Habitat Preferences in Puerulus Postlarvae of Japanese Spiny Lobster Panulirus japonicus

Abstract

Settlement of puerulus Postlarvae of Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus was investigated using seaweed-like collectors at a seawall in Uranouchi Inlet, Tosa Bay, Japan. Developmental stage of collected pueruli differed in soaking time of collectors. Late stage pueruli were not collected after one day soaking to compare with longer soaking days, indicating that pueruli might not move around before metamorphosis. In field and laboratory experiments on color preference for artificial seaweed, pueruli did not show consistent preference on color, indicating that puerulus postlarvae do not choose settlement site by color. Timing of metamorphosis from puerulus postlarvae to juvenile was not affected by shelter, indicating that post settled pueruli could not delay metamorphosis.