No detectable effect of lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) invasion on a healthy reef fish assemblage in Archipelago Los Roques National Park, Venezuela

Simon, Elise; Urbina-Barreto, Isabel; Boadas-Gil, Hazael; Galindo-Vivas, Miguel; Kulbicki, Michel

doi:10.1007/s00227-014-2571-y

Cited by 22 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Ultimately, it may be that intact native fish communities that include native mesopredators are the best way to ameliorate the worst-case effects of lionfish by competing with and altering their behavior (Albins & Hixon 2013). Some recent evidence suggests that Caribbean reefs with relatively high native predator density can maintain unchanged prey populations despite being invaded by lionfish (Elise et al 2015). Other studies have found that lionfish-induced reductions in the density of native fishes <10 cm TL did not translate to larger prey (10-20 cm TL; Albins 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Native grouper indirectly ameliorates the negative effects of invasive lionfish

Ellis¹,

Faletti²

2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Native grouper indirectly ameliorates the negative effects of invasive lionfish

Ellis¹,

Faletti²

2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In some places, rates of prey consumption by lionfish far exceed prey production rates and the majority of native fish biomass is being converted to lionfish biomass, as envisioned by Albins & Hixon (2013). A couple of trends, however, are emerging from the many observational and experimental (Elise et al, 2015;Ballew et al, 2016), predator declines ascribed to lionfish (Lesser & Slattery, 2011;Tuttle, 2017), predator declines not ascribed to lionfish (Ingeman, 2016); reductions in species richness on reefs with lionfish (Albins, 2013(Albins, , 2015Benkwitt, 2015;Ellis & Faletti, 2016); high rate of predation on a Belizean restricted-range endemic Indirect effects on benthos Decline in coral cover and increase in macroalgal cover…”

Section: I R E C T E F F E C T S O N F I S H P O P U L At I O N Smentioning

confidence: 99%

The lionfish Pterois sp. invasion: Has the worst‐case scenario come to pass?

Côté

Smith

2018

Journal of Fish Biology

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This review revisits the traits thought to have contributed to the success of Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois sp. as an invader in the western Atlantic Ocean and the worst-case scenario about their potential ecological effects in light of the more than 150 studies conducted in the past 5 years. Fast somatic growth, resistance to parasites, effective anti-predator defences and an ability to circumvent predator recognition mechanisms by prey have probably contributed to rapid population increases of lionfish in the invaded range. However, evidence that lionfish are strong competitors is still ambiguous, in part because demonstrating competition is challenging. Geographic spread has likely been facilitated by the remarkable capacity of lionfish for prolonged fasting in combination with other broad physiological tolerances. Lionfish have had a large detrimental effect on native reef-fish populations in the northern part of the invaded range, but similar effects have yet to be seen in the southern Caribbean. Most other envisaged direct and indirect consequences of lionfish predation and competition, even those that might have been expected to occur rapidly, such as shifts in benthic composition, have yet to be realized. Lionfish populations in some of the first areas invaded have started to decline, perhaps as a result of resource depletion or ongoing fishing and culling, so there is hope that these areas have already experienced the worst of the invasion. In closing, we place lionfish in a broader context and argue that it can serve as a new model to test some fundamental questions in invasion ecology.

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“…Los Roques is managed since 1972 by the National Park Institute (INPARQUES-Official Gazette N° 4.106; Decree N° 276) and the Territorio Insular Francisco de Miranda (Official Gazette N° 39.797) is responsible for administrative aspects since 2011. Spearfishing in Los Roques has been prohibited since 1972 while fishing with nets has been prohibited since 1992 (Elise et al 2015). Posada (1992) provided a basic overview of the fishery resources of Los Roques, which were principally coral reef-based and primarily consisted of fish, conch and lobster (respectively, 55.8%, 27.3% and 16.9% by weight and 29.8%, 21.3% and 48.9% by market value).…”

Section: Nature Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Los Roques and Las Aves Archipelagos, Venezuela: A Marine Ecological and Conservation Reconnaissance of Two Little-Known Southeastern Caribbean Oceanic Archipelagos

Debrot

Yranzo

Arocha

2019

Atoll Research Bulletin

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The Los Roques and Las Aves oceanic coral reef archipelagos of Venezuela lie in a biogeographically unique and biologically diverse area of the Caribbean and possess extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and shallow macroalgae meadows. The geographic location of these archipelagos safeguards them from most Western Atlantic hurricane damage as well as the most severe Caribbean coral bleaching episodes. While the Aves islands remain uninhabited and are an area of low accessibility, Los Roques has been a managed national park since 1972. We here present an updated synthesis of recent research for these archipelagos as an aid to scientists and conservationists interested in these island groups for which no recent ecological reviews are available. Los Roques has been much better documented than Las Aves and is the largest coral reef marine protected area of Venezuela. It has about 1,500 inhabitants living principally from tourism and fisheries. Studies show that Los Roques possesses fish populations that suffer comparatively less fishing pressure and may serve as a rare benchmark for pristine fish communities elsewhere in the Caribbean. It has also successfully maintained its importance to seabird colonies for the last five decades, notwithstanding serious marine park funding and staffing shortages. A new baseline biological inventory for Las Aves is particulary critical considering the fragmentary information available for this archipelago. The relatively intact and resilient oceanic coral reef systems of Los Roques and Las Aves are of regionally significant conservation value and deserve much more conservation and biodiversity attention than so far accorded.

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No detectable effect of lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) invasion on a healthy reef fish assemblage in Archipelago Los Roques National Park, Venezuela

Cited by 22 publications

References 54 publications

Native grouper indirectly ameliorates the negative effects of invasive lionfish

Native grouper indirectly ameliorates the negative effects of invasive lionfish

The lionfish Pterois sp. invasion: Has the worst‐case scenario come to pass?

Los Roques and Las Aves Archipelagos, Venezuela: A Marine Ecological and Conservation Reconnaissance of Two Little-Known Southeastern Caribbean Oceanic Archipelagos

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