Reproductive cycle of the sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus) and its relationship with oceanographic variables at its northernmost distribution site Abigail Pañola-Madrigal1, Luis E. Calderon-Aguilera1*, Carlos A. Aguilar-Cruz2, Héctor Reyes-Bonilla2 & María Dinorah Herrero-Pérezrul3 1. Departamento de Ecología Marina, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana 3918, Ensenada, Baja California 22860, México;
[email protected], *
[email protected] (corresponding author) 2. Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México;
[email protected],
[email protected] 3. Instituto Politécnico Nacional-Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, La Paz, Baja California Sur;
[email protected] Received 08-XII-2016. Corrected 10-V-2017. Accepted 07-VI-2017. Abstract: The brown sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus is highly prized and intensively fished, yet no studies of its reproductive cycle at its northernmost distribution site exist. To characterize its reproductive cycle, monthly surveys (Oct 2014-Dec 2016) that included gonad collection were conducted in 118 sites along the eastern coast of Baja California, including islands from Bahía San Luis Gonzaga (29o 49’ 14.18” N, 114 o 3’56.17” W) to the 28th parallel north. A total of 2 808 sea cucumber specimens were measured (mean length ± SD = 21.4 ± 6 cm) and weighed (375.6 ± 249 g). Seven hundred and seventeen organisms were dissected but only 553 gonads were suitable for processing through histological analysis to identify sex and developmental stage. Of these individuals, 224 were female, 162 were male, 157 were undifferentiated and 10 were hermaphrodites, resulting in a sex ratio that was significantly different from 1:1 (χ2 = 36.63, P = 0.03, df = 23).