Review of American Lobster ('Homarus americanus') Habitat Requirements andResponses to Contaminant Exposures

摘要

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is a commercially important speciesfound along the Northeast Coast of the United States and Canada. Lobsters respond differently to a variety of environmental conditions and contaminants based upon life stage. Larvae are generally less tolerant than juveniles and adults to environmental extremes or contaminant exposure. Understanding the complex interactions between the lobster and its environment can provide useful information for managing the fishery. This review summarizes much of the literature on: (1) habitat requirements of the American lobster, (2) effects of various contaminants on lobster biology as shown in laboratory and field exposures, and (3) contaminant concentrations measured in tissues of field-collected animals.