Behaviour of hatchery-reared and wild-caught 4th and 5th stage American lobsters, Homarus americanus

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-2005

Abstract

Behavioural deficiencies in 4th and 5th stage hatchery-reared lobsters were examined using time budget analysis and predator trials. Hatchery-reared 4th stage lobsters were found to behave differently than wild-caught lobsters and differences existed between hatchery-reared lobsters from different sources. Local hatchery-reared 4th stage lobsters spent less time on shelter and suffered higher predator rates in laboratory trials than both wild-caught 4th stage and lobsters reared in a hatchery in Maine. Fifth stage hatchery-reared lobsters spent significantly more time in shelter than their wild-caught counterparts. These differences may be attributable to the lack of development of proper predator-avoidance behaviour and need to be understood and corrected to maximise the effect of enhancement projects. © 2005, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

Volume

39

Issue

4

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