NCCOS Project Explorer (NPE)

Assessment of Status and Risk Posed by Lionfish in North Carolina Hardbottom Communities(2004)

Project Description:
The Indo-Pacific Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex), a venomous predatory fish with few natural enemies, is established (reproducing and dispersing) along the southeast shelf of the United States. Within the last six years lionfish have spread from Florida to Cape Hatteras NC and Bermuda. Further, lionfish are now found throughout the Bahamas and as far south as the Turks and Caicos. Our research is the first comprehensive assessment of the invasive lionfish and the results of this work will allow us to better predict the impact that lionfish may have to native communities. Our proposed research has greatly increased our understanding of the current status and risk posed by the lionfish invasion. Three main goals will be examined; 1) establish a baseline of abundance for lionfish along the North Carolina shelf, 2) characterize the ecological role (i.e. genetics, reproduction, diet) of lionfish to determine the risk associated with their presence, and3) evaluate laboratory-derived thermal tolerances to predict geographic distribution. This study incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach which combines in-situ lionfish and native fish community surveys with information on genetics and basic life history characteristics collected from lionfish specimens in Atlantic waters. For three consecutive years, most recently in August 2006 lionfish were found to be widespread within Onslow Bay, North Carolina. A total of 22 sites were surveyed in 2004 and 27 sites in 2005 and 2006 from Cape Fear to Cape Lookout, North Carolina in water depths of 95 to 150 feet deep. By 2006 Lionfish were present at 99% of the sites, up from 86% in 2004 (Fig. 1). In addition, anecdotal and verified reports continue to confirm these findings as well as the increase in geographic spread of lionfish (Fig. 2). Not only do Lionfish reports continue to increase along the east coast but more alarmingly are becoming quite common in the Bahamas as far south as the Turks and Caicos. These data suggest that lionfish have become rapidly established within the large southeast marine ecosystem. From these surveys, estimates of lionfish density have been obtained, thereby providing a baseline from which the status of the invasion and rate of population increase can be estimated. These density estimates indicate that lionfish may be approaching densities similar to some native serranids. Furthermore lionfish density estimates have increased by 50% within the last 2 years. Since 2004 a total of 276 specimens were collected for life history analyses and 57 were collected alive for use in reproductive studies and early life history studies. The lionfish ranged in size from 5 to 45cm in length and weighed from 25 to 1380 grams. Several lionfish collected in this study were larger (45 cm) than the reported maximum length from their native range (38 cm), suggesting that lionfish growth along the southeast U.S. is not resource limited (Elton 1958). The growth rate of lionfis

Expected Outcome:
Overall the data collected from this research project will allow us to better understand the magnitude and extent of the invasive lionfish within the Atlantic. In order to ultimately determine the ecological impact of this species to native communities. Our data can also be used to increase public awareness and education about the threat of invasive species and prevent new ones from occurring. More specifically, our baseline data will allow future lionfish population trends to be determined. Information relative to lionfish environmental tolerances in the field can help us predict the future distribution of lionfish within the Atlantic. Studies concerning lionfish ecology, biology, aging and genetics can also elucidate questions concnerning the source and demographics of the population as well as the potential impact to native communities. All of this information is necessary to determine the status and the risk posed by an invasive species. studies currently underway: 1. Quantify lionfish abundance off the North Carolina shelf to provide a baseline for future assessment of trends in population size. 2. Quantify native fish communities to provide baseline population estimates essential for future assessments of lionfish impact. Focusing on species most likely to be impacted by either predatory or competitive behavior of lionfish. 3. Evaluate results of lionfish thermal tolerances with field observations and in-situ bottom water temperature collection. 4. Use genetic data to characterize population structure in order to better understand the biology of North Carolina lionfish 5. Provide preliminary life history and ecological information to describe population demographics and the trophic role of North Carolina lionfish to better understand potential impacts.