Abstract
The relative distributions of mid‐ and late‐stage phyllosomas, and pueruli, of Jasus edwardsii from five research cruises off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand were analysed. A statistical approach was taken, using a bootstrapping with replacement method to test whether the observed mid‐ and late‐stage phyllosomas could have come from the same distribution. Differences in distribution between mid‐ and late‐stage phyllosomas were very close to significant at 95% confidence for two cruises, significant at 85% confidence for one cruise, and two cruises showed a non‐significant result. When all cruise data were combined into one analysis, the differences between mid‐ and late‐stage phyllosomas were significant with 85% confidence. On average, late‐stage phyllosomas were found 49 km further inshore than mid‐stage phyllosomas. One station during one cruise and one transect during another showed such high abundances that they affected the analyses. When these outlier data were excluded, the differences in mid‐and late‐stage distributions become significant with 99% confidence. One explanation for observed distribution differences is that the late‐stage phyllosomas swim shoreward—as the pueruli are believed to do. This implies an ability to navigate in both these early life forms. If the late‐stage larvae are indeed swimming horizontally, it is likely that this is most effectively accomplished by final‐stage phyllosomas, which have well developed pleopods, similar to those in the puerulus stage.