American Lobsters are found in the northwest Atlantic ranging from Canada to North Carolina. Currently in the northeast, epizootic shell disease is affecting both the New England American Lobster stock and the Southern New England stock. This is a bacterial disease that eats away at the animal's shell layers causing lesions. However, it does not affect the lobster internally, so they are still safe to eat. It mainly affects their market value within the fishery. Females show a higher prevalence of shell disease compared to male lobsters. Scientists believe females have a higher prevalence because they only molt their exoskeleton every two years. Where male American Lobsters molt once a year. The more often a lobster molts, the more shell disease they can get rid of. The presence of shell disease sometimes causes female lobsters to molt while they have eggs attached. This causes them to lose those eggs that they produced, which may affect the population in the long term. In addition, recent research shows that warmer water temperatures in the north Atlantic and pollutants may be causing the disease to spread faster.
Correspondingly, the Caribbean Spiny Lobster, found in Florida waters and throughout the Caribbean is experiencing an infection caused by the virus PaV1. It was first discovered in the Florida Keys, but it is now found in spiny lobsters throughout the Caribbean. According to a scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory, 7% of the population is affected by this virus. It turns their, blood white and causes them to become very lethargic. Unlike epizootic shell disease, which affects mainly adult American Lobsters, PaV1 affects juvenile spiny lobsters. They can contract this disease through ingestion, contact, or waterborne.
Lobsters are typically social animals, usually always found
in groups. Research shows they may have the ability to tell when another
lobster is sick and will no longer go near it. This is a behavior that may have
developed over time to reduce transmission of diseases among the population. It
is similar to placing people infected with deadly pathogens into quarantine sections
at the hospital to reduce the risk of other people contracting the infection.
I think the separation of the two diseases is pretty interesting. I would have thought the there would be at least a convergence zone where the two species would interact, if only a little. The only thing i am unsure about, is how is the shell disease spread from lobster to lobster? If it's though close proximity, molts, or something in the water.
ReplyDeleteI think the separation of the two diseases is pretty interesting. I would have thought the there would be at least a convergence zone where the two species would interact, if only a little. The only thing i am unsure about, is how is the shell disease spread from lobster to lobster? If it's though close proximity, molts, or something in the water.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting how the lobsters know to stay away from the sick lobster so they can avoid the disease spreading. Animals always learn to adapt so quickly, so I wonder if the female lobsters in the north could eventually adapt to molt once a year like the males to help recover from the disease.
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