lionfish culling program on statia - cnsi sanquinet_lion fish... · what is going on in statia ?...
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Lionfish culling program on Statia
Effectiveness and knowledge contribution
Manon Sanguinet 2015
What is it ?
Names
PTEROIS VOLITANS and PTEROIS MILES
Nationality
INDO-PACIFIC
Habitat
FROM 0 TO 300M, ON ANY SEA BED
Particularity CARIBBEAN INVASIVE SPECIES
PASSPORT
LIONFISH<<PTEROIS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
History of an invasion : 1985
History of an invasion : 2000
History of an invasion : 2010
History of an invasion : 2015
Causes of this incredible success
Features of the lionfish
o High reproductive dynamics
o Habitat generalist
o Broad diet
Features of invaded community
o Few predators
o Prey naiveté
o Big variety of ecosystems
Causes of this incredible success
Features of the lionfish
o High reproductive dynamics
o Habitat generalist
o Broad diet
Features of invaded community
o Few predators
o Prey naiveté
o Big variety of ecosystems
Long distance dispersal Rapid establishment
Causes of this incredible success
Features of the lionfish
o High reproductive dynamics
o Habitat generalist
o Broad diet
Features of invaded community
o Few predators
o Prey naiveté
o Big variety of ecosystems
Long distance dispersal Rapid establishment
Adapt to any type of ecosystems
Causes of this incredible success
Features of the lionfish
o High reproductive dynamics
o Habitat generalist
o Broad diet
Features of invaded community
o Few predators
o Prey naiveté
o Big variety of ecosystems
Long distance dispersal Rapid establishment
Adapt to any type of ecosystems
Higher multiplication
Causes of this incredible success
Features of the lionfish
o High reproductive dynamics
o Habitat generalist
o Broad diet
Features of invaded community
o Few predators
o Prey naiveté
o Big variety of ecosystems
Long distance dispersal Rapid establishment
Adapt to any type of ecosystems
High predation rate
Higher multiplication
Causes of this incredible success
Features of the lionfish
o High reproductive dynamics
o Habitat generalist
o Broad diet
Features of invaded community
o Few predators
o Prey naiveté
o Big variety of ecosystems
Long distance dispersal Rapid establishment
Adapt to any type of ecosystems
High predation rate
Higher multiplication
Ideal for his establishment
Impacts on the native communities
Decrease of :
• the recruitment
• biomass, species richness and density
Changes in the fish composition
Competition for food and shelters
Imbalance in the ecosystem
Impact on fisheries and tourism industries
Solution => Culling program
Goal : not to eradicate but control the population
To be efficient :
– Removed more that 35 % of the population
– Repeated removal effort
Solution => Culling program
Goal : not to eradicate but control the population
To be efficient :
– Removed more that 35 % of the population
– Repeated removal effort
Example (De leon et al., 2013)
Bonaire Curaçao
Removal program 2009 2011
biomass in 2013 3 higher in uncontrolled area 4 higher in uncontrolled area
Conclusion Immediate start and continous removal => Significant reduction in density and biomass of lionfish
What is going on in Statia ?
• 1st sighting : december 2010 by Scubaqua at The cliffs
What is going on in Statia ?
• 1st sighting : december 2010 by Scubaqua at The cliffs
• Culling programs started immediatly
• Going spear fishing while scuba diving
Research questions
• Does the culling program significantly reduce the lionfish population ?
• What can we learn with the data about the lionfish and its behavior ?
Results EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CULLING PROGRAM
COMPARISON MAXIMUS-GRAND CANYON
SITES TO FOCUS ON
South Marine Reserve North Marine Reserve
GENERAL DIET
FISH
74%
SHRIMP
23%
COPEPODS
1%
CRABS
1%
OTHERS
1%
GENERAL DIET
FISH
74%
SHRIMP
23%
COPEPODS
1%
CRABS
1%
OTHERS
1%
Acanthuridae
1%
Cardinalfish
8% Aulostomidae
2%
Balistidae
3% Bleniidae
1%
Jacks
22%
Centriscidae
2%
Cirrhitidae
1%
Gobiidae
4%
Grouper
8%
Haemulidae
1%
Wrasse
26%
Lutjajidae
2%
Monacanthidae
1%
Mullidae
2% Damselfish
11%
Scaridae
2%
Scorpaenidae
1%
Synodontidae
4%
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PREY SIZE AND LIONFISH LENGTH
No significant relationship concerning :
size of fish prey
size of crustaceans prey
Lionfish = Opportunistic
SIZE DISTRIBUTION
Conclusions
• Small increase of the lionfish abundance
But the culling program tend to stabilize the population in some areas
• Broad diet in term of species and prey size
• Tend to be less female ?
Perspectives
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Venezuela in 2015 :
-Non significant impact of the lionfish
-Area where densities and species richness are higher
= moderate the impact of the lionfish
In few years : lionfish integrated to the ecosystem?
But for now…
• The population needs to be controlled…
• Best thing to do : EAT THEM !
Lionfish ceviche
Lionfish in aluminium foil
Specials thanks to Jessica Berkel Adrien Matt Davis Nadio Spanner Hannah Madden All the interns and volunteers to kill and dissect lionfish with me : matt, katie, tom, will, mark, Jennie,…
Relationship between prey size and lionfish length
Fish prey Crustaceans prey
Linear regression : r²=0.08 Linear regression : r²=0.16
