Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2007.

ix, 113 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm Typescript. (Another copy on microfilm is located in Archives) Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Oregon Includes vita and abstract Bibliography: leaves 106-113 University of Oregon theses, Dept. of Biology, Ph.D., 1978

[Truncated abstract] In this thesis I investigated the ingestive and digestive morphology and digestive physiology during development of phyllosomata of the ornate spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus. This knowledge was applied to develop a suitable formulated diet to be fed in combination with Artemia or used as a supplement to reduce production costs. The major impediment to closure of the life cycle of spiny lobsters has been an inadequate dietary regime, stemming from a lack of information on their feeding biology and ingestive and digestive capabilities. Of all spiny lobster species, P. ornatus is the best candidate for aquaculture in Australia having the shortest larval development phase (46 months) and fast growth rate, attaining 1 kg within 2 years of hatch. Currently, Artemia and fresh feeds such as mussel are used routinely as hatchery feeds. However, the development of a formulated diet that is palatable and delivers the correct balance of nutrients is seen as a highly attractive and cost effective alternative. An appropriate formulated diet for aquaculture of phyllosomata of spiny lobsters can be developed more effectively when the ingestive and digestive morphology, physiology and feeding behaviour are fully understood. ... Partial replacement trials revealed that P. ornatus phyllosoma are stimulated to feed by visual cues. Furthermore, 75% of the entire Artemia ration can be replaced with a formulated diet without having any adverse effects on survival and growth of early-stage phyllosomata. Weaning P. ornatus phyllosomata onto 100% formulated diet during stages II-III resulted in reduced survival but demonstrated that diets containing 44-50% crude protein with a diverse range of marine protein sources provides optimum survival and growth. This thesis has identified both physical and nutritional components that will contribute to the successful development of formulated diets for aquaculture of this species. Ultimately, although formulated diets are ingested and provide more than adequate survival when fed in combination with Artemia during early ontogeny, greater success and the possibility of totally replacing Artemia may occur after day 32 (stage IV) due to an increased efficiency to capture and manipulate larger sized particles externally and a greater capacity to triturate prey and sort and filter particles internally. Furthermore, a general increase in specific activity of digestive enzymes at stage IV suggests the possibility of a greater capacity to digest and assimilate nutrients.

