The western Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae), in Florida: Evidence for reproduction and parasitism in the first exotic marine fish established in state waters

Ruiz-Carus, Ramon; Matheson, Richard; Roberts, Daniel; Whitfield, Paula E.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.10.012

Cited by 75 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Small numbers of 2 closely related species of predatory lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) were first recorded in eastern US coastal waters in 1992 (Courtenay 1995). The sources of introduction are likely to be accidental releases from aquaria (Semmens et al 2004), probably in Florida, which is the location of the first records in US waters (Whitfield et al 2002, Ruiz-Carus et al 2006. This invasion route is probable given that lionfish are popular in the aquarium trade (Wabnitz et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation rates of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs

Côté¹,

Maljković²

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

113

110

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation rates of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs

Côté¹,

Maljković²

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

113

110

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“…miles and P. volitans are two of nine recognized species in the genus Pterois and can be distinguished from one another only by fin ray meristics (Schultz, 1986) or by analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences (Hamner et al, 2007;Morris and Freshwater, 2008). In the United States, lionfish are imported as an ornamental reef fish (Semmens et al, 2004;Ruiz-Carus et al, 2006) and they were most likely introduced into Atlantic waters from the Indo-Pacific by recreational or commercial aquarists (Hare and Whitfield, 2003;Ruiz-Carus et al, 2006;). Lionfish are dispersed as planktonic larvae by oceanographic currents (Ahrenholz and Morris, 2010) and densities are capable of reaching well over 400 lionfish per hectare in the offshore waters of North Carolina, U.S.A. (Whitfield et al, 2002;) and in the Bahamas (Green and Côté, 2008), with higher densities observed in the Atlantic than ever reported in their native range in the Indo-Pacific.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oogenesis and spawn formation in the invasive lionfish, <i>Pterois miles</i> and <i>Pterois volitans</i>

Morris¹,

Sullivan²,

Govoni³

2011

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: The Indo-Pacific lionfish, Pterois miles and P. volitans, have recently invaded the U.S. east coast and the Caribbean and pose a significant threat to native reef fish communities. Few studies have documented reproduction in pteroines from the Indo-Pacific. This study provides a description of oogenesis and spawn formation in P. miles and P. volitans collected from offshore waters of North Carolina, U.S.A and the Bahamas. Using histological and laboratory observations, we found no differences in reproductive biology between P. miles and P. volitans. These lionfish spawn buoyant eggs that are encased in a hollow mass of mucus produced by specialized secretory cells of the ovarian wall complex. Oocytes develop on highly vascularized peduncles with all oocyte stages present in the ovary of spawning females and the most mature oocytes placed terminally, near the ovarian lumen. Given these ovarian characteristics, these lionfish are asynchronous, indeterminate batch spawners and are thus capable of sustained reproduction throughout the year when conditions are suitable. This mode of reproduction could have contributed to the recent and rapid establishment of these lionfish in the northwestern Atlantic and Caribbean.Keywords: lionfish, Pterois, oogenesis, ovarian peduncle, oocyte, invasions. RESUMEN: Ovogénesis y formación de la puesta de los peces invasores Pterois miles y Pterois volitans. -Los peces Indo-Pacíficos, Pterois miles y P. volitans, han invadido recientemente la costa este de los Estados Unidos y el Caribe y representan una significativa amenaza a las comunidades nativas de peces coralinos. Unos pocos estudios han documentado la reproducción en peces de la subfamilia Pteroinae del Indo-Pacífico. Este estudio presenta la descripción de la ovogénesis y la formación de puesta en P. miles y P. volitans recolectados desde aguas a mar abierto de Carolina del Norte, U.S.A, y las Bahamas. Mediante el uso de observaciones histológicas y de laboratorio, encontramos que no había diferencias en la biología reproductiva entre P. miles y P. volitans. Estas especies desovan huevos flotantes que están encerrados en una masa hueca de moco producida por células secretoras especializadas del complejo de la pared del ovario. Los ovocitos se desarrollan en pedúnculos altamente especializados, estando todos los estadios de los ovocitos presentes en el ovario de las hembras en puesta, y los ovocitos más maduros se localizan en la zona terminal, cerca del lumen del ovario. Dadas estas características del ovario, estas especies son asincrónicas, ponedores secuenciales indeterminados y son, por tanto, capaces de tener una reproducción sostenida a lo largo del año cuando las condiciones son adecuadas. Este modo de reproducción podría haber contribuido al rápido reciente establecimiento de estas especies en el noroeste del Atlántico y Caribe.

