Knowledge gaps

In reviewing the literature on the Behaviour, Biology and Ecology of the Wester Rock Lobster, the authors identified the following knowledge gaps:

1. Whites migration
   • Comparative level of natural mortality
   • Timing and speed of shallow water migration
   • Speed and direction of deepwater migration 
   • Why do some whites not migrate? 
   • Southern whites migration, south of Rottonest Island 
2. Whites moult
   • Causes and timing of whites moult
   • Age of whites 
   • What proportion of lobsters of the mean size/age of migrating lobsters moult white?
3. Moult cycle of juveniles and adult males? Both unknown
   • Impact catchability 
4. Discard Mortality
   • Previous work has looked at exposure and displacement in juveniles, but what about in adults and how this varies with depth? These are more relevant now with high grading and tagging studies.
5. Size and Age at Maturity timing
   • Size
   • Age
   • Getting smaller?
   • Why? 
   • Where? 
   • Mature females 1 year after whites – immature setose 
6. Reproduction
   • What initiates spawning/mating?
7. Stock distribution and possible shifts with climate change
   • Recruitment, distribution of settlement in warmer waters, whites migration.
   • Distribution shift around the south and its implications  
   • ENSO projections 
   • Effect on settlement 
   • Regime shift – “the hiatus period” – what if it happens again? 
8. Marine waves
   • Effect on juvenile habitat
9. Sperm limitation
   • Has the rmeoval of large males limited fecundity
10. Project video movement patterns
    • Lunar phase videos 
    • Abrolhos