This study is aimed to provide an understanding of the spiny lobster fishery of the south coast of Sri Lanka. Most of the spiny lobster fisheries of the world are subjected to heavy exploitation due to the increasing demand. The use of hazardous fishing methods however is known to cause serious problems in the developing countries, including Sri Lanka where considerable percentage of berried females and under sized lobsters are caught each year. The fishery for spiny lobster in the coastal waters of the south coast is carried out by non-mechanized out-rigger small canoes with trammel nets, bottom set gill nets and lobster rings. Around 200mt of lobsters is caught each year in the study area by a fishing fleet of 315 crafts. Around 80% of the lobster production consisted of Panulirus homarus. Lobsters were found to occur all year round, but the fishery is restricted to the non-monsoon period (August-March) due to operational difficulties. The analysis of catch and effort statistics indicated a maximum sustainable yield of 190-200 mt and an optimal daily effort of 300 crafts. The length-based analysis indicated that the resource is over exploited and a reduction in effort by about 20.5% is necessary to put the fishery back to an equilibrium level. Experimental fishing tests revealed that the lobster rings cause the least damage to the population, while the trammel net was the most harmful by including 77% of sub-legal lobsters in catches. This study indicated the possibility of having two spawning and recruitment pulses separated by an interval of 4-5 months. Fecundity estimates ranged between 116,000 - 601,000. Nearly two-third of the total egg production was contributed by lobsters of 60-79mm carapace length range. The fishery is reproductively supported by 3-4 year lobsters. This resource in the study area appears to be overfished with respect to its reproductive potential. The use of trammel nets and free access to the fishery are the two main points which should be carefully controlled. The fishery should be managed by using less harmful fishing gear (eg. lobster rings) and by introducing a proper licensing system to control fishermen entering into the fishery.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Robert H. Reeves, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Biological Science. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 23, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PhD--Marine Science)--University of Auckland, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the evolution of the genus Palinurus at the higher and lower taxonomic levels. The population genetics of the spiny lobster, Palinurus delagoae, was investigated by making use of a portion of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (547 base pairs) that was sequenced for 285 lobsters from the southeastern coast of Africa (six sites) and 49 lobsters from Walters Shoals (one site), a submerged seamount on the Madagascar Ridge. Lobsters from these two areas shared no haplotypes and differed by at least 27 mutational steps. An analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic partitioning, and pairwise comparisons suggested that lobsters from Walters Shoals are distinct from those of other sampling areas. Along the south east African coastline there was shallow genetic partitioning between four southern sites (South Africa) and two northern (Mozambique) sites, suggesting two Management Units along the African coast. Female gene flow along the African coast may be propagated by larval dispersal in the Mozambique and Agulhas Currents and counter-current migrations by benthic juveniles along the shelf, but the mtDNA data strongly suggest that larvae at Walters Shoals have been, or are currently still retained by other oceanographic processes. The magnitude of mtDNA divergence among lobsters from the southeastern coast of Africa and those at Walters Shoals, together with the absence of any shared haplotypes between these regions, strongly suggested that these two taxa represent distinct species. The molecular data of the large subunit ribosomal RNA, 16S rRNA (481 bp), and cytochrome oxidase subunit I, COI (520 bp) were then used for a higher level phylogenetic analysis of the genus. A total of 33 individuals (five representatives from each of the six species), and two outgroups (Projasus parkeri and Palinustus unicornutus), were subjected to maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. All analyses were conducted on both the separate data sets as well as a combination of the two genes. Bootstrap analyses of the 16S rRNA data resulted in >70% support for the monophyly of all six Palinurus species but no support could be obtained for any of the interspecific associations. Likewise, individual analyses of the COI gene resulted in strong support for the monophyly of the species. The combined data (parsimony analyses) increased the resolution considerably and apart from the monophyly of all six species, good bootstrap support was also obtained for associations among species. The topology for the maximum likelihood analyses displayed a more resolved and well supported tree when the basal ingroup taxon P. elephas was used to root the tree. The combined Bayesian analyses did not result in a well resolved topology and no significant posterior probabilities could be obtained reflecting the associations among species. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die evolusie van die genus Palinurus by hoë en laer taksonomiese vlakke ondersoek. Die bevolkingsgenetika studie op die kreef, Palinurus delagoae, is ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van 'n gedeelte van die mitokondriale (mtDNA) kontrole-area (547 basispare) waarvan die volgorde bepaal is vir 285 krewe van die suidoos-kus van Afrika (afkomstig van ses verskillende gebiede) en 49 krewe afkomstig van Walters Shoals (een gebied), 'n ondersese berg op die Madagaskar Rand. Krewe van hierdie twee areas deel geen haplotipes nie en verskil met ten minste 27 mutasiestappe. 'n Analise van die molekulêre variansie toon dat daar 'n beduidende genetiese verdeling tussen die twee groepe is en 'n gepaarde vergelyking toon dat krewe afkomstig van Walters Shoals verskil beduidend van krewe uit ander gebiede. Volgens die vlak genetiese verdeling tussen die vier suidelike (Suid-Afrika) en twee noordelike (Mosambiek) gebiede van die suidoos-kus van Afrika wil dit voorkom of daar twee bestuurseenhede langs die kuslyn van Afrika is. Vroulike geenvloei langs hierdie kuslyn kan dalk bevarder word deur larwale verspreiding in die Mosambiek- en Agulhas- Seestrome en teenstroom migrasie van jong bodemwonende krefies op die kontinentale plaat. Die mtDNA data stel egter voor dat kreeflarwes by Walters Shoals deur ander oseanografiese prosesse steeds (of tot onlangs toe) behou word. Die grootte van mtDNA divergering tussen krewe van die suidoos-kus van Afrika en die by Walters Shoals, sowel as die afwesigheid van enige gemeenskaplike haplotipes tussen die twee gebiede, toon met beduidende sekerheid aan dat hierdie twee taksa twee unieke spesies verteenwoordig. Die molekulêre data van die 16S-rRNA (481bp) van die groot ribosomale-subeenheid en die sitochroom oksidase subeenheid, COI (520bp) is gebruik om 'n hoër resolusie filogenetiese analise van die genus te bepaal. Data van 33 individue (vyf individue uit elk van die ses spesies) en twee buitegroepe (Projasnus parkeri en Palinustus uniconutus) is geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van die maksimum-parsimonie, die maksimum-waarskynlikheid en die Bayes-inferensie metodes. Alle analises is uitgevoer op beide die afsonderlike datastelle sowel as op die gekombineerde data van die twee gene. Analise van die 16S-rRNA data deur die skoenlusmetode (steekproefhersteekproef- metode) toon meer as 70% steun vir die monofilie van al ses Palinurus spesies maar dit toon geen steun vir enige van die interspesifieke assosiasies nie. Net so toon individuele analise van die COI geen beduidende steun vir die monofilie van die spesies. Die gekombineerde data (parsimonie) het 'n aansienlike verhoging in die resolusie teweeg gebring en behalwe vir die monofilie van al ses die spesies was daar ook goeie steun deur die skoenlusmetode vir die assosiasie tussen spesies verkry. Die topologie vir die maksimum-parsimonie het 'n goed gesteunde en hoër resolusie boom vir die gekombineerde datastel (sonder die buitegroepe) getoon. Die gekombineerde Bayesanalise het nie 'n soortgelyke boom opgelewer nie en die assosiasie tussen die spesies is nie ondersteun nie aangesien geen beduidende a posteriori-waarskynlikheid verkry kon word nie.

