Seasonal Variations in Proximate and Mineral Compositions of Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli (Delle Chiaje, 1823) Distributed Along the Coasts of Çanakkale, Türkiye

Sea cucumbers are soft-bodied echinoderms and some species are highly economic thanks to their unique biochemical compositions. Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli is an economically important species in Turkey and has been extensively exploited in the Mediterranean to meet the international market demand in the last decade. In this study, meat yield, proximate and mineral compositions of H. poli from the coasts of Çanakkale,Turkey, were investigated to determine the effect of seasons on food product quality and safety. The lowest meat yield was determined in the autumn samples, whereas the highest levels were in the samples from the spring to summer. The percent levels of moisture, protein, fat, ash, and carbohydrate levels were in the range of 80.8 - 84.0, 7.6 - 10.1, 1.4 - 1.8, 6.2 - 7.1, and 0.2 - 0.8, respectively. The levels of minerals were found in declining order; Na >Ca>Mg> K >S> P>Si> B> Mn> Zn> Fe> Cu> Hg> Pb> Sn> Se> Cr> As> Co> Sb> Ni> Cd> Pt. Apart from macro minerals, Si and B were determined as the most abundant minerals. The important minerals in human nutrition were found to be at desirable levels, whereas toxic minerals were found under the threshold levels. Our findings indicated significant seasonal differences in meat yield, proximate and mineral compositions of H. poli, but more importantly, this species tends to accumulate some minerals regardless of seasons. Further studies to better understand the optimal utilization season by determining the mineral accumulation tendency and product quality will be valuable for future research. Deniz hıyarları, benzersiz biyokimyasal bileşimleri sayesinde bazıları oldukça ekonomik olan yumuşak gövdeli derisidikenlilerdir. Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli Türkiye’deki ekonomik deniz hıyarı türlerinden biri olup son on yılda uluslararası pazar talebini karşılamak için Akdeniz'de yoğun bir şekilde avlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, mevsimlerin gıda ürün kalitesi ve güvenliğine etkisini belirlemek için Türkiye'nin Çanakkale kıyılarında bulunan H. poli'nin et verimi, besin ve mineral bileşimleri araştırılmıştır.Elde edilen sonuçlara göre en düşük et verimi sonbahar örneklerinde belirlenirken, en yüksek seviyeler ilkbahardan yaza kadar olan örneklerde tespit edilmiştir. Nem, protein, yağ, kül ve karbonhidrat seviyeleri yüzdesel olarak sırasıyla, 80,8 – 84,0; 7,6 – 10,1; 1,4 – 1,8; 6,2 – 7,1 ve 0,2 – 0,8 aralıklarında belirlenmiştir. Mineral seviyeleri azalan sıra ile; Na >Ca>Mg> K >S> P Si> B> Mn> Zn> Fe> Cu> Hg> Pb>