Lobster Distribution and Biodiversity on the Continental Shelf of Brazil: A Review

Abstract

The continental shelf of Brazil is home to a wide range of lobster species, with varying body size, color, habitat preference, and geographic and bathymetric distribution. Spiny lobsters (Panulirus) and slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) are exploited for export and for the domestic market. Deep sea lobsters (Nephropidae and Polychelidae) have no commercial potential, and little is known about their biology. In this review, we identified 24 lobster species from benthic ecosystems off Brazil (Palinuridae 25%, Scyllaridae 29%, Nephropidae 25%, Polychelidae 17%, Enoplometopidae 4%). We designed a simplified theoretical scheme to understand the role of lobsters in the ecosystem, based on available evidence of distribution, biodiversity, life cycle, connectivity, and abundance. Finally, we propose a theoretical scheme of trophic top-down control, with interactions between a large decapod (spiny lobster), a demersal predator (red snapper), an apex predator (small tuna), benthic invertebrates and fishing exploitation.

New Insight Into the Reproductive Biology and Catch of Juveniles of the Lutjanus purpureus in a Portion of the Great Amazon Reef System Off the Northern Brazilian Coast

“…The freshwater of the Amazon River apparently acts as an important biogeographic barrier separating the coastal fish faunas of Brazil and the Caribbean (Floeter and Gasparini, 2000). In addition, the presence of the Brazilian North Coastal Current retroflexion that occurs in this environment may support self-recruitment of L. purpureus, as has been observed for lobsters from this environment (Cruz et al, 2021). Even so, further, more detailed studies are needed better evaluate the larval dispersion of L. purpureus in this region.…”

Mapping of marine lobster research: A global outlook

“…They are commonly huge in size, posing high economic value, making them among one of the most important marine resources for both fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the world. They are distributed in a variety of habitats, from tropical to temperate oceans, continental shelves, and even estuaries (Radhakrishnan et al, 2019;Cruz et al, 2021). The first recorded scientific publication of this lobster group was in 1895 (127 years ago), and the first recorded catch is over four centuries old, in 1605.…”

“…Most articles are more related to various issues of lobster biology and management aspects, rather than quantitative study of bibliometrics through scientometricsbased analysis. Some examples of current lobster research include lobster reproductive status and molting stage (Charmantier et al, 1991;Quackenbush, 1994;McWilliam and Phillips, 2007); their current distribution and biodiversity (Setyanto et al, 2018;Cruz et al, 2021), their history of utilization by human beings from prehistoric to the modern era (Spanier et al, 2015), their nutritional status for early stage of development (Williams, 2007;Francis et al, 2014), re-stocking and enhancement programs (Addison and Bannister, 1994), and their modern technical and husbandry innovations in culture have been made (Hinchcliffe et al, 2022).…”