Concern at loss of sea cucumbers

BRISBANE: For the first time, drones have revealed the huge scale of sea cucumber faeces at an Australian reef, and it has scientists worried about the ecological impact if their numbers decline.

Sea cucumbers are under threat from commercial overfishing.

‘‘Our research found that each year sea cucumbers can poop over 60,000 tonnes of sediment across a coral reef, approximately the mass of five Eiffel towers,’’ study coauthor Vincent Raoult said.

Sea cucumbers eat sediment, digest the microorganisms present, and poop out ‘‘clean’’ sediment, as earthworms do.

The process plays an important role by aerating the sea floor, providing ‘‘fresh’’ sediment, and releasing calcium carbonate as a byproduct to help coral grow.

‘‘There is great concern among scientists that the important ecological function of sea cucumbers will be lost,’’ lead researcher Jane Williamson said.

The study was conducted near Heron Island, off Queensland. — AAP