Observation of juvenile Holothuria fuscogilva on the fringing reefs of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea

Note: Juveniles Holothuria fuscogilva were observed inhabiting seagrass beds on a fringing reef flat on the southwest coast of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. These seagrass beds have been artificially created due to the presence of an old logpond causeway extending at right angles from the coastline and across the fringing reef to its edge. This causeway has stopped the natural flow of water along the coastline, creating some protection from coastal processes and forming a small bay with increased sediments. Juveniles H. fuscogilva were found in the intertidal area, heavily covered in algae. Densities of juveniles H. fuscogilva at Belifu were reported from a recent survey this year to be 19 animals ha-1. H. fuscogilva appear to recruit to shallow marine grass beds, before migrating to deeper waters as they approach sexual maturity.