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PeterIMA

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Subj: [Coral-List] Lionfish invasion info
Date: 2/20/2008 4:11:37 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
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Dear Listers,

I was hoping the lionfish discussion would not take on a life of its own,
yet, but it seems that it has struck a chord.

Boy is there a lot of mis-information and misconception out there! Looks
like it is time to weigh in.

REEF has been working over the past 2 years with James Morris and others at
the NOAA lab in Beaufort NC, The National Aquarium in Washington DC, the
USGS, the Bahamas Department of Fisheries, the College of the Bahamas, local
(Bahamas) dive operators Bruce Purdy and Stuart Cove as well as other
researchers on this lionfish issue. We maintain an exotic species web site
and electronic reporting page and receive regular sightings reports from
around the Atlantic region. These sightings and other sighting sources are
being compiled by the USGS
(http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/fish/default.asp).

I'd like to start by saying that we are about to publish results from nearly
1,000 specimens collected under permit in the Bahamas since Jan 2007, and
another 1,000 from offshore NC, so I am not going to give away too much info
here. However...

The genetics do not show one founding female and the historical records
indicate this has been a problem long in the making (Freshwater, UNCW).
Courtenay in 1995 describes lionfish in Biscayne Bay after Hurricane Andrew
and there are reports going back into the 1980s of fish in FL waters. North
Carolina's earliest reports were in 2000 (Whitfield, et al, 2002, MEPS). Add
to that the fact that over 16 other non-native marine fish have been
documented in a 3 county area of SE FL (Semmens, et al, 2004, MEPS) and that
well over 7,000 lionfish are imported into FL each year for the aquarium
trade (Ruiz-Carus, et al, 2006, Biol. Cons.) and it appears that this not a
one-time lucky occurrence. The problem most likely started in FL.

Lionfish have become the first successful marine fish invasion of Atlantic
waters. They are now documented from Massachusetts in the north
(juveniles), to Bermuda in the East, as far south as Turks and Caicos and
west to Cayman. The Florida population begins around Palm Beach and
increases steadily as one moves north. The Carolinas have large numbers.
The Keys have not shown fish yet.

The Bahamas are becoming infested and the fish appear to be moving rapidly
south and west. REEF and our partners have collected fish from Grand
Bahama, Andros, the Berries, Exumas, Eleuthera, Bimini, New Providence,
Little San Salvador, Long Island and Conception. We have confirmed reports
from many other islands in the Bahamas.

The first confirmed reports in the Bahamas were in 2004 (Purdy).

Lionfish appear to be spawning year-round in some locations (Morris, NOAA).

There appear to be few parasites affecting lionfish compared to other native
species (Barse, Salisbury University and Morris, NOAA).

Lionfish appear to eat opportunistically and will take almost anything, even
prey over half their body size. (NOAA/Munoz/ Morris/REEF). Commercially
valuable species are included in our stomach content findings.

We have documented little in the way of natural predation (even sharks
passing up free lionfish lunches) (Morris, REEF).

Bermuda is taking the lead on initiating eradication efforts (Flook, BAMZ),
while Bahamian fishermen have been directed by the Minister of Fisheries and
Agriculture, Larry Cartwright, to kill any lionfish they encounter.

There is much more work in progress including tagging studies, trapping
studies, bioenergetics, trophic impacts, local eradication and more.

As part of the ICRS field trips, REEF is co-hosting a lionfish workshop in
the Bahamas June 28-July 4
(http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/fieldtr ... ldtrip.pdf).

Additionally, we are conducting collecting and research efforts in the
Exumas March 8-15 and in Nassau from May 11-15. There are opportunities to
join in if anyone is interested.
(http://www.reef.org/programs/exotic/lionfish/2008)

We are also in the planning stages for a multi-agency workshop to be focused
on S FL (July) to develop a regional exotic species rapid response plan.
This effort is in close partnership with NOAA and the Gulf and South
Atlantic Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species.

