Diel Activity and Foraging Behavior of Juvenile American Lobsters, Homarus americanus

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Abstract
The activity of wild-caught juvenile American lobsters, Homarus americanus (20–46 mm carapace length (CL)), was monitored in the laboratory using time-lapse video recording techniques. Behavioral time-budget analyses indicated that juvenile lobsters are nocturnally active within or close to available shelter. Mussels, Mytilus edulis, provided as prey were picked up, apparently nonselectively, when lobsters ventured out from shelter and were immediately taken back to shelter for consumption. Such shelter-related or central-place foraging behaviors may minimize risk from predation during transition to the wide-ranging activity pattern typical of larger lobsters. Increased hunger led to greater light-phase activity, primarily shelter-related foraging behavior, among individually monitored lobsters. Dominant lobsters in CL-matched pairs also exhibited this behavior pattern, but spent less time within shelter and feeding during dark phases due to involvement in agonistic interactions. Subdominant lobsters spent the least time in shelter, often remained inactive in open areas of tanks, and foraged predominantly during light phases. Increase in predation risk due to adoption of these behaviors may be the major consequence of subdominant status rather than a reduction in food intake.