Biodiversity of lobster larvae (Panulirus spp.) from the Indonesian Eastern Indian Ocean

Abstract

Lobster fisheries play an important role in the development of Indonesian fisheries management. The tropical lobster genus Panulirus has high species diversity in the Indonesian Eastern Indian Ocean. The Indonesian government has designated lobster fisheries as one of the types of fisheries requiring special attention in 11 of the Fisheries Management Areas in the Republic of Indonesia (FMARI). Each management area has specific ecological characteristics and may have unique lobster species richness. Studies on the temporal and spatial distribution of lobster species during all life phases are necessary to determine the connectivity of lobster populations. This study aimed to identify the species of lobster larvae of the genus Panulirus in FMARI 573. Samples were collected from several locations, including Pacitan, Trenggalek, Tulungagung, Banyuwangi, and Lombok, in July-August 2018. Data were analysed descriptively through species identification based on morphological traits. Identification of the samples was carried out at the sampling site and in the laboratory. The study found six species of lobster larvae: Panulirus ornatus (local name udang mutiara), P. homarus (udang pasir), P. penicillatus (udang batu), P. versicolor (udang bambu), P. longipes (udang batik) and P. polyphagus (udang Pakistan). These species were unevenly distributed at the study sites. Further research is needed to analyse the distribution and connectivity of lobster populations by analysing species composition during different life phases (larva/puerulus, juvenile, adult) at different spatial and temporal scales.