N.H. Sea Grant Research Project Post Completion Report For time period 2/1/15 1/31/16

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1 Today s date: 3/22/16 Project number: R/SSS-3 N.H. Sea Grant Research Project Post Completion Report For time period 2/1/15 1/31/16 Project title: Recruitment and retention of lobsters in a New England estuary Project initiation date: 2/1/2012 Project completion date: 12/31/15 Principal investigator: Win Watson Affiliation: UNH - Dept. of Biological Sciences Accomplishments during 2/1/15 1/31/16 (Accomplishments are the key actions, activities or products resulting from Sea Grant research projects. They are distinct from impacts in that they reflect ongoing activities or key results that may not yet have had a significant economic, societal and/or environmental benefit but lay the foundation for such a benefit. Accomplishments may evolve into impacts in the future.) The spring and summer of 2015 were very productive thanks to the hard work of my MS student, Liz Morrissey. She carried out three studies that were vital to the success of this project and her thesis. First, she went Sea Sampling to document the locations of female lobsters with late stage eggs in the estuary. These lobsters likely overwintered in the estuary. Second, by staging the eggs that were carried by these lobsters, and also holding some of these lobsters at the JEL, she was able to document the time period when these eggs would hatch in the late spring and early summer. These studies were complemented by similar experiments with coastal lobsters and their eggs. Together they demonstrated that the eggs carried by estuarine lobsters hatch about a month earlier that those carried by coastal lobsters. Finally, she collected larvae in the estuary using plankton tows and demonstrated that larvae could be obtained from the time eggs first hatched in the estuary, to when coastal eggs stopped hatching. These data indicate that new recruits to the estuary come both from estuarine females and coastal females. As a result of all this work, Liz will be completing an excellent MS Thesis, and graduating, this spring (2016). Moreover, she already has a job at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Impacts during 2/1/15 1/31/16 (Impacts are significant economic, societal and/or environmental benefits of research.): NOTE: Include quantitative data to validate the impact if possible. The major impact has been on Liz Morrissey s career. Ultimately, this work will also influence the way lobsters are managed in the Great Bay Estuary. Economic benefits realized during 2/1/15 1/31/16 (businesses retained or created, jobs retained or created, market and non-market economic benefits): NOTE: Please quantify and provide supporting data if possible. None. Form revised 1/21/2015 1

2 Tools, technologies or information services resulting from this project that were developed or used during 2/1/15 1/31/16 to improve ecosystem-based management (i.e., products that address the management of land, water and living resources in coastal areas, for example that reduce contaminants that harm coastal ecosystems and seafood consumers; that track changes in ecosystem processes, biological responses and conditions, etc.): During this study we developed and tested some modified lobster traps that can be used to sample for juvenile lobsters. We also developed some programs/equations that can be used to predict when lobster eggs of a certain stage will ultimately hatch, given a certain thermal regime, and also a way to predict when they were extruded and fertilized (birth date). Patents: None. Technology transfer (Has a private company utilized this research successfully?): No. Related grants and contracts (Other grants and contracts that funded this research or that were obtained as a result of this research.): None yet. Publications to date received by N.H. Sea Grant: Goldstein, J. S., Pugh, T. L., Dubofsky, E. A., Lavalli, K. L., Clancy, M., Watson III, W. H A Noninvasive Method For In situ Determination of Mating Success in Female American Lobsters (Homarus americanus). J. Vis. Exp. (84), e50498, doi: / NHU-R Jury, S.H., Watson III, W.H Seasonal and sexual differences in the themal preferences and movements of American lobsters. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 70(11): NHU-R Goldstein, JS and WH Watson III The influence of natural inshore and offshore thermal regimes on egg development and time of hatch in the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Biol. Bull. 228: NHU-R Goldstein, JS and WH Watson III. Seasonal movements of American lobsters in southern Gulf of Maine coastal waters: patterns, environmental triggers, and implications for larval release. Marine Ecology Progress Series 524: , NHU-R Additional Publications NOTE: Please cite and attach PDF or send a hardcopy, or provide possible title, authors, journal and status if not yet published. Peer reviewed publications: Pugh, TL, M Comeau, K Benhalima and WH Watson III Variation in the size and composition of ejaculates produced by male American lobsters Homarus americanus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 (Decapoda, Nephropidae). J. Crustacean Biol. 00: Clark, AS, SH Jury, JS Goldstein, TG Langley and WH Watson III A comparison of American lobster size structure and abundance using standard and ventless traps. Fisheries Research. Fisheries Res. 167: Form revised 1/21/2015