The scalloped spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus has a subspecies trio that are widely distributed in shallow-water habitats in the South West Indian Ocean. Subspecies are defined by differences in colour and abdominal sculptural pattern. A red variety with the megasculptural carapace pattern, P. h. rubellus is distributed along the south east coast of Africa and Madagascar, where they are endemic. Along the African coast P. h. rubellus stocks traverse political boundaries, Mozambique and South Africa. This project aimed to facilitate regional fisheries management of shared stocks by employing genetic tools to determine whether stocks (or populations) are indeed shared between countries. Lobster samples were collected from seven localities throughout the east African coast. The mitochondrial cyctochrome c oxidase subunit 1 region was sequenced to assess the genetic diversity 1) between different subspecies, P. h. homarus and P. h. rubellus and 2) between populations of P. h. rubellus across its African distribution range. Using DNA barcoding methods, genetic diversity was also found between morphologically distinct subspecies, Panulirus homarus homarus and P. h. rubellus which differed genetically by ca. 2-3% in sequence divergence. Both subspecies were monophyletic relative to the out-group taxa and formed well supported sister clades (BI: 1.00, ML: 93%, P: 100%, NJ: 100%). The distribution of P. h. rubellus along the African coast occurs adjacent to different current regimes and therefore varied larval transport modes (i.e. Agulhas Current and inshore countercurrents along the Eastern Cape). This may have driven the formation of subpopulations (ΦPT = 0.104, p = 0.010) which differ by ca. 1.7% in sequence difference. The pattern of gene flow of populations of P. h. rubellus lends support to the Agulhas Current being a major mode of larval transport as well as corroborates previous abundance and distribution records. Time since population expansion estimates for the P. h. homarus and P. h. rubellus subspecies as well as for the P. h. rubellus subpopulations dated back to the mid-Holocene Epoch in accordance with a warmer, more stable marine environment. Genetically distinct subspecies of P. homarus as well as differentiated subpopulations of P. h. rubellus calls for a re-visit of the current collective management of P. homarus as well as P. h. rubellus as a single genetic stock along the south east African coast. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2013.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

A spiny (Palinuridae), slipper (Scyllaridae) and coral (Synaxidae) lobster larval composition and distribution study on the western edge of the Florida Current is presented. From the samples collected during 2007, phyllosoma larvae of Justitia longimanus, Panulirus argus, Parribacus spp., S. americanus, S. depressus and P. gundlachi were positively identified. Relative density catches of the phyllosoma larvae indicate that P. argus (Florida spiny lobster) is the most abundant species in the Straits of Florida. Data gathered during the study shows that P. argus larvae at different developmental stages occur throughout the year which supports the theory of multiple spawning and/or multiple sources. Larvae of genus Panulirus are difficult to distinguish from plankton samples and hence were identified as of P. argus since it is the most common species in the area. Family Palinuridae and Scyllaridae larval density spikes in July and May, coincide with their spawning peak periods of late March – early May and late January to late March respectively. Members of family Palinuridae showed higher densities at night, whereas those of family Scyllaridae showed higher densities during day catches. Larvae of all species showed close association between total length and developmental stage at earlier age. Variability in size and morphology within stage increases with older stages due to multiple molts and/or smaller sample size.