The burrowing behaviour of newly-settled lobsters, Homarus vulgaris (Crustacea-Decapoda)

Abstract

Young Homarus vulgaris were reared in the laboratory up to stage V. All settled during stage IV by burrowing under stones placed on a sand or mud substrate. Half of the 100 animals studied burrowed within 6 days of reaching stage IV and did not subsequently vacate the burrow. The burrows were made with two openings on opposite sides of the stone which, in the case of the sand burrows, served as a roof. The burrows were made by the same methods as previously described for young and adult H. americanus