The Lionfish Invasion!
Thinking Like a Scientist
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So you want to chase
invasive species?
Paula
Whitfield has been chasing lionfish since they
were first discovered in U.S. waters in 2000.
Paula is a fisheries biologist at NOAA’s Center
for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research in Beaufort, North Carolina. We spoke
to Paula about her work with the invasive lionfish.
Here is what she had to say:
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Profile of
a Lionfish Chaser - Click
here to learn more about the early influences and
career of Paula Whitfield. |
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Click
the filmstrip to
view underwater footage of the
beautiful but venomous lionfish,
and the scientists who study them! |
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Interviewer:
When
did you first become aware of the problem of
lionfish in the Atlantic Ocean?
Paula Whitfield:
I first became aware that lionfish
were in the Atlantic when one was sighted by
a group of recreational divers in August 2000.
They were exploring a shipwreck off the coast
of North Carolina when they saw it. Although
the divers did not bring back any solid evidence
(like photos, video, or an actual specimen),
there was little doubt in my mind that they
had indeed seen a lionfish. Lionfish are very
distinctive in their coloration and posture,
and nothing native to the Atlantic could be
mistaken for a lionfish.
As a fisheries biologist,
I immediately knew that lionfish in the Atlantic
were going to be a big story. First, lionfish
are exotic and beautiful. Second, the possibility
of divers or fishermen getting stung by lionfish
gave the whole story a sensational aspect. In
fact, numerous newspapers, as well as TV and
radio stations, have interviewed me in the past
few years. I knew that once word got out, a lot
of attention would be paid to the presence
of lionfish off the East Coast—both in
the popular press and among biologists.
Soon after
the first report, other reports from recreational
divers and commercial diving companies began
coming in—it was clear
that the first sighting was no fluke! I began
keeping a log of all the sightings, including
all the information I could get about it—location,
how many, size, etc. So far, virtually all
lionfish sightings have been in waters of 100
ft or deeper, and in coral
reef or
other hard-bottom
habitats,
or near shipwrecks.
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A
map of Paula Whitfield’s
study area in the Three Capes
region off the coast of North
Carolina. The red dots represent
known lionfish populations. Click
on image for
larger view and further deails. |
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Interviewer:
In
your research with lionfish, what was the first
question you wanted to answer?
Paula Whitfield:
The first question that came
to mind was, “What
will be the ecological impact of lionfish on
ecosystems in
the Atlantic?” In other words, how will the presence of lionfish affect other organisms living in the Atlantic? I immediately realized that this would be a difficult question to answer. After doing a bit of research and reading, I learned that very little was known about the hard-bottom habitats and other areas in the Atlantic where lionfish were reported. As a result, there is nothing to compare the present situation to. It would have been nice to be able to do a “before and after” comparison,
but it is not possible.
Interviewer:
How
did you go about deciding how you would answer
this question?
Paula Whitfield:
First, we assumed that we should not expect lionfish in
the Atlantic to behave the same as those in their native habitats in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the southeastern USA is vastly different from the tropical Pacific. The Atlantic's community of organisms is very different from the lionfish's native tropical waters, which means that the lionfish may occupy a very different niche in
the Atlantic than it does in the Pacific. For example, in their native habitats,
lionfish are considered one of the top
predators,
with no known predators of their own. To say it another way, they are
often the top dog in the food chain! It was entirely
unclear whether this would be the case in the Atlantic.
Also, it was entirely
possible that lionfish would compete for food and habitat with a different set of organisms in the Atlantic than in the Pacific. So, we needed to answer some basic questions about the natural history of lionfish in the Atlantic before we could even begin to understand their ecological impact there.
One assumption we made from the beginning of our research was that the impact of lionfish in the Atlantic was most likely related to their abundance, which is often the case with invasive species. So, the first question we asked was, "How
many lionfish are in the Atlantic?" Our next question naturally followed. "Are
lionfish reproducing in the Atlantic?" Ultimately, we hope that the answers to these two questions will begin to shed light on the impact of lionfish in the Atlantic.
