Arredondo Fatima

Mr. Skipper

Encounters 8

December 5, 2022

The Treacherous Model

Introduction

 Fish found all over the world are typically found to be harmless to the environment and crucial to the balance of the ecosystem. Although not every species of marine fish found has shown this claim to be truthful. An example of one of these species is lionfish. Lionfish sightings began in 1985, and since then their population has only escalated more. It is said that the cause of their appearance in our oceans is due to overpopulation in areas to which they are native (“Lionfish Facts”). Over the past years, the lionfish population has increased at an alarming rate. Lionfish have already caused a big amount of harm to our coral reefs, and are putting a lot of different species of marine animals in danger. Scientists have found many ways to decrease their population, but most of them aren’t very effective. Many believe that getting rid of them at this rate is impossible. Scientists and researchers are still trying to find a good way to eliminate or at least decrease the amount of lionfish in our oceans. 

Taxonomy and Description 

Lionfish are some of the fanciest and “flashiest” fish you’ll ever look at or see in the coral reefs. They might look like really pretty fish because of their vibrant colors and you might get an urge to touch them, but beware their fins are covered in poison. They have a total of 18 poisonous spines on their dorsal, pelvic, and anal areas. Each one of these spines is covered in poison; getting stung by a lionfish will cause redness, swelling, bleeding, numbness, nausea, convulsions, headaches, heartburn, diarrhea, and disorientation in the affected area. Although sometimes being stung by a lionfish can cause “temporary paralysis, organ failure, and death” (“Lionfish Facts”). Lionfish, also scientifically known as “Pterois Volitans” are marine fish belonging to the “Scorpaenidae” family. There are “12 species of Pterois” and six species of “dwarf lionfish” scientifically known as Dendrochirus. Lionfish are most commonly found to have a “zebra-like appearance” due to their red, brown, black, and white stripes. Their vivid colors attract predators and prey, helping them be able to hunt for their food. Lionfish have very large fins “which fan out noticeably”: these fins are used to chase their prey and corner them (“Lionfish Facts”). There are two distinct species of lionfish but most of them are red lionfish. In areas where they are native they typically “grow to about 12-15 inches in length”; however it is noted that in areas where they’re invasive, they tend to grow bigger than 18 inches. These fish also have bony cheeks which they are known for (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans”).

Introduction to Non-Native Habitat

Lionfish are native to the coral reefs in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Although now they’re found in almost half of the world (“Impacts of Invasive Lionfish”). Lionfish lack natural predators and eat a wide variety of food. This allows them to reproduce rapidly and safely. Due to this, the lionfish population just continues to increase (“Lionfish Facts”). Over the past 15 years, the lionfish population has escalated at a dangerous rate (“Impacts of Invasive Lionfish”). The more lionfish, the faster lionfish can reproduce. This causes them to overpopulate in areas in which they’re native and provokes them to migrate to a new environment (“Lionfish Facts”). It is said that lionfish most likely followed the currents up to their new location (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans”). Although it is said that most of the invasive fish come from captive specimens. This means they have been released into the oceans from aquariums intentionally and unintentionally. Due to this, lionfish have now invaded the “Caribbean sea, Western Atlantic, and the Mediterranean Sea” (“Lionfish Facts”). They were first reported near Dania Beach in Florida in 1985. After the first report, more sightings of lionfish began off the Atlantic coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Bermuda, Florida, and the Bahamas. Lionfish reports have since then continued to increase rapidly. During 2010 lionfish began to be reported: “along the Northern Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola and Apalachicola '' (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans”). The lionfish population is continuing to grow in the Gulf Of Mexico and scientists suspect that their population has not reached its peak yet.  It has been noted that lionfish can survive harsh weather, causing scientists to worry that they will continue to invade and damage more coral reefs (“Impacts of Invasive Lionfish”).  It has also been reported that lionfish continue to disperse in other places (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans”).

