Future ocean temperature impacting the survival prospects of post-larval spiny lobsters.

Spiny lobster post-larvae undertake an extensive migration from the open ocean to the coast, during which time their swimming is fueled solely by energy reserves accumulated through their preceding larval phase. We assessed the influence of future ocean temperatures on the swimming behavior and energy use of migrating post-larvae of Sagmariasus verreauxi, by experimentally swimming post-larvae for up to 6 days at three temperatures and measuring the lipid and protein used, and observing their time spent actively swimming. Increasing the temperature from 17 °C to 23 °C doubled the energy utilized by post-larvae while swimming, while also reducing the time they spent swimming by three times.

Correction: Mesoscale circulation determines broad spatio-temporal settlement patterns of lobster.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Mesoscale circulation determines broad spatio-temporal settlement patterns of lobster.

The influence of physical oceanographic processes on the dispersal of larvae is critical for understanding the ecology of species and for anticipating settlement into fisheries to aid long-term sustainable harvest. This study examines the mechanisms by which ocean currents shape larval dispersal and supply to the continental shelf-break, and the extent to which circulation determines settlement patterns using Sagmariasus verreauxi (Eastern Rock Lobster, ERL) as a model species. Despite the large range of factors that can impact larval dispersal, we show that within a Western Boundary Current system, mesoscale circulation explains broad spatio-temporal patterns of observed settlement including inter-annual and decadal variability along 500 km of coastline.

Stroke patterns and regulation of swim speed and energy cost in free-ranging Brünnich's guillemots.

Loggers were attached to free-ranging Brünnich's guillemots Uria lomvia during dives, to measure swim speeds, body angles, stroke rates, stroke and glide durations, and acceleration patterns within strokes, and the data were used to model the mechanical costs of propelling the body fuselage (head and trunk excluding wings). During vertical dives to 102-135 m, guillemots regulated their speed during descent and much of ascent to about 1.6+/-0.