Lobster predation on barren-forming sea urchins is more prevalent in habitats where small urchins are common: a multi-method diet analysis

Context

In Tasmania, Australia, the government’s response to range-extending, barren-forming longspined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) includes rebuilding of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) stocks to increase predation. But lobster preference for native species and continued barren expansion challenges the control efficacy.

Aims

To determine the impact of lobster predation on C. rodgersii in different habitats.

Methods

Multi-method dietary analysis consisting of stomach contents, faecal DNA and stable isotopes was performed on 64 lobsters from four habitats varying in barren extent and density of urchins and lobsters.

Key results

C. rodgersii contributed to lobster diet in all barren habitats and was found in lobsters of every size class. Stable isotope and DNA analyses showed that C. rodgersii was more common in lobster diet than were targeted native species at incipient barren sites. Surprisingly, in extensive barrens C. rodgersii is less prominent in lobster diet.

Conclusions

Combined with site-specific urchin population data, our findings indicated that lobster predation may be less effective at sites where most C. rodgersii individuals have reached a size refuge than at sites dominated by small urchins.

Implications

Lobster predation may provide a useful control for smaller C. rodgersii, but top–down predatory control may be constrained at sites dominated by urchins that exceed the size suitable for lobster predation.