Abstract

The red squat lobsterPleuroncodes monodonis an important fishery resource in theHumboldt Current System (HCS). This decapod is exploited in two fishing units:(a) the northern fishing unit (NFU, from 26???S to 30???S) and (b) the southern fishingunit (SFU, from 32???S to 37???S), each of which have an adjacent nursery area that isthe source of recruits to replace the exploited adult populations (in the NFU: offthe coast of Coquimbo (28???S) and in the SFU: off the coast of Concepcion (36???S)).Marked spatial differences in the environmental conditions of the NFU and SFU, andthe biogeographic break that exists between these nursery areas (30???S) may promotechanges in the bioenergetic condition of newP. monodonjuveniles. To evaluate this, weanalyzed the bioenergetic condition (measured as: body mass, lipids, proteins, glucose,and energy) of new juvenile females in the main nursery areas off the Chilean coast.The juvenile females from the SFU showed a higher body mass than those from theNFU. Consistently, the juvenile females from the SFU had a higher content of lipids,proteins, and glucose than those from the NFU, indicative of higher energy contentsand a higher lipid/protein ratio in the south compared to the north. Considering thecurrent overexploitation of this fishery resource in the HCS, it is essential to understandhow the bioenergetic condition of juvenile females ofP. monodonmay vary in nurseryareas at different latitudes in order to generate sustainable fishery management policieswith an ecological approach, designed specifically to each fishing unit. Furthermore,identifying the latitudinal variations of these biochemical compounds inP. monodonjuveniles can elucidate the geographic origin of red squat lobsters that present a ''betterbioenergetic condition'' in the HCS, which may significantly benefit sustainable fishingcertification processes