Some aspects of reproductive biology of Holothuria grisea (Aspidochirotida: Holothuriidae) at Cispatá bay, Colombia

Algunos aspectos de la biología reproductiva de Holothuria grisea (Aspidochirotida: Holothuriidae) en la bahía de Cispatá, Colombia

Holothuria grisea is a species distributed throughout the Caribbean and which been illegally extracted in Colombia, which is further aggravated by the ignorance of its biology and ecology. This study evaluated some aspects of the reproductive biology of H. grisea at Cispatá Bay from organisms collected between April and November 2015. The gonadal index and the determination of the gametogenic stages were calculated based on classical histological methods. In the present study, 80 individuals were analyzed, of which 47.5% were males, 45% females and 7.5% did not present gonadal tissue. Microscopic and histological observations made it possible to identify three gonadal stages for the species: growth, maturity and post-spawning. It was evidenced that this dioecious holothuroid has a 1: 1 sex ratio, with a continuous reproduction cycle presenting three reproductive peaks in the eight months studied. Finally, the length of the first gonadal maturity for the species was 13.5 cm. The information obtained in this work could be of great use in the future from the point of view of the sustainability of this resource and the implementation of practical management programs.