Occurrence of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) larvae in the northern Gulf of Mexico: characterization of dispersal pathways and spawning areas

Kitchens, Larissa L.; Paris, Claire B.; Vaz, Ana C.; Ditty, James G.; Cornic, Maëlle; Cowan, James H.; Rooker, Jay R.

doi:10.1007/s10530-017-1417-1

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…Distinct differences in the composition of juveniles observed between the mid-shelf reefs (SONN, STET) and the shelf-edge reefs (EFGB, WFGB) indicates that an inshore-offshore recruitment gradient may exist for reef-dependent fishes in the northern GOM, likely established by decreased larval delivery or survivorship closer to the coast (see Roberts, 1991), where pelagic conditions are often strongly influenced by cold, low-salinity, nutrientrich input from MARS (Rezak et al, 1990;reviewed in D'Sa and Dimarco, 2009). It is also possible that regional patterns of fish diversity are influenced by increased exposure of the shelf-edge reefs (EFGB, WFGB) to tropical larvae originating from the southern GOM or Caribbean Sea (Rezak et al, 1990;Schmahl et al, 2008;Kitchens et al, 2017). However, the notable distinction between juvenile and adult assemblages observed within both mid-shelf reefs (SONN, STET) also suggests that the species composition of mature fish communities associated with this reef type may not directly resemble the initial species composition of settlers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under ideal oceanographic conditions, predicted transport time (Lugo-Fernández, 2006) from this region would be expected to exceed the reported planktonic larval duration (PLD) for many of the dominant species in our surveys of the EFGB and WFGB (Victor, 1986;Wellington and Victor, 1989), and considering that ecologically relevant scales of connectivity for reef fish populations in the region are typically on the order of 10 to 100 km (Cowen et al, 2006), the contribution of larvae derived from the Caribbean is likely to be minimal. Nevertheless, the degree to which larval contribution from the southern GoM or Caribbean Sea affects juvenile recruitment (density and assemblage structure) at northern GOM reefs is likely temporally variable and dependent on the position of the Loop Current and associated eddies (see Kitchens et al, 2017;Limer et al, in review). This may explain the greater density and diversity of juvenile recruits observed in 2009 compared to 2010 across all reefs, as the Loop Current penetrated farther northward in 2009 (Rooker et al, 2013;Limer et al, in review).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community Dynamics of Fish Assemblages on Mid-Shelf and Outer-Shelf Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2020

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Offshore coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) are unique model systems for examining the mechanisms structuring reef fish communities due to their substantial geographic isolation, and the presence of replicate experimental units of both low (mid-shelf) and high coral diversity (shelf-edge) reefs. Here, we examined the species assemblage structure of juvenile and adult fishes at two mid-shelf reefs (Sonnier and Stetson Bank) and two shelf-edge reefs (East and West Flower Garden Banks) in the northwestern GOM to evaluate the relative importance of habitat (i.e., coral diversity) vs. recruitment in structuring resident fish assemblages. Visual reef fish surveys (n = 400) were conducted at the four coral reefs during two seasons, spring-early summer and late summerfall in 2009 and 2010. Two depth zones were surveyed at each reef, representing the reef crest (15-23 m depth) and upper slope (23-30 m depth) habitats. Seasonal variability in recruitment to both mid-shelf and shelf-edge reefs was observed, with higher mean juvenile density and diversity (H) observed during the late season at all reefs in 2009 and all but Stetson in 2010, supporting an early fall recruitment peak. Likewise, considerable inter-annual variability in juvenile recruitment was observed, with significantly lower juvenile density and H observed at mid-shelf reefs in 2010 relative to 2009. Species diversity was strongly linked to coral diversity, with greater reef fish diversity consistently observed at shelf-edge relative to mid-shelf reefs. Observed differences in the composition of juvenile and adult assemblages at mid-shelf reefs suggest that reef fish communities at these reefs were more strongly influenced by post-settlement processes (e.g., juvenile mortality) than shelf-edge reefs, which may be a function of several limiting factors (e.g., predation, coral diversity, water quality). Results indicate that reef fish assemblages associated with mid-shelf and shelf-edge reefs in the northwestern GOM may have sufficient stabilizing mechanisms in place to facilitate recovery from anomalous recruitment events. The strong, reef type-specific differences in assemblage composition observed throughout the study indicate that mid-shelf and shelf-edge coral reefs may fill different functional roles for demersal fishes in the northwestern GOM.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Dynamics of Fish Assemblages on Mid-Shelf and Outer-Shelf Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2020

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“…This is not especially long for a coral‐reef fish (Lester & Ruttenberg, ), but it still provides ample time for long‐distance dispersal. Only a handful of lionfish larvae have been collected so far (Vásquez‐Yeomans et al, ; Kitchens et al, ), but a biophysical model suggests that some of these 14–17 day old larvae might have dispersed up to c . 900 km on local currents from where they were spawned (Kitchens et al, ).…”

Section: Why Have Lionfish Been So Successful As An Invader?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only a handful of lionfish larvae have been collected so far (Vásquez-Yeomans et al, 2011;Kitchens et al, 2017), but a biophysical model suggests that some of these 14-17 day old larvae might have dispersed up to c. 900 km on local currents from where they were spawned (Kitchens et al, 2017). However, currents alone do not account for the speed of lionfish spread.…”

Section: N E W K N Ow L E D G E a B O U T C O R R E L At E S O F P O mentioning

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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“…Dispersal to new areas is more effective when individuals are in the pelagic larval phase (14-17 days old) when they can disperse up to circa 900 km from the spawning area, taking advantage of the presence of local currents [16,55]. Nevertheless, if currents facilitated the transport of larvae from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, then genetic divergence should correlate with geographical distance, as predicted by a 'stepping stone' model [56].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Data Suggest Multiple Introductions of the Lionfish (Pterois miles) into the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2019

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Widespread reports over the last six years confirm the establishment of lionfish (Pterois miles) populations in the eastern Mediterranean. Accumulated knowledge on lionfish invasions in the western Atlantic Ocean has shown that it is a successful invader and can have negative impacts on native species, indirect ecological repercussions and economic effects on local human societies. Here we analysed genetic sequences of lionfish from Cyprus as well as data from the whole distribution of the species, targeting the mtDNA markers cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the control region (CR). Our results reflect a pattern of repeated introductions into the Mediterranean from the northern Red Sea and a secondary spread of this species west to Rhodes and Sicily. Presented results agree with previously published studies highlighting the genetic similarity with individuals from the northern Red Sea. Nevertheless, some individuals from Cyprus, in addition to those coming via the Suez Canal, were genetically similar to fish from the Indian Ocean, indicating genetic homogeneity among populations of P. miles across its current distribution, possibly facilitated by the ornamental fish trade and/or transport through ballast water.

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Occurrence of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) larvae in the northern Gulf of Mexico: characterization of dispersal pathways and spawning areas

Cited by 20 publications

References 30 publications

Community Dynamics of Fish Assemblages on Mid-Shelf and Outer-Shelf Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Community Dynamics of Fish Assemblages on Mid-Shelf and Outer-Shelf Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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

Genetic Data Suggest Multiple Introductions of the Lionfish (Pterois miles) into the Mediterranean Sea

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