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Morphometric variability in UK populations of the European lobster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2001

Valerie J. Debuse
Affiliation:
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
Julian T. Addison
Affiliation:
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
John D. Reynolds
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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Abstract

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European lobsters (Homarus gammarus) were sampled from nine sites around the UK coast to determine whether populations could be differentiated on the basis of morphometric variability, and to relate this to depth and indices of population size at each site. Discriminant analysis indicated that exoskeleton damage was the only characteristic that could distinguish males between sites. In contrast, females were distinguished between sites on the basis of variation in exoskeleton damage, claw spines and rostrum teeth, which tended to be positively correlated to indices of population density. This study suggests that female morphology may respond more strongly than male morphology to local selection pressures, albeit in a limited capacity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2001 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom