Abstract

Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) often exhibit den-sharing behavior which is hypothesized to have many beneficial effects for sub-legal and adult lobsters. However, although some lobsters are found in dens containing multiple lobsters, others are found in solitary dens. This study examines den sharing behavior of lobsters in the Florida Keys. We examined the effect of reef type (fore reef, back reef, and patch reefs), fishing pressure (marine reserve, fishery), and fishing season (closed, open). We surveyed lobsters in four habitats inside and adjacent to an ecological reserve within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. We captured and measured lobsters in each den. We calculated the percentage of dens in each defined den type and the percentage of lobsters in each den type. Though the majority of dens were solitary dens (56.44%), they only accounted for 18.68% of total lobsters. When comparing the fished area against the reserve during the closed season, the percentages of lobsters in den types were similar; however, change occurred during the fishing season. With the decrease in lobster abundance during fishing season, the percentage of dens containing more than five lobsters outside of the reserve decreased from 12% to 7.5%. In contrast, these dens increased from 10% to 20% inside the reserve. During the fishing season, most solitary dens contained sub-legal lobsters outside the reserve and legal-sized lobsters inside the reserve.

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