Lionfish as an invasive speciesLionfish as an invasive species

Roatan Marine Park is working in coordination with NOAA, USGS, the Nature Conservancy and REEF organization in order to control the Lionfish invasion in Honduras

Lionfish and the Roatan Marine Lionfish and the Roatan Marine ParkPark

What are Lionfish?What are Lionfish? Where did they come from?Where did they come from? Why are they a problem?Why are they a problem? What can we do about it?What can we do about it?

The Location of The Roatan Marine Park, a big The Location of The Roatan Marine Park, a big picturepicture

HondurasHonduras

Lawson Rock

Key Hole

Where is the Marine Park situated?

Boundaries extend from the Boundaries extend from the high water mark down to high water mark down to 60m, between Key Hole 60m, between Key Hole and Lawson Rock.and Lawson Rock.

On the western point of On the western point of the island, the island, incorporating 13km of incorporating 13km of coastline.coastline.

ProgramsPrograms•Patrols•Marine Infrastructure•Marine Education•Alternative Living program•Watershed Management programs•Lionfish Project

Coral devastation pre-lionfish Coral devastation pre-lionfish invasioninvasion

What are Lionfish?What are Lionfish?

AnatomyAnatomy– Venomous dorsal Venomous dorsal

ventral and anal spinesventral and anal spines– Resistant to parasitesResistant to parasites

LionfishLionfish

Biological Classification

•Kingdom – Animalia (all the animals)•Phylum – Chordata (animals with a spinal cord)•Subphylum – Vertebrata (animals with backbones)•Class – Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)•Order – Scorpaeniformes (scorpion fishes and sculpins)•Family – Scorpaenidae (firefishes, goblinfishes, rockfishes, and scorpionfishes)•Genus – Pterois (lionfishes, turkeyfishes, and zebrafishes)•Species – volitans (meaning volatile or poisonous)

Lionfish IdentificationLionfish IdentificationIdentification:Identification: Lionfish have distinctive red, maroon, and Lionfish have distinctive red, maroon, and

white stripes or bands covering the head and body. Their white stripes or bands covering the head and body. Their body is 1.5 times the length of the head, with a total size body is 1.5 times the length of the head, with a total size range of 6 -12 inches. They have fleshy tentacles above range of 6 -12 inches. They have fleshy tentacles above their eyes and below the mouth; fan-like their eyes and below the mouth; fan-like pectoral finspectoral fins; ; long, separated long, separated dorsaldorsal spines; 13 spines; 13 dorsaldorsal spines; 10-11 spines; 10-11 dorsaldorsal soft soft raysrays; 3 anal spines; and 6-7 ; 3 anal spines; and 6-7 anal anal soft soft raysrays. . An adult lionfish can grow as large as 18 inches, while An adult lionfish can grow as large as 18 inches, while juvenilesjuveniles may be as small as 1 inch or less. Lionfish may be as small as 1 inch or less. Lionfish have have cycloidcycloid scalesscales..

Lionfish HabitatLionfish HabitatLionfish are primarily associated with Lionfish are primarily associated with coral reefscoral reefs, ,

but can be found in warm marine waters of the but can be found in warm marine waters of the tropics. Lionfish have been found in water tropics. Lionfish have been found in water depths from 85 to 260 feet on hard bottom, depths from 85 to 260 feet on hard bottom, coral coral reefsreefs and artificial substrate (like sunken ships). and artificial substrate (like sunken ships). They tend to glide along the rocks or coral They tend to glide along the rocks or coral during the night and hide under ledges or in during the night and hide under ledges or in crevices during the day.crevices during the day.

Lionfish BehaviorLionfish Behavior Lionfish are thought to be nocturnal hunters, but they have been

found with full stomachs during the day in the Atlantic. They move about by slowly undulating the soft rays of the dorsal

and anal fins. During the day, they often retreat to ledges and crevices among the

rocks and corals. Although in the Atlantic, lionfish are often seen moving about during the day, both alone and in groups of 2-6.

They may live alone for the majority of their lives, and will fiercely defend their home ranges from other lionfish and other species of fish.

However, they may live in small groups when they are juveniles and during the spawning season. Male lionfish are more aggressive than females, especially during the mating season.

Males will aggressively attack other males who attempt to invade their territory.

