MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.962.352 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 536:203-219 (2015)

Fine-scale movement, activity patterns and home-ranges of European lobster Homarus gammarus

ABSTRACT: Understanding an animal’s movement, distribution and activity pattern is vital for effective delivery of evidence-based management; however, such data are sparse for many economically important fishery targets, particularly the European lobster Homarus gammarus. This study aimed to elucidate high-resolution movement and activity patterns of a large cohort (n = 44; carapace length = 65-98 mm) of adult European lobsters, using a passive fine-scale acoustic telemetry VEMCO Positioning System (VPS) off Northumberland (UK). This is the first application of VPS on this species and the first offshore VPS study within the UK, providing novel positional data generated via triangulation based on time difference of arrival of acoustic signals. Individual home-ranges using kernel density and minimum convex polygons showed seasonal variation: 95% utilisation distribution ranged from 244 to 7722 m2 during spring (mean ± SE: 11104 ± 397 m2), and declined to 237-784 m2 during autumn (mean ± SE: 455 ± 66 m2s.e.). The study also provides evidence of behavioural differences between sexes, with males using more space than females. Daily cumulative step-length and daily minimum convex polygons highlighted that while space-use decreased during the autumn, daily distance moved increased for the majority of lobsters observed, coupled with longer durations of diel activity during autumn. These results suggest that using home-range analyses alone to describe lobster movement may inadequately represent its full behaviour. This study demonstrates the potential for passive acoustic telemetry tracking of otherwise cryptic and difficult to study marine benthic animals.

KEYWORDS

Daniel J. Skerritt (Corresponding Author)

  • School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
daniel.skerritt@ncl.ac.uk

Peter A. Robertson (Co-author)

  • Animal and Plant Health Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 ILZ, UK
  • School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

Aileen C. Mill (Co-author)

  • School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

N. V. C Polunin (Co-author)

  • School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

Clare Fitzsimmons (Co-author)

  • School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK