Role of gamete limitation in the occurrence of ‘abnormal early clutches’ on female American lobster, Homarus americanus, in eastern Canada

A large-scale survey in 2011–2014 found that ovigerous female American lobsters, Homarus americanus, carrying “abnormal” early clutches (< 50% of abdomen covered by eggs) were ubiquitous in eastern Canada. This could be caused by reduced production of oocytes, or insufficient sperm to fertilize all oocytes produced. To address the oocyte limitation hypothesis, ovarian fecundity was assessed in 343 pre-spawn females and clutch fecundity in 169...