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“…For example, the narrower depth distribution of lionfish in northern parts of the invaded range may be related to winter water temperatures (Whitfield et al 2002, Kimball et al 2004, Ruiz-Carus et al 2006. Ultimately, the impact of lionfish on populations of potential prey and competitors cannot be assessed without detailed data on food habits (Meister et al 2005, Ruiz-Carus et al 2006.Despite recent studies of potential impacts of lionfish to tropical reef communities in the Bahamas (Albins & Hixon 2008, Cote & Maljkoviç 2010, impacts to warm-temperate hard bottom reefs of the Southeast US Atlantic Ocean remain unknown. These hard bottom reefs are well recognized as essential fish habitats that support economically valuable commercial and sport fisheries and an increasingly popular sport diving industry (Struhsaker 1969, Parker & Ross 1986, and lionfish have become widespread residents in the region ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet of invasive lionfish on hard bottom reefs of the Southeast USA: insights from stomach contents and stable isotopes

Muñ̃oz¹,

Currin²,

Whitfield³

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

116

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The Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles complex) has become widely established along the United States Southeast coast and continues to colonize the Caribbean, yet its biology and ecology is only beginning to be understood. We used stomach contents and stable isotope analyses to determine the diet of lionfish in the warm-temperate hard bottom reef community in the Southeast US Atlantic Ocean. During June to August 2004 and 2006, we collected lionfish with SCUBA from 18 different locations in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, at depths of 30 to 45 m. In 2006, we also conducted visual surveys of small benthic fishes to estimate the abundances of potential prey. Analyses of stomach contents (n = 183) and stable isotopes (n = 115) suggest a generalist carnivorous diet, and prey categories were predominately fish (~99% of total volume) from 16 families. Major differences in the importance of prey occurred between years. Serranidae and Scaridae dominated the diet in 2004, while Haemulidae and Carangidae were important in 2006. Analyses of visual prey surveys did not reveal specialization on particular prey taxa but instead suggest that prey are consumed in relation to their local abundance. Given current theory pertaining to invasive species impacts, the expanding lionfish distribution, and observations that lionfish appear capable of settling to many different habitat types, the overall pattern of generalist piscivory emerging from these data indicates the potential for significant impacts to the invaded community.KEY WORDS: Marine invasion · Rocky reef · Scorpaenidae · Warm temperate · Continental shelf · Piscivory · Diet · Prey Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 432: [181][182][183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192][193] 2011 Along the United States Southeast Atlantic coast, and in Bermuda and the Bahamas, red lionfish Pterois volitans and devil firefish P. miles are now established and are continuing to expand their range in the Caribbean , Schofield 2009). These 2 species are nearly morphologically identical and 93% of specimens sampled from the Atlantic as well as North Carolina were P. volitans (Hamner et al. 2007), so hereafter we refer to invasive specimens collectively as lionfish or P. volitans. Native to the subtropical and tropical regions of the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea, lionfish are venomous predators whose popularity in the aquarium trade may have contributed to their introduction to Atlantic waters (Whitfield et al. 2002, Semmens et al. 2004, Ruiz-Carus et al. 2006. Classified as demersal mesocarnivores together with groupers (Serranidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae) (Caillet et al. 1986), lionfish are believed to be opportunistic predators that consume fish, shrimp, and crabs in their native range (Hiatt & Strasburg 1960, Harmelin-Vivien & Bouchon 1976, Sano et al. 1984. However, until their recent invasion of the Atlantic and Caribbean, their biology and ecology were poorly understood bey...

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The western Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae), in Florida: Evidence for reproduction and parasitism in the first exotic marine fish established in state waters

Cited by 75 publications

References 34 publications

Predation rates of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs

Predation rates of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs

Oogenesis and spawn formation in the invasive lionfish, <i>Pterois miles</i> and <i>Pterois volitans</i>

Diet of invasive lionfish on hard bottom reefs of the Southeast USA: insights from stomach contents and stable isotopes

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