Distributions of Indo-Pacific lionfishes Pterois spp. in their native ranges: implications for the Atlantic invasion

Abstract

Lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) have become a major concern in the western Atlantic and Caribbean since their introduction in the 1980s. Invasive lionfish can reach very high population densities on coral reefs in their invaded range, yet there are few data from their native range in the Indo-Pacific for comparison. We compiled data on the geographical distribution and density of Indo-Pacific lionfishes in their native ranges from published and unpublished underwater visual censuses and field collections. We found that lionfish in their native Indo-Pacific range are unevenly distributed, with higher densities in the Indian Ocean than in the Pacific. Lionfish densities increase significantly with increasing latitude, and are significantly higher in continental areas than around islands. In the Indo-Pacific, lionfishes are found not only on reefs but also on soft bottoms and in nearshore habitats such as seagrass beds and mangroves, and near estuaries. Native lionfish can be found at depths greater than 75 m. Because lionfish can be cryptic and secretive, we estimate that only ~1/8 of Indo-Pacific lionfishes are detected during general underwater visual censuses. In the Pacific Ocean, the relative abundance of lionfish in the catch of reef-fish larvae is of the same order of magnitude as the relative abundance of adult lionfish within reef fish assemblages. Overall the observed densities of lionfishes in the Indo-Pacific are much lower (max. 26.3 fish ha -1 ) than the densities reported in their invaded Atlantic range (max. 400 fish ha -1 ). We found no effects of fishing or pollution on the densities of lionfishes.

Coping with the Lionfish Invasion: Can Targeted Removals Yield Beneficial Effects?

“…In some locations, Pterois volitans densities approach 400 fish per hectare, which is approximately 5-15 times the densities recorded in their native range (Morris and Whitfield, 2009;Green and Côté, 2009;Darling et al, 2011;Kulbicki et al, 2012). Such high densities suggest minimal mortality from disease, parasites, or predators, which may include grouper (Maljković et al, 2008;Morris and Whitfield, 2009;Albins and Hixon, 2011;Mumby et al, 2011).…”

Reef fish community in presence of the lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean

“…Of these, those that presented the greatest number of species were Labridae (14), Serranidae (9), Pomacentridae (8), and Haemulidae and Chaetodontidae (5). Out of all the species, 15 (17%) were found in all five localities, 4 (4.5%) were exclusive from Morro and Remanso, 8 (9.1%) from Isla Aguja, 9 (10.2%) from Chengue and 3 (3.4%) from Cinto.…”

“…This species, native to the Indo-Pacific region, has become established with remarkable success in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea (5,6). Presently, a greater biomass and density has been recorded in the invaded area than with the nine lionfish (Pterois volitans) species occurring in their original distribution en el área invadida que la de las nueve especies registradas de pez león (Pterois spp) en su área de distribución (7,8). Al parecer este pez tiene fuertes efectos sobre las comunidades nativas y puede ser una de las invasiones marinas más nocivas de la que se tenga registro (9).…”

“…Remanso, localizada a 11°16'›N y 74°12'›O, es un área que se encuentra en el extremo nororiental de Taganga, caracterizada por area (7,8). Apparently, this fish has devastating effects on native communities and could be one of the most harmful marine invasions that has ever been recorded (9).…”

Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of the Lionfish Invasion in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico: Perspectives from a Broadscale Trawl Survey

“…and higher-relief reef structure. Lionfish use a variety of marine substrates in both their native and nonnative ranges, but they are most commonly associated with structured habitats such as reefs, mangrove swamps, and artificial structure (Barbour et al 2010;Kulbicki et al 2012;Schofield et al 2014). Several studies have documented, to some extent, ontogenetic shifts in habitat affinity.…”