Sep 29, 2020
Professor Robert Steneck started
researching lobsters in 1983 and was one of the first people to
explore the ecosystems of lobsters in their natural habitat, which,
given lobsters' solitary and cautious nature, is no easy task.
He gives listeners the opportunity to see this hidden world up
close, discussing
Robert Steneck is a professor in
the School of Marine Sciences at The University of Maine. He
studies marine ecology as well as the
importance of marine ecosystems to those who depend on them for
their livelihood. While his studies include many aspects of
ocean life and nature, he has an especially long history
studying the Maine lobster population.
He first gives the audience a helpful picture for how lobster
fisheries and scientists have viewed the Maine populations the last
several decades. In fact, when he begin observing and recording
data in the 80s, popular thought held that lobsters numbers were
declining. He showed that the population actually was increasing
from 1985 until 2016.
Now, climate change is changing
lobster habits, and he and his students are involved in assessing
this more carefully. He describes the effects warmer water seems to
have on mating ages of lobsters as well as the lower oxygen numbers
in the water from these same higher temperatures and rotting
invasive seaweed. Along the way, however, he gives listeners an
interesting glimpse into these ancient creatures' habits and
activities, from the capacity to live about a hundred years to
their ability to excise a claw for protection.
He adds interesting details about their mating life, including the
facility of a female to hold onto part of a sperm packet and
fertilize a second batch of eggs a year or two after mating. He
also describes what it is like to observe these creatures while
SCUBA diving, how they use submersibles and recording devices, and
what they've studied this past summer regarding lobsters no longer
using their hiding nooks and crannies in underwater rock
formations.
Listen in to hear about this timely study and more amazing details
about a day in the life of a lobster.
For more about Robert Steneck's
work, he suggests searching for him in Google scholar.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK