Lionfish (Pterois spp.) invade the upper-bathyal zone in the western Atlantic
Non-native lionfish have been recorded throughout the western Atlantic on both shallow and mesophotic reefs, where they have been linked to declines in reef health. In this study we report the first lionfish observations from the deep sea (>200 m) in Bermuda and Roatan, Honduras, with lionfish observed to a maximum depth of 304 m off the Bermuda platform, and 250 m off West End, Roatan. Placed in the context of other deeper lionfish observations and records, our results imply that lionfish may be present in the 200–300 m depth range of the upper-bathyal zone across many locations in the western Atlantic, but currently are under-sampled compared to shallow habitats. We highlight the need for considering deep-sea lionfish populations in future invasive lionfish management.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Title | Lionfish (Pterois spp.) invade the upper-bathyal zone in the western Atlantic |
| DOI | 10.7717/peerj.3683 |
| Authors | Erika Gress, Dominic A Andradi-Brown, Lucy Woodall, Pamela J. Schofield, Karl Stanley, Alex D. Rogers |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | PeerJ |
| Index ID | 70190196 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Wetland and Aquatic Research Center |
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Lionfish (Pterois sp.) invade the upper bathyal zone in the western Atlantic
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Lionfish (Pterois sp.) invade the upper bathyal zone in the western Atlantic
Invasive lionfish have been widely recorded throughout the western Atlantic on both shallow and mesophotic reefs, where they have been linked to declines in reef health. In this study we report the first lionfish observations from the deep sea (>200 m) in Bermuda and Roatan, Honduras, with lionfish observed to a maximum depth of 304 m off the Bermuda platform, and 250 m off West End, Roatan. Place - Connect