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Shelter preference in captive juveniles of European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787)

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Abstract

Physical shelter features (e.g. shape, size and substrate slope) were tested in the laboratory to evaluate the preferences of juveniles of European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas. Tethering experiments to assess whether substrate slope affects the vulnerability of juveniles to predation were also performed. Our results showed that: (1) semi-circular dens were significantly preferred over square and circular shapes; (2) when not disturbed by a predator, lobsters sheltered in holes with a diameter closely related to their own size, while in the presence of a potential predator lobsters showed no significant preference for a particular shelter size; (3) lobsters significantly preferred dens excavated on sub-vertical (35°) substrates over those excavated on vertical ones (90°); (4) individual lobsters tethered on vertical substrates were subject to greater predation activity than those tethered on horizontal structures. In conclusion, the present study contributes to the understanding of how physical properties of shelters affect the choice of P. elephas juveniles, enhancing their protection and survival rate.

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Acknowledgments

We thank G. Cicchirillo and V. Di Stefano for their time and advice. Additionally, we thank M. Milazzo for critical discussion and comments, which substantially improved earlier versions of this manuscript. Financial support was provided by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali, Italy. All experiments performed during this study were in compliance with the laws of the Italian government.

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  1. IAMC-CNR, via L. Vaccara 61, 91026, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy

    Michele Gristina, F. Fiorentino, G. Garofalo & F. Badalamenti

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  1. Michele Gristina
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  2. F. Fiorentino
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  3. G. Garofalo
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  4. F. Badalamenti
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Correspondence to Michele Gristina.

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Communicated by P. Kraufvelin.

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Gristina, M., Fiorentino, F., Garofalo, G. et al. Shelter preference in captive juveniles of European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787). Mar Biol 156, 2097–2105 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1240-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1240-z

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