While the lionfish issue is near and dear to our hearts and a great "poster
child" for marine invasive issues, the problem is not restricted to
lionfish. In partnerships with the FKNMS and the New England and FL
Aquariums, REEF removed a total of 4 indo-pacific batfish (Platax
orbicularis) from Molasses Reef in 1999 and 2002. We are also working
heavily in the Pacific Northwest on invasive tunicate problems.

Feel free to touch base with me on the issue, visit the REEF website
(http://www.reef.org/programs/exotic), the USGS website
(http://nas.er.usgs.gov/) or the NOAA information page
(http://www.ccfhr.noaa.gov/stressors/inv ... /Lionfish/) for more on
this.

Best fishes,

Lad



************************
Lad Akins
Special Projects
REEF
98300 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo FL 33037
 

PeterIMA

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Subj: Re: [Coral-List] Lionfish in the Atlantic
Date: 2/20/2008 11:33:14 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
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Dear colleagues,

there is quite some literature available on invasive lionfish in the
Atlantic, including a genetic study. This shows that the genetic
diversity is very low compared to natural Indo-Pacific populations,
due to a founder effect, which is not surprising.

Title: Mitochondrial cytochrome b analysis reveals two invasive
lionfish species with strong founder effects in the western Atlantic
Author(s): Hamner RM, Freshwater DW, Whitfield PE
Source: JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY Volume: 71 Pages:
214-222 Supplement: Suppl. B Published: 2007
Abstract: Lionfish (Scorpaenidae, Pteroinae) are venomous predatory
fish that are native to the Indo-Pacific region and have recently
become established in the western Atlantic Ocean. Since the invasion
was first documented in 2000, the number of lionfish in the Atlantic
has increased substantially and spurred a series of investigations
regarding their biology and potential impacts on the ecosystem. The
present study uses haplotypes from the mitochondria-encoded
cytochrome b (cyt b) locus to determine the number of lionfish
species involved in the Atlantic invasion and the decrease in genetic
diversity that accompanied the invasion. The cyt b data reveal that
Pterois volitans along with a small number of Pterois miles are
present in the Atlantic Ocean and that a strong founder effect has
resulted in a large decrease in genetic diversity compared with
native lionfish populations.

Other studies reporting the occurrence of Pterois miles/volitans in
the Atlantic

Title: Marine fish diversity and composition in the Mid-Atlantic and
South Atlantic Bights
Author(s): Love JW, Chase PD
Source: SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Pages:
705-714 Published: 2007

Title: The Indo-Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Pisces :
Scorpaenidae), new to Bahamian ichthyofauna
Author(s): Snyder DB, Burgess GH
Source: CORAL REEFS Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Pages: 175-175 Published: 2007

Title: Abundance estimates of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois
volitans/miles complex in the Western North Atlantic
Author(s): Whitfield PE, Hare JA, David AW, et al.
Source: BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Pages:
53-64 Published: 2007

Title: Fishes associated with North Carolina shelf-edge hardbottoms
and initial assessment of a proposed marine protected area
Author(s): Quattrini AM, Ross SW
Source: BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE Volume: 79 Issue: 1 Pages:
137-163 Published: 2006

Title: Fishes associated with North Carolina shelf-edge hardbottoms
and initial assessment of a proposed marine protected area
Author(s): Quattrini AM, Ross SW
Source: BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE Volume: 79 Issue: 1 Pages:
137-163 Published: 2006

Title: Further evidence for the invasion and establishment of Pterois
volitans (Teleostei : Scorpaenidae) along the Atlantic coast of the
United States
Author(s): Meister HS, Wyanski DM, Loefer JK, et al.
Source: SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Pages:
193-206 Published: 2005

Title: Thermal tolerance and potential distribution of invasive
lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) on the east coast of the
United States
Author(s): Kimball ME, Miller JM, Whitfield PE, et al.
Source: MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES Volume: 283 Pages:
269-278 Published: 2004

