Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Spatial Analysis of the Invasion of Lionfish in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2011

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Keywords

Pterois volitans, Lionfish, Invasive species, Atlantic ocean, Modeling, Computational GIS

ISSN

0025-326X

Volume

62

Issue/No.

6

First Page

1218

Last Page

1226

Abstract

Pterois volitans and Pterois miles, two sub-species of lionfish, have become the first non-native, invasive marine fish established along the United States Atlantic coast and Caribbean. The route and timing of the invasion is poorly understood, however historical sightings and captures have been robustly documented since their introduction. Herein we analyze these records based on spatial location, dates of arrival, and prevailing physical factors at the capture sights. Using a cellular automata model, we examine the relationship between depth, salinity, temperature, and current, finding the latter as the most influential parameter for transport of lionfish to new areas. The model output is a synthetic validated reproduction of the lionfish invasion, upon which predictive simulations in other locations can be based. This predictive model is simple, highly adaptable, relies entirely on publicly available data, and is applicable to other species.

Comments

©2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ResearcherID

B-8552-2013

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.03.028

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Peer Reviewed

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