EFFECTS OF LUNAR PERIODICITY ON THE GONADOSOMATIC INDEX OF SEA CUCUMBER Holothuria scabra (Jaeger, 1833) IN BRGY. TINOTO, MAASIM, SARANGANI PROVINCE

A study on the effects of Lunar Phases on the Gonadosomatic index of Holothuria scabra was conducted during 1st quarter, full moon, last quarter and new moon of the month of December 2016 to February 2017. Samples of Holothuria scabra were collected from the shallow intertidal areas of Brgy. Tinoto, Maasim, Sarangani Province. Spent Holothuria scabra was highly recorded during last quarter with a total percentage of 50.07%. On the other hand, spawn (late mature) species were highly recorded during I quarter with a total percentage of 38.83%. Spawning occurred during 1st Quarter and Full Moon were a large number of spanners (Late Mature) H. scabra was recorded during these two Lunar Phases. The abundance of Holothuria scabra was higher in Sitio S‘nalang than in Sitio Linao with a total of 392 species. The length frequency distribution of Holothuria scabra was found to be unimodal and bi-modal, with most individuals ranging between 13cm and 25cm. the temperature and salinity was highest during first quarter while lowest during last quarter, whereas the gonadosomatic index of Holothuria scabra was highest during first quarter with the mean value of 3.59%, while lowest during last quarter with the mean value of 2.23%.