Abstract

The sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus is heavily exploited in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. However the knowledge about its ecology is very limited, especially of the factors that influence its distribution. The objective of this work was to determine the habitat preference of I. badionotus. From August 2015 to July 2016 off the coast of the port of Sisal in the northwest of the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, information of density of organisms per square meter was obtained by means of dive transects. The characteristics of the benthic community were also obtained through analysis of videotran-sects, as well as granulometry, organic matter content of the sediment, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen of thewater of the sea floor and depth. The relationship between habitat variables and I. badionotus presences was examined by assembling distribution models of species such as random forest, artificial neural networks and generalized additive models, among others. The results show a higher probability of presence in areas with green algae coverage, depth greater than 20 m, temperature between 20 and 24ºC, with high percentage of organic matter in the sediment and coarse grain size. The potential spatial distribution model of I. badionotus shows a greater probability of being present to the northwest of the study area above the 20 m isobath. The results are considered determinants for the design of Fishing Reserves, essential as a measure of conservation and fishery management.

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