Effects of anthropogenic stressors on Helgoland’s lobsters (Homarus gammarus) ...

• Main Author: Leiva, Laura
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Universität Bremen 2023
• Subjects: Lobster biology; ocean acidification; ocean warming; Noise pollution; Climate Change; 80; Helgoland; European lobster; Homarus gammarus; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.26092/elib/2221; https://media.suub.uni-bremen.de/handle/elib/6900

As meroplankton, lobsters make up a great portion of both benthic communities and planktonic fauna in the water column. Furthermore, they represent a mayor food source across the marine food web and a vital source of protein for humans. As an economically important species, lobsters are highly susceptible to anthropogenic stressors (e.g habitat destruction, over-fishing, noise pollution). Moreover, climate change may magnify the impact of human activities on lobsters’ fitness. The collapse of the population of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) around Helgoland constitutes a good example and prompted a large-scale restocking program. Yet, the question arises if recruitment of remaining natural individuals and program released specimens could be stunted by ongoing climate change and human activities. In my thesis I investigate the effect of several anthropogenic stressors that could potentially be affecting the route to recovery of Helgoland’s lobsters. Since monitoring of lobster larvae has not been ...