Project number: 1983-047
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $0.00
Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Cleveland
Project start/end date: 28 Dec 1987 - 31 Dec 1987
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. To determine the feeding range of western rock lobster panulirus cygnus George and to assess the fishing area of a commercial pot

Final report

Author: P. Jernakoff B.F. Phillips
Final Report • 1987-12-31 • 2.51 MB
1983-047-DLD.pdf

Summary

Food is a primary factor affecting the growth and survival of juvenile western rock lobsters in nursery areas. Determining how far juveniles travel when searching for food is essential in determining the size of area foraged and how much food is potentially available to them. Knowledge of foraging patterns and feeding activity of juvenile western rock lobsters is, therefore, required to understand their ecology.

Studies on natural foraging activity of rock lobsters are difficult. The animals feed at night and it is only possible for divers to observe a few animals. In addition, the natural behavior of rock lobsters is affected by the presence of divers. The lobsters hide from the divers in the seagrass beds instead of foraging.

Phillips et al. (1984) developed a method of remotely tracking juvenile western rock lobsters using electromagnetic tags. Natural foraging distances and activity can be determined by this method, enabling researchers to monitor the position of the tagged lobsters throughout the night.

Related research

Environment
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2023-087
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Macquarie Harbour oxygenation trial

1. Develop plume model and run scenarios to inform injection depth, flow volume, concentration, and distribution of injection points for oxygenation trials.
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2023-085
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Snapper Science Program: Theme 1 - Biology and Ecology

1. Quantify the abundance of age 0+ Snapper in northern Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent to provide relative estimates of recruitment for 2024, 2025, and 2026. Examine the otoliths of these fish to improve the understanding of early life history processes.
ORGANISATION:
Flinders University