A test of recruitment limitation and the potential for artificial enhancement of spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) populations in Florida Article

Butler IV, MJ, Herrnkind, WF. (1997). A test of recruitment limitation and the potential for artificial enhancement of spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) populations in Florida . CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES, 54(2), 452-463. 10.1139/cjfas-54-2-452

cited authors

  • Butler IV, MJ; Herrnkind, WF

authors

abstract

  • We conducted a field experiment in the Florida Keys in which we manipulated Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) settlement and shelter for juveniles to (i) investigate how these factors influence local recruitment and (ii) evaluate the efficacy of such practices proposed to enhance spiny lobster populations. The number of small juvenile lobsters significantly increased at six 0.05-ha sites where 12 artificial shelters were added, but was unchanged on three unmanipulated sites. Adding over 150 new settlers to three of the shelter-supplemented sites did not measurably increase juvenile lobster abundance above that attributable to shelter enhancement alone. Mark recapture results confirmed that the observed increase in small juveniles on shelter-supplemented sites was not due to immigration. The addition of artificial structures to nursery sites appears to have reduced predation on the vulnerable small juveniles and led to their local retention. In contrast, larger more mobile juveniles were no more abundant where shelter was added than on the unmanipulated sites. These results support the proposition that local recruitment of P argus may be increased by augmenting natural shelter with appropriately designed artificial structures, but the broader implications of enhancing lobster populations on the surrounding natural communities are unknown.

publication date

  • June 6, 1997

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 452

end page

  • 463

volume

  • 54

issue

  • 2