., Vimono, I. B., Iswari, M. Y., Aji, L. P., Ardiansyah, A., Dharmawan, I. W. E., Suratno, S., Islami, M. M., Indriana, L. F., & Sjafrie, N. D. M. (2024). New insight into the diversity, biometric distribution, and relationships of commercial sea cucumber species from Indonesia. Fisheries Research, 279, 107124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2024.107124

Shi, Y., Zhang, G., Zhang, G., Wen, Y., Guo, Y., Peng, L., Xu, W., & Sun, J. (2022). Species and functional diversity of marine macrobenthic community and benthic habitat quality assessment in semi-enclosed waters upon recovering from eutrophication, Bohai Bay, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 181, 113918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113918

Simpson, E.H. (1949) Measurement of Diversity. Nature, 163, 688.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/163688a0

Sudarmo, A. P., Ali, M., Anggraeni, D. P., Dwirastina, M., Ditya, Y. C., Makri, Makmur, S., Kaban, S., & Samuel. (2023). Assessing Benthic Community and Water Quality as the Bioindicator of Environment in Semayang Lake East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 32(5), 4281–4290. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/168222

Suhartawan, B., & Daawia, D. (2025). Coastal Water Quality Index (CWQI) Assessment of Youtefa Bay, Jayapura: Status and Management Implications. Journal of Health and Nutrition Research, 4(1), 287–300. https://doi.org/10.56303/jhnresearch.v4i1.380

Wang, Y., Chen, J., Guo, J., Yu, Z., Lin, Y., & Wang, Y. (2024). Advances and development in sampling techniques for marine water resources: a comprehensive review. In Frontiers in Marine Science, 11, 1365019. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1365019

Winanto, T., Kuniawati, A., Raharjo, P., Kasprijo., & Fikriyya, N. (2024). The Composition and Species Diversity of Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea) in the Waters off Pasir Putih Beach, Pangandaran, West Java. Jurnal Lemuru: Jurnal Ilmu Perikanan dan Kelautan Indonesia, 6(3), 82-99 [In Indonesian language]

Xu, M., Xu, Y., Yang, J., Li, J., Zhang, H., Xu, K., Zhang, Y., Otaki, T., Zhao, Q., Zhang, Y., Yin, Z., & Komatsu, T. (2023). Seasonal variations in the diversity and benthic community structure of subtidal artificial oyster reefs adjacent to the Luanhe River Estuary, Bohai Sea. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 17650. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44176-6




DOI: https://doi.org/10.36987/jpbn.v12i1.8798

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Devi Novianti, Ramses Ramses, Ismarti Ismarti, Fitrah Amelia

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jurnal Pembelajaran dan Biologi Nukleus (JPBN) by LPPM Universitas Labuhanbatu is under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY - SA 4.0). Official contact: Rivo +6281362238917