Title: Biological invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois
volitans along the Atlantic coast of North America
Author(s): Whitfield PE, Gardner T, Vives SP, et al.
Source: MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES Volume: 235 Pages:
289-297 Published: 2002


Cheers,

Marc


At 19:46 19.02.2008, you wrote:
>I would think that doing some genetic work on these fish to determine how
>closely related they are would help in determining their possible origin.
>Blaming the aquarium trade for this situation is all too convenient and lacks
>any objective evidence. If these fish came from aquarium releases, then one
>would expect all these fish off the east coast to be pretty closely related.
>The sheer numbers of fish being reported indicates to me the possibility of a
>much larger breeding population as being the more likely source, then a few
>aquarium releases. Hopefully a genetic study would shed more light on this??
>
>I don't know that gobies and blennies would be as much affected as juveniles
>that school like grunts, cardinalfish, snappers etc ... these are the types of
>fish I have seen lionfish stalking most often, not benthic species.
>
>Back in the 50's I think it was, the state of Hawaii imported Peacock Groupers
>(Cephalopholis argus) into Hawaii to create another food fish source for
>anglers and spear fishermen. Unfortunately, these fish are prone to ciguatera
>and so are not hunted much. Similarly, the state introduced Bluestriped
>snappers (Lutjanus kasmira) decades ago, which have since exploded in number
>and now are suspected of out competing local deepwater snappers for food.
>These were both mass introductions that resulted in breeding populations. No
>one has commented on how these introductions affected local fish populations,
>especially tropical fish targeted by collectors. There have been several
>sightings of tropical fish in Hawaiian waters that were most likely the result
>of aquarium releases or perhaps premeditated introductions (Primarily
>angelfish and surgeonfish/tangs), but I don't think ANY of these have exploded
>in number or created significant breeding populations in the Hawaiian Islands
>like we are seeing off the east coast of the US with lionfish. The lone
>exception may be the Marshall Islands form of Flame angel off of West Hawaii
>but I am not 100% sure of these reports. Again, genetic work might help clear
>this up.
>
>At least in the state of Hawaii, to the best of my knowledge, only fish that
>were released in LARGE numbers have establish themselves in significant
>numbers in the Hawaiian Islands.
>
>Aloha!
>J.C. Delbeek
>
>Disclaimer: The above is just my opinion and does necessarily reflect those of
>my employer.
>
>
>"Szmant, Alina" <[email protected]> said:
>
>>The lion fish here off of NC are everywhere offshore. And I saw a dive
>>article about there abundance elsewhere in Caribbean. They are
>>definitely established in the Atlantic, and can now be considered
>>invasive. They'll probably have a major effect on small reef fishes
>>such as gobies and blennies.
>>
>>*******************************************************************
>>Dr. Alina M. Szmant
>>Coral Reef Research Group
>>UNCW-Center for Marine Science
>>5600 Marvin K. Moss Ln
>>Wilmington NC 28409
>>>>email: [email protected]
>>Web Page: http://people.uncw.edu/szmanta
>>******************************************************************
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: [email protected]
>>[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Douglas
>>Fenner
>>Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 10:07 PM
>>To: Craig Lilyestrom; Lee Goldman
>>Cc: [email protected]
>>Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Live coral trade - Philippine exports
>>
>>Good point. Currently, several Pacific fish species are being found in
>>Florida and elsewhere, particularly Lionfish, and the numbers of the
>>latter
>>at least indicate that the genie is out of the bottle, it sounds to me
>>like
>>an introduced species that is going to be invasive. They were released
>>by
>>people from their aquariums into the ocean. I hear from aquarium people
>>
>>that there are a variety of diseases and parasites that show up in
>>aquaria,
>>including coral diseases I believe. I could easily imagine a disease or
>>
>>parasite, say on coral, coming from the Pacific, being released from an
>>aquarium in Florida, and having potentially severe effects there and
>>throughout the Caribbean. Doesn't seem too far fetched. -Doug
>>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Coral-List mailing list
>[email protected]
>http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list




