Republic of the Philippines

Palompon Institute of Technology

Palompon, Leyte

Science Investigatory Project

Phase 3: The Output

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SEA CUCUMBERS EVISCERATION OF CUVIERIAN TUBULES

AS SUBSTITUTE TO COMMERCIAL GLUE

Proposed By:
Jose V. Gorumba Jr.
Ramil Libores
Vernardo Regino
Rhea Mae Montillano
Ralyn Pajaron
Lloyd Jessie Suson

Submitted To:
Ma. Lourdes B. Paloma

S.Y. August 2016

I. PROBLEM
Why does the sea cucumber produce a sticky white thread? If the sea cucumber is sticky enough,
why can we make glue out of it? If it is sticky enough then it is effective than to those of the commercial
glues?
II. TITLE
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SEA CUCUMBERS EVISCERATION OF CUVIERIAN TUBULES AS
SUBSTITUTE TO COMMERCIAL GLUE
III. ABSTRACT
The research is essentially conducted in Palompon Institute of Technology, Palompon, Leyte with
the problem about the sticky white thread of sea cucumber with that the researchers conducted this
research because the students are conscious about it and they think that this research is very useful in our
life.
1.1 Purpose of The Study
1.1.1

General Problem

The purpose of this study is aimed to determine the effectiveness of sea cucumbers
evisceration of cuvierian tubules as substitute to commercial glue.
1.1.2. Specifically it answers the following questions
1. How could sea cucumber evisceration compared to
a. Stickiness
b. Texture
c. Color
d. Viscosity
e. Appearance
2. And also to be able to get the answer of the BSED II-B students of PIT about the positive
and negative characteristic when they tried to use the sea cucumbers evisceration of
cuvierian tubules as substitute to commercial glue.
2.2 Procedure
By getting those answers given above questions, the presentation, analysis and the interpretation
of data, the data is interpreted in a descriptive form. There are two phases to carry out the analysis and
interpretation of data. The first part, which is based on the results of the questionnaire, deals with a

quantitative analysis of data. The second, which is based on the results of the interview and focus group
discussions, is a qualitative interpretation.
3.3 Findings
The data for this research were collected using a survey questionnaire. The survey was created
using suitable questions modified from related research and individual questions formed by the
researchers. The data was comprised of 5 questions, which were related to the participants perception
when they tried using the sea cucumber. Likert scale was used to determine if the respondents
agreed/satisfied or disagreed/unsatisfied in a statement. After the researcher validated the questionnaire,
these were distributed in the 16 random students of BSED II-B to test our experiment. The researchers
assured confidentiality and without bias of their survey sheets Surveyed students were given time to
respond and the researchers collected the surveys the next day. Next, the researchers planned the
questions that they would be asking for interview. The random students interviewed certain questions
about the positive and negative characteristics when they tried gluing it.
IV. INTRODUCTION
Glue is any substance applied to one surface, or both surfaces, of two separate items that binds
them together and resists their separation. Adhesives are typically organized by the method of adhesion.
These are then organized into reactive and non-reactive adhesives, which refers to whether the adhesive is
chemically reacts in order to harden. Alternatively they can be organized by whether the raw stock is of
natural, or synthetic origin, or by their starting physical phase.
Sea cucumbers possess a peculiar specialized defense system: the so-called Cuvierian tubules.
The system is mobilized when the animal is mechanically stimulated, resulting in the discharge of a few
white filaments, the tubules. Their great adhesively, combined with their high tensile strength, allows
Cuvierian tubules to entangle and immobilize potential predators. The cellular origin and composition of
the Cuvierian tubule adhesive were investigated in the species Holothuria forskali by studying prints left
on the substratum after mechanical detachment of the tubule. Polyclonal antibodies raised against tubule
print material were used to locate the origin of tubule print constituents in the tubules. Extensive immune
reactivity was detected in the secretory granules of mesothelial granular cells, suggesting that their
secretions make up the bulk of the adhesive material. Tubule print material consists of 60% proteins and
40% carbohydrates, a composition that is unique among the adhesive secretions of marine invertebrates.
Although it is highly insoluble, a small fraction of this material can be extracted using denaturing buffers.
Electrophoretic analysis of the extracts revealed that it contains about 10 proteins with apparent molecular
masses ranging from 17 to 220 kDa and with closely related amino acid compositions, rich in acidic and
in small side-chain amino acids. The adhesive from the Cuvierian tubules shares these characteristics with
many marine bio adhesives and structural biomaterials.
Evisceration is a method of autotomy involving the ejection of internal organs used by animals as
a defensive strategy. Sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea) eject parts of the gut in order to scare and defend
against potential predators such as crabs and fish. The organs are regenerated in a few days by cells in the
interior of the sea cucumber. During evisceration in some species, several hundred Cuvierian tubules (part
of the respiratory tree) may be expelled. Water from the respiratory tree is forced into these tubules

