Developing Growth Transition Matrix for Caribbean Spiny Lobster by Using Mark-Recapture Data

Over the last decades, various stock assessment models have been developed to describe the population dynamics of the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus). One of the critical processes is to model the growth. Tradition growth models are continuous and age-structured. However, the complex life history of the Caribbean spiny lobster makes them unsuitable: first, lobster grows stepwise. For this reason, the growth should be modeled in separated steps, the molting probability and the growth increment. Second, the Caribbean spiny lobster lacks calcified structure, like otolith, vertebrae and scales found in fin fish species, to mark age. Therefore, a structure of size is more suitable than a structure of age to describe its growth. In this study, three published methods have been reviewed and compared. Mark-recapture data collected for Caribbean spiny lobster in Florida Keys from 1967 to 2003 was used to fit the analytical models. Uncertainty of the parameters in each model were estimated using bootstrapping resampling method. Then an individual based model was developed with the simulate cohorts to generate the growth transition matrix. This study could improve our understanding about the growth of crustacean and the results could be directly applied to future stock assessment models.