Assessing potential influence of larval development time and drift on large-scale spatial connectivity of American lobster (homarus americanus)
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Date
2014
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University of New Brunswick
Abstract
I used a new larval drift model to investigate potential spatial connectivity of American
lobsters at a large scale incorporating most of the species' range. Because temperature-dependent
development of lobster larvae might vary across the species' range, I
compared a lab study using cold-water larvae with results of previous studies using
warm-water larvae, and tested the sensitivity of model predictions to differences in larval
development. The relationship between temperature and larval development time differed
between warm- and cold-origin larvae, possibly due to adaptation to local thermal
regimes. Different larval development scenarios affected the amount of connectivity
predicted by the model among areas. The model predicted much potential connectivity
among lobster fisheries areas, and predicted retention of larvae in certain areas, and
reliance on external larval supply in others. This is important to management, as the
amount and direction of connectivity among lobster fisheries can be used to manage them
sustainabIy.