><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>><>
Dr. Marc Kochzius
Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics
Centre for Applied Gene Sensor Technology (CAG), FB2-UFT
University of Bremen
Leobener Strasse
28359 Bremen
Germany


Fish &Chips Project: www.fish-and-chips.uni-bremen.de
POGEMAO Project: www.pogemao.uni-bremen.de
CAG: www.gensensorik.uni-bremen.de/en/index.html
Biotechnology: www.uft.uni-bremen.de/biotech/english/bmg_main.html
Coral Reef Webpage: www.oceanium.de
<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><

International Year of the Reef 2008: www.iyor.org
Internationales Jahr des Korallenriffs 2008: www.iyor2008.de

International Polar Year 2007/2008: www.ipy.org
Internationales Polarjahr 2007/2008: www.polarjahr.de
 

PeterIMA

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A scientiist has estimated that about 80,000 lionfish are imported from SE Asia into Florida each year. Is this a realistic number?

Peter
 
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Anonymous

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Wait, you're a wholesaler, does it sound reasonable to you? How many does LES catch and offer you?
 
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Anonymous

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Roughly 220 lionfish per DAY, EVERY day, YEAR round into one state?

Someone could really entertain that as a rational figure?
 

clarionreef

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Only non aquarium people believe in such nonsense and "snorkle Bob type figures".
As the legend grows and picks up steam, the alarm does as well.
Soon people with no clue as to what to do...will propose a remedy and a ..er a budget to go with the er...remedy.
Instead of adressing the real issues of the region, ie massive over development and sewage, "the lionfish are coming..." sounds like a GOOD PLACE TO MISPLACE CONCERN....and blame someone small.
Its too bad they are there. Oh well, at least something seems to grow in the Atlantic these days. The lack of fish was the issue we hear of mostly and the death of the reef systems in general.
Yes, invasives are a lesser and interesting issue.
Steve
 

dizzy

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PeterIMA":3upqjh8q said:
{snip} {snip}

well over 7,000 lionfish are imported into FL each year for the aquarium
trade (Ruiz-Carus, et al, 2006, Biol. Cons.) and it appears that this not a
one-time lucky occurrence. The problem most likely started in FL.

Lionfish have become the first successful marine fish invasion of Atlantic
waters.

Peter that was in your first post. You guys should consider there are several wholesales in Florida that bring in Indo Pacific and reship to other states, so the number is very reasonable.
Mitch
 

PeterIMA

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Yes, but the scientist named above informed Lad Atkins that this figure was wrong and the figure of 80,000 was correct. Mr. Atkins then corrected his posting on the Coral List. So, now the entire coral reef research community believes tbe larger number (that no one has refuted).

Peter
 

KKohen

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Greetings,

Potentially invasive species and the possibility for regulation of ornamentals in the trade is someting we all should be concerned about. It is very important that we all do our part to educate the consumer about invasive species and the potential impact these animals or plants could have on the environment if introduced.

In my opinion the chances of multiple aquarists releasing non-natives into a habitat simultaneously, where these said species can survive, become established, and then displace other species and become considered invasive is highly unlikely. We must analyze all avenues and pathways for introduction of non-natives into a specific habitat. Has anyone thought about other means and pathways for introduction for these non-native species that have been identified like Pterois volitans?

One such security issue in my personal opinion that no one has alluded to are the resorts and vacation destinations in the Caribbean where some have very large pools contain non-natives that are in close proximity to the ocean. To complicate matters what are the regulations on the pre-treatment of the effluent for these habitats as almost all of them are on open systems that flow directly back into the ocean. What happens during a hurricane where the sea level rises and massive flooding occurs? Wouldn’t this be a highway for non-natives to enter the eco-system?

Off the top of my head, an example is http://www.atlantis.com/play/blueadventures.aspx where they clearly list Lionfish on display. I am not trying to divert the attention elsewhere but everyone needs to consider all possible introduction pathways. Just some food for thought.