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NOAA scientists Christine Addison (foreground) and Paula Whitfield (in back holding the underwater video camera) decompress after one of their lionfish research dives. Click on image for larger
view and further deails. |
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Interviewer:
What
are the some of the field methods you use to
estimate the abundance of lionfish or whether
or not they are present?
Paula Whitfield:
You might think that determining the number of lionfish in the Atlantic would be a fairly easy task, except that lionfish are living in waters about 100-260 ft deep and perhaps even deeper! Many physical and physiological constraints come into play when people work in water this deep. In scuba diving, there are depth and time limits for the divers. In fact, recreational scuba diving has a maximum limit of 130 ft. Much of the time, we were working slightly beyond that depth. So, automatically, answering our two simple questions about the natural history of lionfish became very difficult. We were limited to two 30-minute dives each day. This is not much time to do our work. So we had to be very organized and know exactly what we were going to do when we got there.
At each site we visited, two
teams of divers were deployed. One team was called the “lionfish
observer team” and the other was the “hunter/gatherer
team.” The observer team was responsible
for conducting surveys to estimate the number
of lionfish (i.e., their abundance) at the
site. The hunter/gatherer team went in afterward
to collect as many lionfish specimens as they
could and bring them to the surface. Also,
at the water’s surface, a chase boat
with a safety diver followed the divers to
help them if anything were to go wrong on the
ocean floor below.
To determine the abundance of lionfish at
each site, we did visual transect counts using
teams of divers. We established transects,
or survey lines, on the ocean bottom. As the
divers swam, they measured a predetermined
distance using a tape measure. We recorded
every lionfish we saw along each transect.
We also recorded the numbers of grouper and
snapper, two predatory fish species that
potentially compete with lionfish
for food and habitat.
We did this because we wanted to know how many
grouper and snapper there were in comparison
to lionfish at that location. We used waterproof
paper and pencils to record data, and hand
signals to communicate. Later, we will use
these counts to estimate lionfish abundance
in the different habitats and locations that
we surveyed.
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Interviewer:
What
are some of the other questions you are asking
about lionfish in the Atlantic? How did you
go about answering these questions?
Paula Whitfield:
Another question we asked was, "Does temperature limit the distribution of lionfish in the Atlantic?" At several locations where we counted lionfish, we also installed sensors to record the water temperature. These sensors will record the temperature every 30 minutes for the next year. We will retrieve them when we return in the summer of 2005. From the temperature data, we will test the prediction that cold-water temperatures at the ocean bottom limit the distribution of the tropical lionfish in the Atlantic.
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The
R/V Cape Fear, an oceanographic research vessel,
was home to Paula Whitfield and her research crew for
several one-week research expeditions to study the lionfish
in August 2004. Click on image for larger view and further details. |
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We also asked: Is the diet of lionfish in the Atlantic different from that of lionfish in the native Pacific range? What kind of prey organisms are they eating in the Atlantic, and how many? What is the size (or age) of the fish in their diet? We dissected some of the lionfish specimens that we collected and examined their stomach contents to determine what they were eating (this is called a diet analysis). In general, we found that lionfish are voracious predators. The stomachs of most of the specimens we collected were full of small fish!
We also examined each specimen’s reproductive status and sex. We have questions like: What is their reproductive potential in the Atlantic? When do they spawn? Where are they spawning? This kind of “life history” information
isn’t well known for the lionfish even
in its native habitat!
We also brought back some
live lionfish to our laboratory so we could conduct growth and
breeding experiments. By doing so, we hoped
to learn how fast the populations in the Atlantic
might grow, as well as learn more about lionfish
reproduction: when breeding occurs, how often
they breed, how many eggs are produced, how
many eggs ultimately develop into fingerlings
(i.e., baby fish), etc.
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Interviewer:
Is
it possible to predict the future abundance
and distribution of lionfish in the Atlantic?