causing a rapid expansion and they elongate by up to twenty times their original length. They have great
tensile strength and become sticky when they encounter any object. The adhesive is unique among marine
invertebrates and a firm grip is obtained in under ten seconds. The mass of threads can entangle and
immobilize potential predators such as small fish or crabs. The threads become detached from the sea
cucumber which crawls away. The tubules are readily regenerated, a process that takes about seventeen
days in Holothuria leucospilota and five weeks in Holothuria forskali. The tubules contain a
toxic saponin called holothurin, which is also present in the body wall in some sea cucumber species
Sea cucumber were made as a substitute as glue. Why not? The proponents had conducted this
research or experiment and make this sea cucumber as substitute on glue because sea cucumber has its
ability to adhesive which makes it to possible in gluing paper. Form this experiment we will change the
ways of Filipino people instead of buying glue they will find sea cucumber as glue and it is economical.
V. Review of Related Literature
Funk & Wagnalls (2016) states that sea cucumber is a soft-bodied, tubular Echinoderm, related to
the Starfish, and the sea urchin. More than 1100 species of sea cucumbers make up the class
Holothuriodea; they range in length from 2 cm (0.8 in) to 2 m (6.5 ft) and dwell on seabeds throughout
the world. Holothurians differ from other echinoderms in being bilaterally rather than radially
symmetrical. Their rubbery, warty bodies somewhat resemble a cucumber, hence the name. The ossicles
small, bony structuresof sea cucumbers do not form supporting shells or external spines, as in other
echinoderms, but remain embedded within the skin, are microscopic in size, and often number in the
millions. Like other echinoderms, however, holothurians have projecting tube feet, especially on the flat
underside; they use these feet to make the sluggish caterpillarlike contractions by which they move.
Funk & Wagnalls (2016) also stated that sea cucumbers feed on microscopic organisms, which
they sense and sweep up from the seabed with frondlike tentacles that branch out from the mouth. Many
holothurians also ingest mud and sand and, in a manner similar to that of earthworms, absorb the organic
matter, egest the waste from the cloaca, and leave castings. Most holothurians breathe by means of
branched respiratory tubes, called trees, leading from the cloaca into the body cavity. Contractions of the
cloaca force water into the respiratory trees, which empty the water into the body cavity; it mixes there
with body fluids and supplies them with oxygen. Some species have so-called Cuvierian organscloacal
enlargements of the respiratory treeswhich are expelled when the animal is in danger. The sticky
filaments of this discharge entangle predators.
There may be several hundred Cuvierian tubules which are attached to the left respiratory tree
and lie freely in the coelomic fluid in the body cavity. When stressed, the sea cucumber faces away from
the attacker and contracts its body wall muscles sharply. This causes the wall of the cloaca to tear and the
anus to gape and the free ends of some of the tubes to be ejected. Water from the respiratory tree is forced
into these tubules causing a rapid expansion and they elongate by up to twenty times their original length.
They have great tensile strength and become sticky when they encounter any object. The adhesive is
unique among marine invertebrates and a firm grip is obtained in under ten seconds. The mass of threads
can entangle and immobilize potential predators such as small fish or crabs. The threads become
detached from the sea cucumber which crawls away. The tubules are readily regenerated, a process that
takes about seventeen days in Holothuria leucospilota and five weeks in Holothuria forskali. The tubules

