New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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How do spiny lobster post-larvae find the coast?

Andrew G. Jeffs

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research Limited
P.O. Box 109695
Auckland, New Zealand

and

School of Biological Sciences
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, New Zealand
email: a.jeffs@niwa.co.nz

John C. Montgomery

School of Biological Sciences
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, New Zealand

Chris T. Tindle

Physics Department
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract  The larvae or phyllosomes of many species of spiny lobsters (Palinuridae) are known to complete their development in offshore oceanic waters. Phyllosomes metamorphose to non-feeding, nektonic post-larvae or pueruli, which move into shallow coastal waters where they settle to become benthic dwelling juveniles. There is growing evidence that the movement of pueruli is directed toward the coast rather than a process of random dispersal. The migration inshore by the non-feeding pueruli is likely to be one of the more extreme examples of onshore orientation among marine organisms, but is still poorly understood. This article provides a synthesis of the current state of knowledge of the possible cues and sensory mechanisms that might be used by pueruli of spiny lobsters for orienting toward the coast from offshore waters. The review is used to identify the potential cues that would benefit from future research efforts.

Keywords  Palinurid; post-larvae; puerulus; underwater sound; magnetic sense; onshore movement

M04079; Online publication date 8 June 2005 Received 31 March 2004; accepted 8 November 2004
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2005, Vol. 39: 605-617
0028-8330/05/3903-0605 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005

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