Native predators do not influence invasion success of pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 11;8(7):e68259. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068259. Print 2013.

Abstract

Biotic resistance, the process by which new colonists are excluded from a community by predation from and/or competition with resident species, can prevent or limit species invasions. We examined whether biotic resistance by native predators on Caribbean coral reefs has influenced the invasion success of red lionfishes (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles), piscivores from the Indo-Pacific. Specifically, we surveyed the abundance (density and biomass) of lionfish and native predatory fishes that could interact with lionfish (either through predation or competition) on 71 reefs in three biogeographic regions of the Caribbean. We recorded protection status of the reefs, and abiotic variables including depth, habitat type, and wind/wave exposure at each site. We found no relationship between the density or biomass of lionfish and that of native predators. However, lionfish densities were significantly lower on windward sites, potentially because of habitat preferences, and in marine protected areas, most likely because of ongoing removal efforts by reserve managers. Our results suggest that interactions with native predators do not influence the colonization or post-establishment population density of invasive lionfish on Caribbean reefs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomass
  • Caribbean Region
  • Coral Reefs*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Population Density
  • Population Dynamics
  • Predatory Behavior / physiology*

Grants and funding

This work was funded in part by the National Science Foundation (OCE-0746164 to CAL and OCE-0940019 to JFB), the National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration (grant 8514-08 to JFB), a Discovery Grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (to IMC), an NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (to SJG), the Rufford Small Grants Foundation, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.