contain a toxic saponin called holothurin, which is also present in the body wall in some sea cucumber
species (Wikipedia, 2016).
National Geographic (2015) cited that sea cucumbers, particularly eggs and young larvae, are
prey for fish and other marine animals. They are also enjoyed by humans, especially in Asia, and some
species are farmed as delicacies. When threatened, some sea cucumbers discharge sticky threads to
ensnare their enemies. Others can mutilate their own bodies as a defense mechanism. They violently
contract their muscles and jettison some of their internal organs out of their anus. The missing body parts
are quickly regenerated. Sea cucumbers can breed sexually or asexually. Sexual reproduction is more
typical, but the process is not very intimate. The animals release both eggs and sperm into the water and
fertilization occurs when they meet. There must be many individuals in a sea cucumber population for
this reproductive method to be successful. Indeed, many parts of the deep ocean host large herds of these
ancient animals, grazing on the microscopic bounty of marine water.
Base from the above perception of sea cucumber, we can say that sea cucumber can produce a
sticky white thread which is applicable on making glue.
VI. PROCEDURE
a. Materials
Sea cucumber, Paper, Container
b. Procedures
1. Prepare/ gather the materials
Collecting and harvesting of fresh sea cucumber is hard. Just pick the black sea
cucumber in the sea.
2. Squeezing the anus part of sea cucumber so that it will eviscerate and produce the
white sticky threads of it and put it in the container.
By squeezing the anus part of the sea cucumber, the white sticky threads will come
out.
3. Apply to paper and see how it works because of its adhesiveness.
Place the white sticky threads on paper using your hand.
4. Put the paper (with sticky white threads) in the wood or cement.
Putting the paper in the wood or cement will see the effect of our experiment.
VII. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Phase 1: Quantitative Approach

Median =
1+1+1+2+2+2+2+2+3+3+3+3+3+
3+3+3+4+4+5+5+5+5+5+5
=3
Q1
1
1
1
2
2
2

2
2
3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3
4
4

Q2

Q3

Q4

5
5
5
5
5
5
IQR = 4 - 2 = 2

Analysis of Questionnaires
Aroma
5 5 5 5 5

Taste

Flavor

Color

Viscosity

5
4

4
3

3 3 3 3 3
2

Strongly Agree

Agree

3
2

2
1 1

Either

Disagree Strongly Disagree

Phase 2: Qualitative
Base from our group discussions or interview, our experiment is truly effective as glue applied to
paper and when it applied to wood or cement because they see it for themselves when we are having our
experiment that time.
VIII. CONCLUSION
Therefore, base from our phase 1 and phase 2 of our results and discussions our experiment is
effective together with the stickiness, texture, color, viscosity and the appearance of it is achieved or
therefore answered compared to commercial glue. And according to them
IX. RECOMMENDATION

There are so many types of glue available in the market nowadays; its strength mostly depending
upon the type of materials you will be using the glue for. There are some glue types that are extra strong
and meant for gluing materials like wood and cement. Other glue types are on the other hand weaker, just
like the Elmers glue which is primarily used for gluing papers together. Most glue though is chemical
based and therefore could be harmful to our health and even the environment. So we highly recommend
that you must use the sea cucumber because it is economic, environmental and not harmful to our health.

X. RESEARCHERS
Jose V. Gorumba Jr.
Ramil Libores
Vernardo Regino
Rhea Mae Montillano

XI. ADISER
Ma. Lourdes B. Paloma

Ralyn Pajaron
Lloyd Jessie Suson