Study offers hope for the resilience of the American lobster fishery

Published 2024년 9월 10일

Tridge summary

A study by researchers at William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences found that female American lobsters' grooming behaviors, essential for offspring survival, are not significantly affected by the temperature and acidity levels predicted for Maine's coastal waters by the end of the century. This indicates that American lobsters may be more resilient to climate change than previously thought. The research, published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, involved observing 24 lobsters under controlled conditions simulating future environmental changes. While certain grooming behaviors increased during embryo development, neither water temperature nor acidification significantly impacted behavioral changes or embryo survival. The study also included an educational component to engage students and teachers and highlighted the need for species-specific studies under climate change conditions to ensure the long-term success of the lobster fishery.

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Original content

According to a study by researchers at William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences, the American lobster may be more resilient to the effects of climate change than expected. For the first time, experiments performed at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) have documented how female American lobsters groom their offspring, providing evidence that these behaviors are not significantly impacted by temperature and acidity levels forecasted for Maine's coastal waters by the end of the century.The findings are published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series.Despite being one of the largest commercial fisheries in the U.S. with an annual economic impact of more than $460 million in Maine alone, few studies have documented the reproductive behavior of female American lobsters. With the Gulf of Maine warming faster than nearly any other ocean surface on the planet, it's important to understand how the effects of climate change will impact the ...

Source: Phys