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Is the lionfish invasion waning? Evidence from The Bahamas

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Abstract

Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans/miles) have undergone rapid population growth and reached extremely high densities in parts of the invaded Atlantic. However, their long-term population trends in areas without active management programs are unknown. Since 2005, we have monitored lionfish abundance in the Exuma Cays of the central Bahamas on 64 reefs ranging in size from 1 to 4000 m2. Lionfish densities increased from the first sighting in 2005 through 2009, leveled off between 2010 and 2011, and then began to decrease. By 2015, densities had noticeably declined on most of these reefs, despite a lack of culling or fishing efforts in this part of The Bahamas. There was no consistent change in lionfish size structure through time. We discuss possible causes of the decline, including reductions in larval supply or survival, hurricanes, interactions with native species, and intraspecific interactions. Further studies are required to determine whether the declines will persist. In the meantime, we recommend that managers continue efforts to control invasive lionfish abundances locally.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the US National Science Foundation Grants OCE 05-50709, 08-51162 and 12-33027 awarded to M.A. Hixon. We thank the Perry Institute for Marine Science for providing field support until closing in 2012, as well as Dr. Pamela Reid and the Bahamas Marine EcoCentre who supported our field research in 2015. There were also numerous laboratory members, research assistants and interns who helped with data collection and management over the years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Mark A. Albins, Kurt E. Ingeman, Tye L. Kindinger, Timothy J. Pusack, Christopher D. Stallings & Mark A. Hixon

  2. Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, 91330, USA

    Cassandra E. Benkwitt

  3. Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama - Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, USA

    Mark A. Albins

  4. Research Office, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Kevin L. Buch

  5. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    Kurt E. Ingeman

  6. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA

    Tye L. Kindinger

  7. College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

    Timothy J. Pusack & Christopher D. Stallings

  8. Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies, Williams College, Mystic, CT, 06533, USA

    Timothy J. Pusack

  9. Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Mark A. Hixon

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  1. Cassandra E. Benkwitt
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  2. Mark A. Albins
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Correspondence to Cassandra E. Benkwitt.

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Benkwitt, C.E., Albins, M.A., Buch, K.L. et al. Is the lionfish invasion waning? Evidence from The Bahamas. Coral Reefs 36, 1255–1261 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-017-1620-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-017-1620-7

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