The focus of the AVC Lobster Science display at the 2009 AVC Open House was on lobster growth and development.  Lead Field Technician, Melanie Burton, and Lead Lab Technician, Rachael Summerfield, explained to visitors how lobsters hatch from small eggs and develop through larval, post-larval and juvenile stages until they are fully mature.  Lobster eggs, three different larval stages, one post-larval stage and four live juvenile lobsters were on display.  A male and female market-size lobster were available for visitors to touch and to learn how to distinguish between the two sexes. 

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Several juvenile lobsters.	A very young visitor to AVC Open House has his first experience of touching a live lobster.
Lead Lab Technician, Rachael Summerfield, shows a young visitor some lobster post-larvae at stage IV of development.	Visitors to the AVCLSC display were able to touch a market-size lobster, as well as observe several juvenile lobsters