Natural Diet Composition and Feeding Ecology of Panulirus Lobsters: A Systematic Literature Review of Prey Diversity, Trophic Interactions, and Ecological Drivers

Abstrak

Spiny lobsters of the genus Panulirus are valuable fishery resources and ecologically important benthic predators, yet evidence on their natural diets remains fragmented across species, life stages, habitats, and analytical methods. This systematic review synthesizes natural diet composition, ontogenetic shifts, trophic interactions, prey selectivity, and ecological drivers of Panulirus feeding ecology. Searches used Scopus as the primary database, supported by Web of Science and supplementary sources, with explicit eligibility criteria for studies of wild or naturally occurring populations. Twenty-five studies were retained for qualitative synthesis. The evidence indicates that Panulirus lobsters are trophically flexible consumers rather than strict specialists. Early stages rely mainly on pelagic and planktonic resources, whereas post-settlement juveniles and adults exploit molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, polychaetes, algae, detritus, and other benthic resources. Realized diets are shaped by life stage, body size, sensory capacity, prey handling ability, habitat structure, and local prey availability. Habitat degradation and changing prey fields may increase trophic overlap and interspecific competition. Integrating stomach content analysis, metabarcoding, stable isotopes, fatty acids, and field observations will improve estimates of trophic roles and support ecosystem-based fisheries management, habitat conservation, and biologically informed aquaculture.