Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Marine Ecology-Progress Series

Publication Date

1-1-2010

First Page

145

Last Page

156

Volume Number

420

Abstract/ Summary

The spatial distribution of the American lobster Homarus americanus is influenced by many factors, which are often difficult to quantify. We implemented a modeling approach for quantifying season-, size-, and sex-specific lobster spatial distribution in the Gulf of Maine with respect to environmental and spatial variables including bottom temperature, bottom salinity, latitude, longitude, depth, distance offshore, and 2 substratum features. Lobster distribution was strongly associated with temperature and depth, and differed seasonally by sex. In offshore waters in the fall, females were dominant at higher latitudes and males at lower latitudes. This segregation was not apparent in the spring although females were still dominant at higher latitudes in offshore waters. Juveniles and adults were also distributed differently; juveniles were more abundant at the lower latitudes in inshore waters, while adults were more widespread along the entire coast. These patterns are consistent with the ecology of the American lobster. This study provides a tool to evaluate changes in lobster spatial distribution with respect to changes in key habitat and other environmental variables, and consequently could be of value for the management of the American lobster.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Chang JH, Chen Y, Holland D, Grabowski J. Estimating Spatial Distribution of American Lobster Homarus Americanus Using Habitat Variables. Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 2010;420: 145-156.

Publisher Statement

Copyright 2010 Inter-Research.

DOI

10.3354/meps08849

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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