Behaviour and distribution of larval and early juvenile Homarus americanus.

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1983

Abstract

American lobster larvae are concentrated in downwellings characteristic of shallow sea fronts. Stage IV lobsters swimming at the surface avoided floating weeds and sticks. Some 70% of laboratory-reared 4th stage lobsters swam near the surface for more than a minute when released but only 25% of 5th stage lobsters did so. When early 4th stage lobsters encountered bottom, they did not remain long in one place, but late 4th and early 5th stage lobsters began to burrow. Late 4th and early 5th stage lobsters were less likely to return to the surface when they reached the bottom. If the bottom was unsuitable (featureless sand) the lobsters resumed swimming. These behaviours appear to be an appropriate mechanism for substrate selection during settlement.-from Authors

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Volume

40

Issue

12

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