National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Long-term Monitoring of Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Protocol Narrative Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2018/1850 ON THE COVER Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) in Dry Tortugas National Park. Photograph by: NPS / Lee Richter Long-Term Monitoring of Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Protocol Narrative Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2018/1850 Lee J. Richter1, Michael W. Feeley2, Andrea J. Atkinson2, Judd M. Patterson2, Andy D. Davis2, Jeff Miller1. 1National Park Service South Florida / Caribbean Network 1300 Cruz Bay Creek St. John, VI 00830 2National Park Service South Florida / Caribbean Network 18001 Old Cutler Rd., Suite 419 Palmetto Bay, FL 33157 December 2018 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the South Florida/Caribbean Network website and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. If you have difficulty accessing information in this publication, particularly if using assistive technology, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Richter, L. J., M. W. Feeley, A. J. Atkinson, J. M. Patterson, A. D. Davis, and J. Miller. 2018. Long- term monitoring protocol of Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus): Protocol narrative. Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2018/1850. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 910/150121, December 2018 ii Change History Protocol versions are tracked in the revision history log attached to the narrative and to each standard operating procedure (SOP). Major changes result in an update by whole numbers (i.e., version 1.0, version 2.0, etc.), and minor changes by tenths (e.g., version 1.1, version 1.2, etc.). Revision Date Author Changes Made Reason for Change New Version # – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – iii Contents Page Figures................................................................................................................................................... ix Tables .................................................................................................................................................... xi Appendices ..........................................................................................................................................xiii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. xv Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................. xvii Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................ xix 1. Background and Objectives ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Rationale for Monitoring .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Biology of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus)..................................................... 3 1.2.1 Habitat and Life Cycle ...................................................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Age and Growth ............................................................................................................... 3 1.2.3 Reproduction .................................................................................................................... 3 1.2.4 Disease .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 History and Status of the Spiny Lobster Fishery in Florida ..................................................... 4 1.4 History and Status of the Spiny Lobster Fishery in the U.S Virgin Islands ............................. 6 1.5 Link to Management Decision-Making .................................................................................... 7 1.6 Study Area ................................................................................................................................ 8 1.6.1 Biscayne National Park .................................................................................................... 9 1.6.2 Everglades National Park ............................................................................................... 11 1.6.3 Dry Tortugas National Park ............................................................................................ 12 1.6.4 Virgin Islands National Park .......................................................................................... 12 1.6.5 Buck Island Reef National Monument ........................................................................... 13 1.6.6 Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve ................................. 14 1.7 Measurable Objectives of Monitoring .................................................................................... 15 2. Sampling Design .............................................................................................................................. 17 2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................ 17 v 2.2 Survey Background ................................................................................................................ 17 2.2.1 Concepts from the Reef Fish Monitoring Protocols ....................................................... 17 2.2.2 Concepts from the Torres Strait Rock Lobster Monitoring Program ............................. 20 2.3 Sampling Domain ................................................................................................................... 20 2.4 Number and Location of Sampling Sites ................................................................................ 24 2.5 Temporal Schedule ................................................................................................................. 25 2.6 Change Detectable .................................................................................................................. 26 2.6.1 Virgin Islands National Park Pilot .................................................................................. 28 2.6.2 Biscayne National Park Pilot Study ............................................................................... 30 2.6.3 Future Sampling ............................................................................................................. 31 2.7 Combination with other Protocols .......................................................................................... 32 3. Field Methods .................................................................................................................................. 33 3.1 Requisites of a Data Collection Program ............................................................................... 33 3.2 Survey Method Background and Justification........................................................................ 33 3.3 Field Survey Methods............................................................................................................. 38 3.4 Field Season Preparations and Equipment Setup ................................................................... 43 3.5 Post-sampling Procedures ...................................................................................................... 43 3.6 End-of-season Procedures .....................................................................................................