Lobsters' Social Strategy Backfires

Lobsters are known for their tough shells and big claws, but some types don't have those claws. Instead, they stick together in big groups to scare off predators. They use special chemicals in the water to find each other. But this trick might not always work. Young lobsters often follow these signals to join older ones. However, this can lead them straight into danger. Older lobsters hang out in safe spots, but these spots are also home to big fish called groupers. Groupers can't eat the big lobsters, but they can easily swallow the smaller ones. This creates a deadly trap for the young lobsters.Researchers studied this in Florida's waters. They found that young lobsters are more likely to die in places where groupers live. In fact, over two-thirds of small lobsters tied to these spots were eaten within two days. Meanwhile, bigger lobsters had a much better survival rate. The scientists also tested if lobsters could sense the groupers. They found that lobsters couldn't tell if the water had groupers in it. This is surprising because lobsters usually avoid sick or injured lobsters. They can also sense and avoid octopuses, another predator. This discovery is rare. Most ecological traps are caused by humans changing the environment. But this trap happens naturally. It's unclear why lobsters haven't evolved to avoid it. Maybe the groupers are new to the area, and the lobsters haven't had time to adapt.