Nature provides numerous ecosystem services to people, yet the prioritization of these services often depends on the goals of various stakeholder groups. The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an ecologically important species along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States, where it provides essential fish habitat and may mitigate against climatic variations in urban areas. The eastern oyster also supports a multimillion dollar aquaculture industry in coastal communities. Recent declines in eastern oyster populations, however, have spurred widespread restoration activities. Here, we look at three expert stakeholder groups (academics, nongovernmental organizations, and governmental agencies) in Rhode Island (United States) to understand how stakeholder perceptions of oyster ecosystem services differ. Stakeholders' mental models showed differences among the groups' topologies and components, although the terms "Water Quality" and "Habitat/Structural Complexity" were prioritized in all the groups. Our results suggest that there is substantial intergroup variation, but that there are common threads around which future oyster restoration and management programs can be designed. By making these mental models of ecosystem services explicit, we illuminate tacit assumptions held by different stakeholders of the oyster stakeholder community in Rhode Island. In doing so, we highlight opportunities for more efficient collaboration around commonly shared goals for sustainable social and ecological management.

Invasive lionfish threaten native fishes and ecosystem health of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean communities. Controlling their spread and population growth can be difficult given their early maturity, high fecundity, a long larval dispersal period, and preference for structure. Mitigation efforts are further complicated by the existence of large and numerous, deep water refugia. Despite the potential importance of these refugia, their connection with shallow water populations and their role in recruiting pelagic larvae is poorly understood. We examined the post-settlement dispersal patterns of invasive lionfish using δ13C and δ18O stable isotope analysis on otoliths and Bayesian stock mixture analysis. We find that there is settlement within both deep- and shallow- water habitats. It is estimated that 34.5% of the shallow-water population is composed of individuals that settled in deep-water habitat and dispersed into these shallow regions post-settlement. Only 4.1% of the deep-water population is composed of individuals that settled in shallow-water habitat before dispersing. These results demonstrate a link between deep and shallow habitats within the coastal waters of Florida, with the flow of individuals from deep to shallow water being the predominate dispersal direction of post-settlement individuals. We suggest that post-settlement dispersal can contribute to the invasion of new habitat and potentially hinder shallow-water removal efforts in currently colonized areas.