Habitat: subtidal to the edge of the continental shelf, in any sheltered spot
Notes:
Lobsters differ from shrimps in having three pairs of clawed legs, the first with very large claws. Southern “Spiny Lobsters” are only distantly related; freshwater crayfish are closer. Lobsters, or “Bugs”, are mainly nocturnal, and feed primarily on living or freshly killed food rather than scavenging on carrion, as was once thought. Although they are predominantly solitary creatures, lobsters do have a sort of social life amongst themselves. Males are more aggressive than females and will form pecking orders among individuals in an area. Female lobsters apparently seek the protection of a male when molting, then mate afterward. Lobsters shed their shells once or twice a year, depending mainly on the temperature.
A biological colonization study of experimental reef habitats in temperate ocean waters off New Jersey was conducted over a 96-month period. A total of 145 different taxa of 9 phyla were identified within the experimental units, including 42 arthropoda, 37 annelida and 43 molluska. Individual organisms had an estimated mean abundance of 534,566 organisms/m2 of habitat footprint, including 105 fish, 4,639 crabs and 14 lobsters. Colonial organisms covered 87,554 cm2 of the habitat surface area. Mean total biomass of the organisms inhabiting the units was 84,175 g/m2, with blue mussel comprising 63 percent of the total. The carrying capacity of the experimental habitat for all species of marine life was about 152,801 g/m2. Predation accounted for an 80 percent reduction of biomass between surfaces exposed and not exposed to predators. There were no statistically significant differences in biological colonization rates of sessile epibenthos on concrete, rock, steel and rubber substrates. On an equivalent area basis, the biomass enhancement ratios of the experimental reef habitats over surf clam-dominated and polychaete/crustacean-dominated sand bottom habitats ranged from 35 to 1,124 and 2,773 to 3,200 times, respectively. A simplified, three-tiered reef habitat food chain consisted of 84.5 percent sessile/sedentary invertebrates, 11.0 percent mobile invertebrates and 4.5 percent juvenile and adult fish. The results suggest that complex reef habitats provide both attachment surfaces and refuge habitats that support a diverse and abundant marine life community.
This little guy will be safe from divers for a while. Notice how the tailings of his excavation are a different color than the surrounding bottom.
Lobsters, like most invertebrates, have a much slower nervous system than our own. In tiny creatures, such as insects, this is no great disadvantage, since their “wire runs” ( or nerves ) are so short. However, in bigger invertebrates, this translates into very long reaction times. Therefore, big lobsters have slow reflexes, much slower than even humans. Another common invertebrate trait is a lack of stamina, at least compared to us. In other words, they tire quickly in a chase. This is not to say that they lack tenacity – once they get a good grip on you, they can hold on forever, and even breaking the claw off may not cause it to release.
The first thing about catching a lobster is don’t be too afraid of it. Small lobsters – restaurant-sized 1-2 pounders – are not strong enough to really hurt you. Wear a good heavy pair of gloves, and their pinch may be painful, but not damaging. Larger lobsters deserve more respect, because they certainly can hurt you. Really big ones could even break bones. I had a big one once bite me so hard it gave me nerve damage in my thumb. I boiled him personally, and the numbness and swelling went away after a few weeks.
Eat or Be Eaten: Survival of the Fittest on an Artificial Reef
A Frilled Anemone ( Metridium senile ) our largest and most common anemone
The classical, textbook version of a typical marine food chain is a link-by-link progression from plankton to sardine to mackerel to tuna. If only adult life stages are considered, then this straightforward illustration has merit. In actuality, however, predator-prey relationships in the ocean are very diverse and very complicated.
Four explosive charges set by a U.S. Navy demolition team rip holes in the hull of the Morania Abaco on the Atlantic City Reef. ( Photo by Ray Fisk )
Old Ships Make New Homes For Fish
Old vessels make excellent artificial reefs. They provide high profile structure for pelagic fish, low profile structure for demersal fish, as well as surface area for the attachment of mussels, barnacles, tubeworms, and other food organisms. Shipwrecks have been the basis for the state’s bottom fisheries which feature sea bass, tautog, ling, cod, and pollock. and for recreational scuba diving activities. The New Jersey coast has a large number of shipwrecks, estimates range from 500 to 3,000. These wrecks are the result of 200 years of maritime disasters and enemy submarine operations during World Wars I and II.
New Jersey’s Reef Program is administered by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. The objectives of the program are to construct hard-substrate “reef” habitat in the ocean for certain species of fish and shellfish, new fishing grounds for anglers, and underwater structures for scuba divers.
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This medium-sized crane barge sank under tow in March 2004. The barge is upside-down, but propped up at a 30-degree angle by the crane, rising 30 feet off the bottom at the highest point. The crane is a large rotating affair that is permanently mounted on the barge. It is not the crumpled arm of the crane that supports the hull, but the central cab, so the wreck is stable, and it is safe to explore the cavernous dark space below. The bottom is coarse sand and pea gravel. Eventually, the wreck will crush flat, but that will probably take several years, and until then this is a fun and interesting site. Big eels, Sea Bass, and even one or two lobsters can be found here.
