THE DIET OF POST-PUERULUS WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER, PANULIRUS-CYGNUS GEORGE, AT 7 MILE BEACH, WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

Post-puerulus western rock lobsters (juveniles within their first year after settlement), taken from natural habitats and artificial collect ors at Seven Mile Beach, had consumed a variety of plant and animal ma terial. Post-pueruli in the natural environment foraged amongst seagra ss and macroalgae on limestone reefs, and animals on the collectors pr obably foraged only on the collectors. The major components in the die t were coralline algae, molluscs and crustaceans. The ratios of these in the contents of the fore-gut were related to moult stage. Although the dietary spectrum of the post-pueruli was similar to that of larger juveniles at the same site, the ratios of food items were different.