Lionfish culling program on Statia - CNSI Sanquinet_Lion fish... · What is going on in Statia ?...

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