Temporal dynamics and role of benthic habitat for the Mediterranean slipper lobster Scyllarides latus in a National Park

Populations of large large decapods have diminished due to intense fishing pressure and habitat modification along the widely inhabited coast. During the last decade some of the well established marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Western Mediterranean have led to growing densities of one of the most sought after large decapods, the slipper lobster Scyllarides latus (Latreille, 1803). A four year monitoring study was conducted to assess seasonal dynamics and habitat preference of S. latus in the Cabrera Archipelago National Park. Sampling was carried out through underwater visual census on rocky habitats at 0 - 50 m depth. The species may be found in caves, under boulders, and on walls and slopes at depths of up to 35 m, showing a preference for caves at 5 to 20 m depth. These hábitats provide diverse shelter types that are used during the daily period of trophic inactivity. S latus has a marked seasonality with highest densities occurring in late spring, and they disappear almost entirely from rocky coastal habitats in mid-summer. Knowledge of the preferred habitats and spatial pattern of the species is needed for implementing appropriate management schemes to stimulate their recovery