Lionfish on the loose: Pterois invade shallow habitats in the tropical southwestern Atlantic

Abstract

Lionfish (Pterois spp.) evolved in the Indo-Pacific with predators and prey and invaded regions (e.g., the Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean) where no such balance yet exists. In 2020, four lionfish were recorded on mesophotic reefs of the Amazon offshore Coast and Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. However, until now, there were no records of invasive lionfish in Brazilian nearshore waters or even such a high number of individuals. In this article, we report the continuing invasion process along the Brazilian Province by multiple sightings (72) of lionfish from March to May 2022 in estuaries, seagrass beds, and artificial and natural reefs across 240 km of the Brazilian coast. These are the first records of lionfish in coastal northeast Brazil and the shallowest records (1–16 m) from South Atlantic tropical waters. The largest simultaneous records of lionfish in breakwaters, fishing weirs, and marambaias (artificial reefs used as fishing grounds) on the Brazilian Northeastern coast indicate that these man-made structures are suitable habitats for this species. Most of the lionfish (58%) were recorded in artificial reefs and fishing weirs. Moreover, the detection of invasions in marginal reefs, estuaries, and two marine protected areas characterized by moderately turbid water and high sedimentation rates highlights the adaptability of the lionfish, making it extremely difficult for divers and fishers to capture them. We call for an urgent management plan considering that the invaded tropical region hosts a high level of endemism, and rare and/or cryptic taxa, which increases the risk of impacts since these are primary lionfish prey.

Red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758), invasion in estuarine and nearshore habitats in Delta of Parnaíba conservation unit

“…The presence of lionfish in shallow waters (< 15 m) in fishing traps, and estuarine habitats indicates fast adaptation e spread condition for the species (SOARES et al, 2022). In our study, fish caught near piping of the inlet pump of a shrimp larviculture call attention for fish movement on different habitats and or that could be accidentally enter inside channel due to bombs water pressure.…”

“…Higher number of individuals were registered in Fernando de Noronha Island, indicating possible population establishment (LUIZ et al, 2021). Soares et al (2022) presents the first record for lionfish in Piauí and Ceará states, northeastern Brazil in shallow water (< 15 m), and hypothesizes fish spread from F. Noronha Island throughout North Brazilian Current. Although, previous reports contributed for the comprehension of distribution and habitat use from lionfish invasion, presence of the species in estuarine and nearshore habitats on this study contributes for new knowledge about tolerance and adaptation of its species.…”

“…Many learnings from previous observations e reports about the lionfish distribution and habitat use are in discussion between academic audience. The main question derives from the hypothesis that lionfish observed in the coast of Ceará and Piauí, probably are shifted from Fernando de Noronha Island using North Brazilian Current (SOARES et al, 2022). But one intrigued asking is about freshwater adaptation for the species, or if can cross Amazon-Orinoco barrier using Mesophotic reef corridor (LUIZ et al, 2021;SOARES et al, 2022).…”

“…Recently, lionfish was described in Amazon mesophotic reef between 30 and 100 m depth (LUIZ et al, 2021), increasing discussion of the condition for the species to crossing freshwater plume from Amazon-Orinoco barrier. And authors concluded possibility to use Mesophotic reef corridor as pathway (MOURA et al, 2016;FRANCINI-FILHO et al, 2018;SOARES et al, 2022). Higher number of individuals were registered in Fernando de Noronha Island, indicating possible population establishment (LUIZ et al, 2021).…”

The bioinvasion of lionfish Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) in Brazilian waters: An urgent necessity to create strategies to contain the expansion of the species in Brazil

“…Cintra et al (2022c) andSoares et al (2022), reported the presence of the lion sh in Brazilian shallow waters, with depths ranging from 1 to 10 meters.Studies provided byMorris-Jr. (2009) indicated the high reproductive rate of the lion sh in North and South Carolina waters and in the Bahamas; they report the high egg production (~ two millions of eggs per year), which gives lion sh the high capacity of colonization of new habitats. Some biological characteristics indicate the risk of this introduction into brazilian waters such as: 1) the individuals can reach the sexual maturity at one year of age; 2) fty percent of the males of lion sh were observed in sexual maturity around ~ 100 mm of total length (TL), while the females were observed in sexual is urgent to provide environmental education for the community, as well as information to avoid accidents with the population on the beaches, which incidents with humans ( shermen and bathers) in Brazil have been reported by Haddad Junior et al(2022).…”