Regards,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
 

PeterIMA

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Kevin, I think that several "releases" of MO species have occurred in Florida. We discussed previously that lionfish may have escaped from a large seaside aquarist's tank during Hurricane Andrew. However, recent data posted on the Coral List indicates lionfish were found in Florida water prior to that date (1993). There also are two lionfish species on the loose.

About a dozen species of MO fish were documented to be loose off of Palm Beach (scientific paper that I discussed on RDO previously). In addition clownfish are now found off Marathon, and batfish have been captured in the lower Keys. So, it does look like multiple "events" have occurred.

My concern is that the information being discussed on line should be accurate. The number of lionfish (80,000) claimed to be imported into Florida appears to be an exaggeration. If the trade lets this go by, it could lead to restrictions or bans on imports that are based on inaccurate information.
 

dizzy

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Peter,
How are the clownfish surviving off Marathon without host anemones? I agree 80,000 lionfish into Florida a year sounds like an exaggeration. IME the demand for lionfish and other large predators is way down compared to years past. I think we sold maybe 2-3 volitons here in our store in the past 4-months.
Mitch
 

clarionreef

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It is very important that we all do our part to educate the consumer about invasive species and the potential impact these animals or plants could have on the environment if introduced.

"Educating
the consumer" is no remedy. It was not a lack of information that led to the releases...it was no doubt a thrill, a knowing mis-deed, a dirty trick. Education implies innocent ignorance on the part of otherwise responsible people. The wing-nuts who dumped the lions into the ocean were not these.

Besides, you can't even educate scientists and others that the aburdity of the 80,000 imported is inaccurate. [ except for Peter] They are educated and still they do not accept anything but fantasy to validate their need for alarm.
The need to generate alarm based on falsity is disturbing and very un-scientific. The motives for generating such alarm suggests something beyond ignorance.
Sinceely, Steve
 
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cortez marine":39z487tm said:
It is very important that we all do our part to educate the consumer about invasive species and the potential impact these animals or plants could have on the environment if introduced.

"Educating
the consumer" is no remedy. It was not a lack of information that led to the releases...it was no doubt a thrill, a knowing mis-deed, a dirty trick. Education implies innocent ignorance on the part of otherwise responsible people. The wing-nuts who dumped the lions into the ocean were not these.

I don't think I agree. Most of the people who keep aquariums don't seem to be in the know about a whole lot of stuff. The majority of hobbyists don't read online forums where the bulk of the info is.
I would think most of these 'releases' were from people who actually don't know that it would be bad to do so. Sure, there may be some who would do it for a thrill, but what you are suggesting above is a very broad brush... the same kind of broad brush you go after scientists for using below. :D

Besides, you can't even educate scientists and others that the aburdity of the 80,000 imported is inaccurate. [ except for Peter] They are educated and still they do not accept anything but fantasy to validate their need for alarm.
The need to generate alarm based on falsity is disturbing and very un-scientific. The motives for generating such alarm suggests something beyond ignorance.
Sinceely, Steve
 
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dizzy":92ujcut6 said:
Peter,
How are the clownfish surviving off Marathon without host anemones? I agree 80,000 lionfish into Florida a year sounds like an exaggeration. IME the demand for lionfish and other large predators is way down compared to years past. I think we sold maybe 2-3 volitons here in our store in the past 4-months.
Mitch

Perhaps they are finding something else to host in? As long as they can find a way to keeep from being eaten they aren't going to need an anemone.
 

dizzy

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Perhaps they are JP. It really shouldn't be that difficult to determine. Peter ask whomever was the source of the clownfish sighting what they were living in.
Thanks
Mitch
 
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Anonymous

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My aunt and uncles lived over a 1/2mile from the ocean during Hurricane Andrew and they ended up with a pool full of saltwater and a nurse shark in the pool. It sounds feasible that some fish escaped during Andrew.
 

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