ASTACOPSIS GOULDI
Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster
The Giant freshwater lobster plays a key role in its habitat. Since it is a detritivore, which breaks down decaying material, this makes the lobster very important to its role in its freshwater ecosystem. It eats mainly wood, leaves and rotting flesh. (Encyclopedia of Life, 2014)
Stop Eating Them!
Role in the Ecosystem
Where The Lobster is Found
Reproduction Rates
The Tasmanian lobster tends to be very
shy and slow moving so they are easily
caught. Their reproductive rates are very
slow which makes their species very
crucial to restore. The females breed
biennially. This means that they breed
every second year which makes survival
for the newborn larva crucial (Western
Australian Museum, 2014). The females
become sexually mature when they reach
a certain length and weight which is
about 14 years of age. Males will be
younger when they become sexually
mature, when they are 9 years of age
(Department of the Environment, 2015).
The Giant lobster is found in high quality, flowing or still waters with little suspended sediment. They like deep pools and like to hide in logs and overhanging banks (McClain, 2014). Adults prefer deep pools that are well shaded. In order for them to survive, the water they live in needs to be 18 oC and produce a high oxygen content. (Encyclopedia of Life, 2014) The Giant freshwater lobster is the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world and it is only found in specific rivers in Northern Tasmania.
The lobster has become to be known as a delicacy to humans and they are underestimated for what their actual role is in their ecosystem. Humans only see these lobsters as an expensive dish being served in restaurants. What people don't realize is that without the lobster in freshwater creeks and rivers, it would cause a downward spiral of drastic changes. These changes would also crucially affect the plants and animal life also living in the lobsters same ecosystem. We dont recognize that without the lobsters rivers and creeks in Tasmania will become very unhealthy. People dont see this know because we only value them for consumption.
Spawning occurs between March and April then the female carries the eggs with her under her tail over winter until summer. Their nesting requirements are usually large rocks that are stable. Some lobsters even make their nests in instream logs. (Department of the Environment, 2015) These nests usually get destroyed because of habitat deconstruction. To read more about habitat destruction click below.