Lobsters, those iconic crustaceans of the ocean floor, possess a remarkable life history. Their ability to thrive in marine environments is closely linked to their reproductive strategies. Understanding how these fascinating creatures reproduce offers insight into their resilience and the delicate balance of ocean ecosystems.
The Sheer Number: Lobster Egg Production
Female lobsters do not give birth to live young; instead, they produce and carry a substantial number of eggs. The number of eggs a female lobster carries, known as her fecundity, varies significantly based on her size and age, with older and larger females generally producing more. A typical one-pound American lobster can carry approximately 8,000 eggs, while a larger nine-pound female might produce over 100,000. European lobsters can carry anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 eggs. The eggs are quite small, roughly the size of a pinhead when freshly laid, and the overall range for a female can be broad, from a few thousand to well over a hundred thousand eggs in a single reproductive cycle.
The Reproductive Journey: From Mating to Hatching
Lobster reproduction begins with mating, which typically occurs when the female has recently molted and her shell is still soft and vulnerable. The female attracts a male by releasing pheromones. During copulation, the male deposits sperm packets into a specialized receptacle within her body, where the sperm can be stored for an extended period, up to two years. When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she releases them from her ovaries, and they are fertilized by the stored sperm.
These fertilized eggs are then attached to her swimmerets, located on the underside of her tail, using a sticky substance. A female carrying eggs in this manner is commonly referred to as “berried.” She carries her eggs externally for an extended period, typically between nine and twelve months for American lobsters, though it can vary by species and environmental conditions. During this incubation time, she diligently cares for them, fanning them with her swimmerets to ensure proper oxygenation and cleanliness. Once the eggs are fully developed, the female releases the larvae into the water column.
The Purpose of Plenty: Survival in the Wild
Lobsters produce an immense number of eggs due to the extremely high mortality rates experienced by their offspring in the marine environment, as after hatching, the larvae are planktonic, drifting freely in the upper ocean for several weeks. During this vulnerable stage, they are highly susceptible to predation from various marine organisms, including fish, other crustaceans, and even seabirds. Environmental factors, such as ocean currents, water temperature fluctuations, and the availability of microscopic food sources, also play a significant role in the survival of these delicate larvae. Despite the thousands of eggs laid, only a minuscule fraction will survive to reach adulthood; for instance, estimates suggest that for every 50,000 American lobster eggs, only about two will reach legal harvesting size. This prolific reproduction is a fundamental biological strategy, ensuring that enough individuals endure early life to maintain the species’ population.