TITLE:
The Impact of Environmental Factors on Sea Cucumber Growth in Unguja Ukuu and Fukuchani, Zanzibar
AUTHORS:
Hamida Suleiman Ali, Kombo Hamad Kai, Khamis Othman Amour
KEYWORDS:
Sea Cucumber, Sea Surface Salinity, Sea Surface Temperature, Carbonate, Chlorophyll
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.14 No.3,
July
30,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study investigated the factors influencing the growth of sea cucumbers in specific locations in Zanzibar; Unguja Ukuu and Fukuchani. Data on oceanographic parameters, including sea surface salinity (SSS), Sea Surface Temperature (SST), and soil pH, were collected during both wet and dry seasons in Zanzibar. Soil samples were analyzed for nutrients including carbonate, particulate organic matter (POM), and chlorophyll, respectively. Statistical analysis was done using R-software in which Pearson correlation, t-tests, and paired t-tests were employed to assess the relationship between sea cucumber growth (weight and length) and environmental factors (more details in methods section). The study found that sea cucumbers in Fukuchani grew faster at the rate of 1.34 g/day than those in Unguja Ukuu at the rate of 1.28 g/day, similarly in lengths. The nutrient levels, particularly organic matter, significantly impact sea cucumber growth in the studied areas. For instance, Soil pH exhibited a positive correlation with both weight and length (r = 0.6 and 0.97 at p ≤ 0.05) and length (r = 0.6 and 0.93) for both sites, while soil salinity (SSS) showed a strong positive correlation with weight but a weaker correlation with length. Similar case holds for Fukuchani where the correlation between the two parameters (SST and growth) was r = −0.98, and −0.96 at p ≤ 0.01. Additionally, sea cucumber growth parameters were negatively correlated with SST in both locations. Chlorophyll was found to significantly influence sea cucumber development during the cold season, while carbonate and particulate organic matter were more influential during the wet season. Overall, the study indicated that oceanographic parameters and site-specific factors, such as nutrient availability, have a greater influence on sea cucumber growth as compared to weather parameters.