Adverse Effects

 Lionfish have numerous amount of impacts they have caused due to how much and how quickly they’re able to reproduce. Scientists state that as the lionfish population grows it puts “additional stress onto the coral reefs” (“Impacts of Invasive Lionfish”). One of the many reasons why lionfish cause stress on coral reefs is because they feed on the herbivores who eat the algae off the coral reefs. Without these herbivores “algal growth goes unchecked” (“Invasion of the Lionfish”) which can have a huge negative impact on the coral reefs. Lionfish are also a threat to zebra mussels, snakeheads, and even Asian carp. Researchers have discovered that even a single lionfish can “reduce recruitment of native fish by 79 percent” (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans”). Their population is still expanding; threatening the well-being of coral reefs and many other marine ecosystems (“Impacts of Invasive Lionfish”). Some scientists even say that the lionfish population has increased so much that their impact on coral reefs and other marine ecosystems will be irreversible (“Invasion of the Lionfish”).  Another big impact that lionfish have on our marine ecosystems is the amount of food they can consume (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans”). Lionfish have a big appetite and a very wide variety of food sources(“Lionfish Facts”). They are well known for preying on “over 70 species of marine fish”. They also prey on invertebrates, including the “yellowtail snapper, Nassau grouper, parrotfish, banded coral shrimp, and cleaner species”. Lionfish are also “able to consume prey that is half their size”. This impacts the ecosystem a lot because they’re able to eat more animals; this causes them to grow larger and has bigger appetites (“Lionfish Facts”). They compete for food with native predatory fish, such as the Nassau grouper and yellowtail snapper. This causes a negative impact on the overall reef habitat by eliminating organisms that are crucial to the health of the coral reefs. Lionfish are very well known for being predatory. They consume native fish which reduces the population of the native species and causes an imbalance in the marine ecosystem (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans”). Lionfish are extremely territorial, specifically in “courting females”. When this happens they tend to scare or chase the predator or competitor away. This impacts the ecosystem gravely because then native fish won’t be able to live in their habitats due to lionfish invading them. Another problem with lionfish being invasive is that they have very few predators. This is bad because the lionfish population is very high and continues to increase. Without predators to feed on them they’re able to continue reproducing calmly with no issues (“Lionfish Facts”). 

Study, Control, and Eradication

Many people are looking for ways to get rid of lionfish or minimize their population. One of the many ways people are eliminating them is by eating them (Impacts of Invasive Lionfish”). During the early 2000s’, it was discovered that lionfish are actually quite delicious. Many people began to capture these fish and sell them or cook them (“Invasion of the Lionfish”).  Another way people are diminishing their population is by including them in more food items and products. Scientists actually encourage the consumption of lionfish due to them containing a lot of nutrients that are healthy for your heart (“Lionfish Facts”).  One of the weirdest ways scientists are controlling the lionfish population is by training sharks to kill and eat the invasive fish (“Lionfish Facts”). It has been noted that the poison that is located on lionfish spines has no impact on sharks; causing them to be a good elimination source (“Invasion of the Lionfish”). A different way scientists and researchers are trying to eradicate lionfish is by using scuba divers. With this method, researchers send scuba divers down into the ocean to locate lionfish. Once they discover them they capture them with two hand nets and bring them back onto a boat or land. After doing so, they “inject them with a special mixture composed of clove oil, and alcohol which kills them rapidly and painlessly” (“Invasion of the Lionfish”). Another popular way people eliminate them is by setting up lobster traps (“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans). Scientists have noticed that lionfish were being caught in lobster traps in Bermuda and the Bahamas. It is noted that these traps can capture 3 or 4 fish at a time. With this information, experts began to set up lobster traps in the ocean for lionfish to be caught in (“Invasion of the Lionfish”). These are just some of the many ways people are diminishing the lionfish population and there are many more to come.

Works Cited

Gupta, Anika. “Invasion of the Lionfish.” Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2022, smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/invasion-of-the-lionfish.

“Impacts of Invasive Lionfish.” NOAA Fisheries, 29 July 2022, fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/ecosystems/impacts-invasive-lionfish.

“Lionfish Facts.” Facts.Net, 31 May 2022, facts.net/lionfish-facts.

“Lionfish-Pterois Volitans.” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/lionfish/.