Control of larval release in the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus: role of chemical cues

Abstract In crustaceans, ecdysis was long believed to result in the loss and replacement of all calcified structures, precluding the use of conventional ageing methods. However, the discovery of bands in the gastric ossicles of several crustaceans with some correlation with age suggests that direct age estimation may be possible. We applied this method to a tropical spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, one of the most iconic and economically valuable species in the Caribbean. The presence of growth bands was investigated using wild lobsters of unknown age and was validated with captive reared lobsters of known age (1.5–10 years) from the Florida Keys, Florida (USA). Bands were consistently identified in ptero- and zygo-cardiac ossicles of the gastric mill and did not appear to be associated with moulting. Validation with known age animals confirms that bands form annually. Counts between independent readers were reproducible with coefficients of variation ranging from 11% to 26% depending on reader experience and the structure used. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that direct age determination of P. argus is possible.

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Genetic diversity of the Caribbean spiny lobster virus, Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1), and the discovery of PaV1 in lobster postlarvae

Aquatic Biology ◽

10.3354/ab00395 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 223-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

J Moss ◽

IV Butler MJ ◽

DC Behringer ◽

JD Shields

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Spiny Lobster ◽

Panulirus Argus ◽

The Caribbean

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Examining the relationship between size and feeding preferences in the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) (Decapoda: Achelata: Palinuridae)

Journal of Crustacean Biology ◽

10.1093/jcbiol/rux122 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 245-249

Author(s):

Gaya Gnanalingam ◽

Mark J Butler

Keyword(s):

Spiny Lobster ◽

Panulirus Argus ◽

Feeding Preferences ◽

The Caribbean ◽

The Relationship

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Ocean acidification disrupts the orientation of postlarval Caribbean spiny lobsters

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-75021-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Philip M. Gravinese ◽

Heather N. Page ◽

Casey B. Butler ◽

Angelo Jason Spadaro ◽

Clay Hewett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ocean Acidification ◽

Time Scales ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Chemical Cues ◽

Spiny Lobster ◽

Episodic Acidification ◽

Anthropogenic Inputs ◽

Seawater Ph ◽

Y Maze ◽

The Caribbean

Abstract Anthropogenic inputs into coastal ecosystems are causing more frequent environmental fluctuations and reducing seawater pH. One such ecosystem is Florida Bay, an important nursery for the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus. Although adult crustaceans are often resilient to reduced seawater pH, earlier ontogenetic stages can be physiologically limited in their tolerance to ocean acidification on shorter time scales. We used a Y-maze chamber to test whether reduced-pH seawater altered the orientation of spiny lobster pueruli toward chemical cues produced by Laurencia spp. macroalgae, a known settlement cue for the species. We tested the hypothesis that pueruli conditioned in reduced-pH seawater would be less responsive to Laurencia spp. chemical cues than pueruli in ambient-pH seawater by comparing the proportion of individuals that moved to the cue side of the chamber with the proportion that moved to the side with no cue. We also recorded the amount of time (sec) before a response was observed. Pueruli conditioned in reduced-pH seawater were less responsive and failed to select the Laurencia cue. Our results suggest that episodic acidification of coastal waters might limit the ability of pueruli to locate settlement habitats, increasing postsettlement mortality.

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Hydrodynamic decoupling of recruitment, habitat quality and adult abundance in the Caribbean spiny lobster: source - sink dynamics?

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf97194 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 48 (8) ◽

pp. 807 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

R. N. Lipcius ◽

W. T. Stockhausen ◽

D. B. Eggleston ◽

L. S. Marshall Jr ◽

B. Hickey

Keyword(s):

Habitat Quality ◽

Large Scale ◽

Marine Reserve ◽

Spiny Lobster ◽

Marine Species ◽

Nursery Habitat ◽

Panulirus Argus ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Juvenile Density ◽

Adult Abundance

Marine species possess dispersive stages that interconnect subpopulations, which may inhabit ‘source’ and ‘sink’ habitats, where reproduction and emigration either exceed or fall short of mortality and immigration, respectively. Postlarval supply, juvenile density and adult abundance of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, were measured at four widely separated sites spanning >100 km in Exuma Sound, Bahamas. Adult abundance was lowest at a site with the highest postlarval supply and little nursery habitat; hence, it was tentatively classified as a sink. Circulation in Exuma Sound is dominated by large-scale gyres which apparently concentrate and advect postlarvae toward the nominal sink. The remaining three sites, including one marine reserve, had higher adult abundances despite lower postlarval supply, and are therefore tentatively classified as sources. Postlarval supply is probably decoupled from adult abundance by physical transport. Adult abundance is likely decoupled from postlarval supply by the effects of varying habitat quality upon postlarval and juvenile survival, as indicated by non-significant differences among sites in juvenile density. It appears that some sites with suitable settlement and nursery habitat are sources of spawning stock for Panulirus argus, whereas others with poor habitat are sinks despite sufficient postlarval influx.

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