Diet of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas (Decapoda: Palinuridea) from the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve (north-western Mediterranean)

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Goñi ◽  
Antoni Quetglas ◽  
Olga Reñones
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Ontogenetic Changes ◽  
Progressive Reduction ◽  
North Western ◽  
Palinurus Elephas

Stomach contents of 382 Palinurus elephas collected in the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve (north-western Mediterranean) were examined to study the diet and to assess ontogenetic and sex related differences in feeding regime. Molluscs, crustaceans, and sea urchins were the most common prey. Diet composition varied with lobster size but not with sex. Ontogenetic changes in diet were reflected in the progressive reduction of the contribution of gastropods and crustaceans and in the increased importance of other prey such as fish.

Effects of marine reserve protection on spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas Fabr., 1787) in a central western Mediterranean area

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 606 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Follesa ◽  
Danila Cuccu ◽  
Rita Cannas ◽  
Serenella Cabiddu ◽  
Matteo Murenu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Palinurus Elephas

Dynamics of a protected Western Mediterranean population of the European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) assessed by trap surveys

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Goñi ◽  
Olga Reñones ◽  
Antoni Quetglas
Keyword(s):  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Mediterranean Population ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Ontogenetic Migration ◽  
Catch Rates ◽  
High Catch ◽  
Palinurus Elephas

A protected population of the spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas, was studied eight years after establishment of the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve (western Mediterranean). Experimental trap fishing in the reserve and at two unprotected sites revealed that cessation of fishing in the reserve is probably responsible for high catch rates observed there and that the annual fishing closure is effective in rebuilding populations in exploited areas. In the reserve, variations in abundance, sex ratio, and size of lobsters were conspicuous. Catch rates were always higher in deep (50–80 m) than in shallow areas (20–50 m). Bathymetric differences in abundance were smallest in early summer, possibly because of seasonal onshore movements associated with reproduction. Females were always more abundant than males and less variable in number and size. Ancillary data suggest that reproductive and moulting behaviour, particularly of males, influences population estimates of P. elephas from trap surveys. Presence of subadults in deeper waters of the reserve suggests that 2- to 3-year-old juveniles undergo ontogenetic migration from the shallow settlement habitats (<20 m) to deeper habitats (>50 m). The results highlight the effectiveness of fishing restrictions in rebuilding P. elephas populations and suggest that the lobster population in the reserve is not closed.

Effect of marine reserve protection on spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas Fabr., 1787) in a central western Mediterranean area

2009 ◽  
pp. 63-68
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Follesa ◽  
Danila Cuccu ◽  
Rita Cannas ◽  
Serenella Cabiddu ◽  
Matteo Murenu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Palinurus Elephas

Movements and residence time of spiny lobsters, Palinurus elephas released in a marine protected area: an investigation by ultrasonic telemetry

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 1101-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.M. Giacalone ◽  
G. D'Anna ◽  
C. Pipitone ◽  
F. Badalamenti
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Release Site ◽  
Diel Activity ◽  
Ultrasonic Telemetry ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Entire Duration ◽  
Western Sicily ◽  
North Western

Marine reserves and restocking initiatives are sometimes used as a tool to enhance spiny lobster stocks. In such initiatives it is crucial to follow the movement of lobsters once they are released at sea in restocking experiments.This paper presents the results of the application of an ultrasonic telemetry system to the monitoring of 11 lobsters (90±14 mm mean carapace length) released in the Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine Marine Reserve in north-western Sicily, central Mediterranean. The system comprised transmitters glued onto the lobster carapace, and manual as well as automated receivers to locate tagged animals. The data (i.e. number of detected signals) were tested to assess any difference in the diel activity of lobsters. The field study lasted 79 days in total. Lobsters remained in the study area for periods ranging from a few hours to the entire duration of the study. The longest distance travelled by a tagged lobster was 2.2 km. The number of signals varied significantly across the day, with the highest value recorded in the full-light hours (1000–1500), but they were not sufficient to assess clearly the diel activity of the released lobsters.The interpretation of data suggests that: (1) released lobsters preferred a deeper habitat than that of the release site; and (2) the lobsters that reached a rough rocky area with available shelters settled there, while those that did not meet such a habitat soon moved out of hydrophone detecting range.

Homing and orientation of Palinurus elephas (Fabricius) in three no-take areas of the central-western Mediterranean: implications for marine reserve design

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Follesa ◽  
Rita Cannas ◽  
Alessandro Cau ◽  
Danila Cuccu ◽  
Antonello Mulas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Short Distance ◽  
Marine Reserves ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Movement Pattern ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Reserve Design ◽  
Considerable Portion ◽  
Capture Point ◽  
Marine Reserve Design ◽  
Palinurus Elephas

The homing and orientation skills of Palinurus elephas were investigated in three no-take areas of the central-western Mediterranean in order to inform future reserve design. In general, P. elephas did not show a particular ability to orient homeward. A considerable portion of tagged lobsters were recaptured in the same direction as the capture point but, the points of capture and recapture were at such a distance from each other as to exclude any possible return to the original den. Homing ability seemed to be constrained to where lobsters were only displaced a short distance. For distances longer than 0.5km, the lobster movements seem to become nomadic, without a particular direction. The movement pattern suggests that it will be important that any restocking of marine reserves must be performed with lobsters collected in adjacent zones at distance more than 0.5km. Lobsters captured in a fishing zone <0.5km outside the reserve will return to the point of capture whilethose collected from further away will not go back to their original place. Our results indicate that, for species like P. elephas, small reserves can protect most small subpopulations with a consequent benefit for the surrounding commercial areas.

Diet of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the western Mediterranean Sea

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Blanco ◽  
O. Salomón ◽  
J.A. Raga
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Causative Factors ◽  
Behavioural Patterns

The stomach contents of 16 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus (Cetacea: Odontoceti) stranded in the Spanish Mediterranean coast were examined. Remains and size of prey were analysed and correlated with the ecological characteristics and behavioural patterns of this dolphin. Fish and cephalopods represented the main diet components, and hake Merluccius merluccius was the most important prey. The food habits were considered as mainly demersal according to the characteristics of the prey. The study suggested ontogenic and sexual differences in feeding behaviour based on diet composition and hake size. The potential causative factors, particularly as they relate to dolphin social structure, are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document