3 Goldstein, J.S., E.M. Morrissey, E.D. Moretti, and W.H. Watson III. (in-review). A comparison of the distribution and abundance of European green crabs and American lobsters in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, USA. Fisheries Research. Theses/Dissertations: Cheng, H The environmental influences on American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) behavior and distribution in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire U.S.A. Master s thesis, University of New Hampshire. NHU-Y (already provided to NHSG) Goldstein, J.S The impact of seasonal movements by ovigerous American lobsters (Homarus americanus) on egg development and larval release. PhD dissertation. University of New Hampshire. 332 p. NHU-Y (already provided to NHSG) Pugh, T The potential for sperm limitation in American lobsters ("Homarus americanus") as indicated by female mating activity and male reproductive capacity. PhD dissertation, University of New Hampshire. NHU-Y (already provided to NHSG) Langley, T.L (expected). The influence of seasonal changes in water temperature on the movements of sexually mature and immature lobsters in the Great Bay estuary, M.S. thesis. In-prep. UNHMP-TH-SG Morrissey, E.M (expected)., M.S. thesis. Reproduction and Recruitment of American lobsters in the Great Bay Estuary, NH, M.S thesis. In-prep. Other communications products (non peer-reviewed pubs, manuals, tech reports, videos, etc.): Presentations during 2/1/15 1/31/16, with published abstract citation if applicable: 1. Morrissey, E.M, Clash of the Crustaceans: Interactions between European green crabs and American lobsters in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, USA. In: UNH SMSEO Graduate Research Symposium Apr 13. Durham, NH. Oral Presentation 2. Morrissey, E.M, Clash of the Crustaceans: Interactions between European green crabs and American lobsters in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, USA. UNH Marine Docent Series Jul 7. Durham, NH. Oral Presentation 3.Morrissey, E.M, J.S Goldstein, E.D. Moretti, W.H. Watson III, Interactions between European green crabs and American lobsters in Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, USA. In: The American Lobster in a Changing Ecosystem, A US-Canada Science Symposium; 2015 Nov 3-6; Charlottetown, P.E.I, Canada. Oral Presentation 4. Morrissey, E.M, J.S Goldstein, W.H. Watson III, Reproduction and Recruitment of American lobsters in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, USA. In: The American Lobster in a Changing Ecosystem, A US-Canada Science Symposium; 2015 Nov 3-6; Charlottetown, P.E.I, Canada. Poster Presentation. 5. Sykes, S, Morrissey, E.M Environmental Changes and Lobsters. Kittery Adult Education Program, Marine Series; 2016 Mar 22; Kittery, Me. Oral Presentation Form revised 1/21/2015 3

4 Lobsters and their kids on the move in the Gulf of Maine: Applied technology to investigate the American lobster in a changing ecosystem. Invited Speaker, York County Community College, NASA- STEM Seminar Series, Wells, Maine. (~ 50 attendees). Awards: Students Supported (see next page) All fields are required 4 Form revised 1/21/2015

5 Students Supported All fields are required only enter students who were new or continuing during 2/1/15 1/31/16 Student Name Institution Cont d or New for 2015? Where is he/she now? Dates of support Type of degree: Undergrad Master s PhD Year degree awarded Title of thesis (if supported by N.H. Sea Grant) Elizabeth Morrissey UNH Cont Mass. Div. Marine Fish. 6/1/15-9/1/15 MS 2016 Reproduction and Recruitment of American lobsters in the Great Bay Estuary, NH Form revised 1/21/2015 5