Effect of age, injury, and predator odors on settlement and shelter selection by lobster Homarus americanus postlarvae

Abstract

When offered separately, low light intensity shelters induced more postlarvae to settle and seek a shelter than microhabitats presenting higher light levels. Choice experiments (all types of shelter offered simultaneously) were designed to test whether delayed settlement injuries at metamorphosis (loss of one or both chelipeds), and metabolites of the fish predator Tautogolabrus adspersus influenced settlement rate and selectivity of competent lobsters. Postlarvae settled more quickly and sheltered less selectively as they aged. Postlarvae released in seawater previously conditioned by T. adspersus tended to exhibit a higher settlement rate and lower degree of selectivity. Severely injured postlarvae also appeared less selective than normal or slightly injured postlarvae. -from Authors