LionfishLionfish BehaviourBehaviour

Will binge eat until supply of fish has run outWill binge eat until supply of fish has run out Stomach can expand to 30 times its regular sizeStomach can expand to 30 times its regular size One study showed a Lionfish eat 20 fish in 30 One study showed a Lionfish eat 20 fish in 30

minutesminutes Can survive for 12 weeks with no foodCan survive for 12 weeks with no food

BreedingBreeding Female release 2 egg sacks which males fertilizeFemale release 2 egg sacks which males fertilize 30,000 eggs are produced at a time30,000 eggs are produced at a time In the Caribbean females can reproduce every 30 In the Caribbean females can reproduce every 30

daysdays Lionfish larvae will drift just below the surface for 25-Lionfish larvae will drift just below the surface for 25-

40 days before settling on the reef40 days before settling on the reef Indo-pacific Lionfish breed once a year, the Caribbean Indo-pacific Lionfish breed once a year, the Caribbean

Lionfish breed several time a yearLionfish breed several time a year

Lionfish Native RangeLionfish Native Range

The South Pacific and Indian Oceans (i.e., the The South Pacific and Indian Oceans (i.e., the Indo-Pacific region). The range of the lionfish Indo-Pacific region). The range of the lionfish covers a very large area from western Australia covers a very large area from western Australia and Malaysia east to French Polynesia and the and Malaysia east to French Polynesia and the United Kingdom’s Pitcairn Islands, north to United Kingdom’s Pitcairn Islands, north to southern Japan and southern Korea and south southern Japan and southern Korea and south to Lord Howe Island off the east coast of to Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia and the Kermadec Islands of New Australia and the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand. In between, the species is found Zealand. In between, the species is found throughout Micronesia. throughout Micronesia.

Where did they come from?Where did they come from?

Native to the Indian and Pacific OceansNative to the Indian and Pacific OceansFirst reported at Biscayne Bay, Florida, in First reported at Biscayne Bay, Florida, in

1992 following Hurricane Andrew1992 following Hurricane Andrew

Where did they come from?Where did they come from?

20032003

Their movementTheir movement

2002

1992

2006

2007

2008

2002

1992

2006

2007

2008

An updated mapAn updated map

Lionfish VideoLionfish Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNbKjiUCGRUv=LNbKjiUCGRU

Why are they a problem?Why are they a problem?

Eating habitsEating habitsVoracious predatorsVoracious predators Juvenile Nassau Grouper have been found in Juvenile Nassau Grouper have been found in

Lionfish stomachsLionfish stomachsDo not discriminateDo not discriminateWill eat fish and crustaceans including Will eat fish and crustaceans including

juvenile lobster, grouper, parrotfish.juvenile lobster, grouper, parrotfish.

Why are they a problem?Why are they a problem?

No natural predators in the CaribbeanNo natural predators in the Caribbean BahamasBahamas

11stst sighting in 2004 sighting in 20042005, 16 more sightings2005, 16 more sightingsNow 390 per hectareNow 390 per hectare

A study in 2008 showed that Lionfish A study in 2008 showed that Lionfish were responsible for reducing the were responsible for reducing the population of juvenile fish on a reef population of juvenile fish on a reef by 79%by 79%

Lionfish sighting frequency over time done surveys in two regions of the tropical Atlantic, by REEF Organization, by REEF Organization

Lionfish sighting frequency done by REEF Organization, fish Lionfish sighting frequency done by REEF Organization, fish

surveys at New Providence, Bahamassurveys at New Providence, Bahamas

A picture taken in the Bahamas A picture taken in the Bahamas after the invasionafter the invasion

What can we do about it?What can we do about it?

Eradication is impossibleEradication is impossible Keep dive sites as free of Lionfish as Keep dive sites as free of Lionfish as

possible to provide a safe haven for possible to provide a safe haven for other fishother fish

We need to be the main predatorWe need to be the main predator EducationEducation EAT THEM!!EAT THEM!! What are other countries doing about What are other countries doing about

it?it?

Internship with Guilford Biology Internship with Guilford Biology Students?Students?

Some activities would includeSome activities would include Lionfish collection, GPS trackingLionfish collection, GPS tracking Maintaining databaseMaintaining database Taking fish samples and doing Taking fish samples and doing

research on their stomachs as well as research on their stomachs as well as female fish studies on re-population female fish studies on re-population and growthand growth

Their effect on the reef including Their effect on the reef including other fish populationsother fish populations