Pelagic spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii, pueruli and
phyllosomas were sampled on offshore transects from the south-east coast of
the North Island of New Zealand in February 1998. Carapace length, weight, and
total lipid content of pueruli (n = 360) were
assessed; 33 pueruli had soft carapaces, indicative of recent metamorphosis
from final-stage (stage 11) phyllosoma larvae. The recently metamorphosed
pueruli occurred 24–216 km offshore, much farther offshore than has been
previously suggested for the location of metamorphosis. Their distribution was
compared to information on their size and condition, as well as their distance
offshore, water depth, temperature and salinity, and estimates of
phytoplankton biomass. The results indicate that a threshold of larval energy
reserve is unlikely to trigger metamorphosis, but rather some exogenous
trigger may be involved, or metamorphosis may be part of a programmed
developmental process. The distribution and condition of the new pueruli
suggest that about 84% had the energetic capacity to swim inshore to
settle. This result may have important implications for patterns of puerulus
settlement and subsequent recruitment of lobsters to coastal populations and
their important associated fisheries. It may influence both the seasonal and
interannual variability in settlement observed in this species.