Preliminary study on ecological characteristics of one plastic artificial substrate in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) culture pond
刺参养殖池塘一种塑料人工参礁表面生态学特征初步研究

Artificial substrates (AR) are widely used in Chinese sea cucumber culture ponds. The ecological characteristics of substrate in sea cucumber pond were investigated in the present study. The results showed that the biomass of zoo benthos on AR in spring was higher than that in autumn. The AR in sea cucumber culture pond provided shelters for the sea cucumber, moreover, the bio-film on the surface of AR formed by organic debris aggregates and benthic diatoms supply food source for the sea cucumber. In April, average content of TOC in particles collected from AR surface was 41.9 mg/g and it was 2.45 mg/g in sediment. Mean content of TN in particles of AR surface was 4.1 mg/g and it was 0.2 mg/g in sediment. In October, average TOC content in particles from AR and sediment was 27.5 mg/g and 3.1 mg/g, respectively. Mean TN content in particles from AR and sediment was 3.1 mg/g and 0.3 mg/g, respectively. TOC and TN sedimentation rates in April were 711.2 mg/(m2·d) and 70.7 mg/(m2·d), while they were 804.9 mg/(m2·d) and 87.3 mg/(m2·d) in October, respectively. The Chl a/Pheo ratio of particles from AR was higher than 1 in April and it was lower than 1 in October. The AR in sea cucumber culture pond supply shelters for sea cucumber, meanwhile, it increase pond bottom area and enhance stability of culture system. In addition, the bio-film on reef was high quality food source for sea cucumber.