Predation in subtropical soft-bottom systems: spiny lobster and molluscs in Florida Bay

Published source details Nizinski M. (2007) Predation in subtropical soft-bottom systems: spiny lobster and molluscs in Florida Bay. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 345, 185-197.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide artificial shelters Action Link

Provide artificial shelters

A replicated, controlled study in 1993–1995 in four sites across two areas of seagrass in the Everglades National Park, Florida Bay, USA (Nizinski 2007) found that providing artificial shelters had varied effects on Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus abundance (shelter occupancy) depending on shelter designs, but all designs had similar abundance of their molluscan prey. Lobster abundance was greater in full-roof artificial shelters (13 lobsters/shelter) than mesh-roof shelters (6 lobsters/shelter), and more lobsters were found in these two designs than in either artificial shelter frames (1 lobster/shelter) or plots without artificial shelters (0 lobster/plot). Abundance was not significantly different in shelter frames and plots without shelters. Abundance data for molluscs in each treatment were not shown. Four treatments (three shelter designs and no shelter) were tested; 1) an artificial shelter frame without a roof, 2) an artificial shelter frame covered with a 3.8 cm diamond mesh roof, 3) an artificial shelter frame covered with an aluminium sheet and 4) delimited empty plot of similar size as an artificial shelter. In July 1993, at two sites (1 km apart) in each of two areas (12 km apart), artificial shelters were deployed (4 replicates/treatment/site). Quarterly in 1993–1994 and twice in 1995, divers counted and measured lobsters >20 mm, and using a suction sampler identified and counted molluscs >1 mm sampled (1 replicate/treatment/sampling time; 0.05 m² samples) in all treatments.

(Summarised by: Anaëlle Lemasson)