Seasonality of asexual reproduction in Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus on the Great Barrier Reef

Created 24/06/2025

Updated 24/06/2025

Asexual reproduction by fission was monitored in populations of Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus on 3 nearshore fringing reefs (Brook Island, Fantome Island and Great Palm Island) and one midshelf reef (Rib Reef) on the Great Barrier Reef between March 1995 and August 1996.Holothuria atra was monitored at Brook Island, Fantome Island, one site at Great Palm Island and Rib Reef at depths of 0.5-3 m. Stichopus chloronotus was monitored at 3 sites on Great Palm Island and at Rib Reef at depths of 0.5-3 m. Holothuria edulis, occurring at depths of 12-15 m, was monitored at one site on Great Palm Island. Monitoring of the shallow nearshore reef sites occurred every 4 to 8 weeks, while the deeper Holothuria edulis population and the populations at Rib Reef were monitored less frequently. Between 100 and 400 Holothuria atra and Stichopus chloronotus and a minimum of 60 Holothuria edulis were examined for external signs of asexual reproduction on each occasion. The number of intact individuals and recently divided specimens (with a fresh wound or with a healed wound and no regenerated anus or mouth) were recorded. Population density was estimated on one occasion at each site using belt transects between May and August 1995.In February 1995, 30 Holothuria atra, 20 Holothuria edulis and 45 Stichopus chloronotus were collected and maintained in outdoor aquaria and fission and spawning in these individuals was monitored throughout 1995. This study of Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus was undertaken to determine:1. the seasonality of asexual reproduction by fission2. spatial differences in fission frequency and3. the proportion of the populations reproducing by fission

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Seasonality of asexual reproduction in Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus on the Great Barrier Reef
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/0bb0a7a1-b26f-43c9-9b2e-17d8b85cbd2d
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
adc@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 20/11/2017
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    146.509002,
    -18.660459
  ],
  "type": "Point"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Seasonality of asexual reproduction in Holothuria atra, Holothuria edulis and Stichopus chloronotus on the Great Barrier Reef". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/seasonality-of-asexual-reproduction-in-holothuria-atra-holothuria-edulis-and-stichopus-chlorono1