Influence of Environmental Factors on Nutritional Condition of Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus (Decapoda: Palinuridae)

Environmental influence on lobster’s physiology is a topic little addressed around the world. We determined the impact of biotic (food availability) and abiotic (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) environmental factors on nutritional condition of Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) from the Caibarien fishing region, Cuba. Eleven sites were sampled from 2010 to 2015, during dry and rainy seasons. Blood Refractive Index (BRI) and Kcl (total weight/carapace length) were used as nutritional condition indicators. Benthic food availability index (BFAI) was also determined. BRI and Kcl were both correlated with BFAI and varied significantly among sites and years. Salinity showed interannual differences, with lowest value in 2013. BFAI gradually increased between 2010 and 2015. Generalized Additive Model (GAM) for Kcl was 84.8% deviance explained (R² = 77.6%), showing an environmental important influence on lobster’s nutritional condition. “Site”, dissolved oxygen, and BFAI had significant impacts on Kcl. GAM for BRI was 34.6% deviance explained (R² = 25.3%), only salinity significantly impacted lobster’s blood parameters. Environmental influence in lobster’s nutritional condition was multifactorial and included biotic and abiotic variables. Food availability makes vary BRI and Kcl, nevertheless, they are both sensitive in different way to environmental factors and should have different interpretation.