A long-term study on the behavior and survival of early juvenile American lobster, Homarus americanus , in three naturalistic substrates: Eelgrass, mud, and rocks

An 8-month study on the behavior, growth, and survival of early juvenile American lobsters, Homarus americanus , was conducted in three different naturalistic habitats of mud, rocks with algae, and eelgrass. American lobsters in eelgrass and rock habitats settled into the substrate more quickly, had burrows a greater percent of the time, and spent less time repairing their burrows than lobsters in mud habitats. The lobsters in eelgrass had a lower mortality rate than lobsters in either rocks or mud. None of the lobsters in any substrate were observed foraging for food outside of their burrows.