Long-term effects of marine reserve protection on the population structure, density, and reproductive potential of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland

Collins, Roanne K. (Roanne Kyla). (2010) Long-term effects of marine reserve protection on the population structure, density, and reproductive potential of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[img] [English] PDF - Accepted Version
Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission.

Download (5MB)

Abstract

Marine reserves provide a means of implementing the precautionary principle in support of sustainability objectives. Many reserves have been established for several commercially significant species of spiny lobster, but are less frequently employed for Homarid lobsters. In 1997, two small reserves for American lobster, Homarus americanus, were established in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland - one at Round Island, and one at Duck Islands. They were designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in 2005. Relatively short-term studies, employing 3 to 5 years of data, revealed significant differences in lobster density and/or mean size between populations within the reserves and similar reference locations, but did not examine differences in reproductive output. Using over ten years of data, I investigated differences in density, population structure (i.e. size; sex ratios), and reproductive potential between protected and unprotected populations of American lobster at both study sites. At the Round Island site, lobster density inside the reserve was greater than that of the adjacent reference area. Observed sex ratios in reserve and reference locations differed at both sites, with a greater bias towards females in reference locations. At Round Island and Duck Islands study sites, both male and female lobsters were significantly larger in protected populations, and mean sizes continued to increase over time. The increased female size in protected populations led to consistently greater reproductive potential inside these reserves, though the difference between protected and unprotected populations was small, averaging 10% for Round Island and 14% for Duck Islands. The results of this study provide further evidence that the Eastport MP As promote sustainability of the resource through increased density, mean size and reproductive potential of lobsters.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
URI: http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/8843
Item ID: 8843
Additional Information: Includes bibliographical references.
Department(s): Science, Faculty of > Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology
Date: 2010
Date Type: Submission
Geographic Location: Canada--Newfoundland and Labrador--Bonavista Bay
Library of Congress Subject Heading: American lobster--Conservation--Newfoundland and Labrador--Bonavista Bay; American lobster--Newfoundland and Labrador--Bonavista Bay--Reproduction; Marine invertebrate populations--Newfoundland and Labrador--Bonavista Bay; Marine parks and reserves--Newfoundland and Labrador--Bonavista Bay; Shellfish populations--Newfoundland and Labrador--Bonavista Bay

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over the past year

View more statistics