Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish in the Western...

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Stephanie Green David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow Oregon State University Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish in the Western Atlantic

Transcript of Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish in the Western...

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Stephanie Green David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow

Oregon State University

Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish in the Western Atlantic

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Collaborators and funders Lad Akins, Reef Environmental Education Foundation Mark Hixon, Oregon State University Bernard Castillo and Kynoch Reale-Munroe, University of the Virgin Islands Ian Lundgren and Vanessa McDunough, National Park Service Isabelle Côté and Andrew Cooper, Simon Fraser University Nick Dulvy, IUCN Shark Specialist Group Nicola Smith, Bahamas Department of Marine Resources Annabelle Brooks, Cape Eleuthera Institute Skylar Miller, University of the West Indies James Morris, NOAA CCFHR

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Distribution Red Lionfish – Pterois volitans Devil Firefish – Pterois miles

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Source of the invasion

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Aquarium imports and non-native fish sightings

Semmens et al. 2004

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Invasion progression

USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2013

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Lionfish life cycle

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Green et al. 2012 PLoS ONE

Lionfish abundance has increased rapidly

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Green et al. 2012 PLoS ONE

Lionfish abundance has increased rapidly

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Relative predator abundance Eleuthera, Bahamas

0

5

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lionfish nassau grouper

black grouper

graysby

Fish

per

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0 m

2

Green et al. 2012 PloS ONE

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Lionfish in the Loxahatchee River

Judd and Layman 2012

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Morris 2009

Potential lionfish range

100°W 80°W 60°W 40°W 60°N

40°N

20°N

20°S

40°S

Morris & Whitfield 2009

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Why are lionfish so successful in the Atlantic?

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Lionfish venomology

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Lionfish are venomous

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Maljković et al 2008 Coral Reefs

Predators do not control lionfish

Anecdotal observations

Experimental feeding trials

Morris et al 2011 J Exp Marine Biol Valdivia et al. 2014 PeerJ

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Predators do not control lionfish

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Gape-limited predators

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What is the effect of lionfish predation on invaded fish communities?

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The Bahamas

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The Bahamas

New Providence Island

Eleuthera Island

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Lionfish reduce prey biomass

By 65% over two years

Green et al. in review

Green et al. 2012 PLoS ONE

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Eleuthera, Bahamas Lionfish removal experiment

Testing targets for lionfish control

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Prey fish recovery P

rop

ort

ion

ch

ange

0

-0.5

1.5

2.0

Green et al. in press Ecol. App.

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Conservation and lionfish control Management plans

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Conservation and lionfish control Awareness and education

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Conservation and lionfish control Regional action

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Complete eradication is unlikely

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Population suppression

Eradication

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The goal:

Make the most effective use of limited resources for control

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Conservation application Minimize ecological impacts in priority areas

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Juvenile fish habitat Marine Protected Areas

Conservation application Minimize ecological impacts in priority areas

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Recolonization happens rapidly Li

on

fish

10

0 m

-2

Date Green et al. in review Cons. Letters

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What level of control is required to mitigate the effects of lionfish?

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Pre

y fi

sh b

iom

ass

Lionfish density

Sufficient removal

Insufficient removal

How many lionfish can a reef tolerate?

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What is the cost and effort needed

for control?

How often to remove?

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Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Biscayne National Park

c

c

Buck Island National Monument

Long term removal studies Florida Keys St Croix, USVI

John Pennekamp State Park

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How many lionfish to remove?

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I1 I2 LF4 LF5 P1 P3 P5 P7

Lio

nfi

sh

ab

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da

nc

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Site

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How many lionfish to remove?

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I1 I2 LF4 LF5 P1 P3 P5 P7

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Starting density

Removal target

Densities 45-85% higher than target

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Bi-monthly dives to survey and remove lionfish

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1 2 3 4 5

Removal event

Site I1 0

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Removal event

Site LF5

P1

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P7 P5

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LF4

LF5

How many lionfish to remove?

Target density

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USGS Non-indigenous Aquatic Species Database 2012

Where do we get the manpower to achieve control?

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Tools for lionfish control Primarily caught by spear and hand-net

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Tools for lionfish control Food fishery

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Eat ‘em to beat ‘em!

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Lionfish derbies

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What is a lionfish derby?

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Lionfish derbies are an effective tool for increasing awareness….

But how effective are they at suppressing lionfish populations?

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Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas Derby effectiveness

study

Key Largo, Florida

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Pre- and post- derby surveys

Lionfish tagging

Derby fishing maps

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Before After Before After

g li

on

fish

ha-1

Derby No derby

45% decline

Key Largo, Florida

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Summary

•Invasive lionfish are having significant effects on fish populations across the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico •Controlling lionfish below predicted ‘thresholds’ densities can prevent ecological impacts •How can you help?

•Support lionfish control research •Support lionfish control efforts (e.g. derbies, food fishery)

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Thank you Contact:

[email protected]

@steph_j_green

www.stephaniejgreen.com

Find out more:

www.reef.org/lionfish

http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/research/pollution/invasive/lionfish