Paula Whitfield:
I think it is difficult to estimate future abundance,
but we have some ideas. Predicting lionfish distribution in the future
is easier, so let me start with that. We have predicted that the minimum
temperatures at the ocean bottom in the winter will limit lionfish
distribution in the Atlantic. Tropical fish like the lionfish simply
cannot tolerate water temperatures below a certain minimum. We hope
to test this prediction with the temperature data we are collecting
with the sensors we set up this past summer.
Except for low winter temperatures, overall conditions in the
Atlantic Ocean are excellent for lionfish. For that reason, we think
that where lionfish are found in the Atlantic, they will be just as abundant
there as they are in their native habitats in the Pacific.
At least that is our assumption. In other words, in the warmer waters
of the Atlantic, where lionfish are able to live, we predict that they
will be just as abundant as in the Pacific. So, one way to forecast their
eventual abundance in the Atlantic is to determine their abundance in
their native habitat and extrapolate those numbers to the Atlantic. Eventually,
the Atlantic should have a similar number of lionfish per unit area as
the Pacific. Until we have more accurate information about the reproductive
potential and death rates of lionfish in the Atlantic, this is the best
we can do.
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Diving
specialist and research technician Jay Styron carefully captures
a lionfish off the coast of North Carolina for later
study. Click on image for
larger view and further deails. |
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Interviewer:
What
are some of the challenges you face in conducting
your research on lionfish?
Paula Whitfield:
As I mentioned before, the biggest challenge is getting to where the lionfish live on the ocean bottom. These depths are at the edge of our current diving technology. Diving at these depths can be dangerous, and even potentially life-threatening. We have to be very careful not to return to the surface too quickly; otherwise "decompression
sickness" can occur. In fact, we must surface as slowly as possible. We use time and depth tables that we strap to our arms, and wrist computers and stopwatches to time ourselves. For the same reason, we must severely limit the amount of time we spend at greater depths.
Instead of diving, we could have used remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or submersibles, but these have their limitations. For example, it is not feasible to collect lionfish using the arms of ROVs or submersibles. Some have tried, but the technology isn't quite there yet. So we were left with using scuba gear.
The logistics of ocean research like mine are also quite challenging. I have no problems finding people to spend a week or two on a research ship to help me gather data. The hard part is scheduling space on the research ship, which is in very high demand. "Ship time" is also very expensive (thousands of dollars per day), as is the equipment that we use.
Then there's the ever-challenging Atlantic weather, which never seems to cooperate. This past summer, for example, we had to cut our expedition short by several days, courtesy of Hurricanes Alex and Charlie!
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Interviewer: What is the present
(summer 2004) status of lionfish populations
in U.S. waters? Were there any changes in
the past year?
Paula Whitfield:
Unfortunately, lionfish sightings have increased over the past year. Reports have come in from Florida all the way up the coast to North Carolina. Of course, these reports are helpful to us, but they represent what scientists call "anecdotal" information. In other words, they are observational and there is nothing systematic or consistent about how the observations of lionfish were made. Neither are they quantitative. From a report of a sighting, we know someone saw a lionfish in a particular location, but that's about it.
However, these reports from everyday citizens have helped us locate areas that lionfish might use for overwintering (i.e., places warm enough for lionfish to survive there through the winter). We targeted these locations for further study - in fact, many of the locations we visited this past summer were mentioned in citizens' reports. It is clear that lionfish are widespread along the North Carolina coast between Cape Fear and Cape Lookout. If fact, by the end of our studies in the summer of 2004, we were surprised if we did not see lionfish
when we checked out a new location. Prior to our expedition, I never
suspected that this would be the case.
The abundance of lionfish along the South Carolina, Georgia and Florida coasts is less clear, simply because no one has systematically looked, at least to my knowledge. Again, we know lionfish are there from citizen reports, but we don't know how many, whether they are reproducing, etc.
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Interviewer:
Do
you still think the aquarium trade is the
vector for the introduction of lionfish into the Atlantic
Ocean? What is the evidence to support this
hypothesis? Is there any evidence to refute
this hypothesis?
Paula Whitfield:
Yes, in my opinion, the aquarium
trade is
the vector for the introduction of lionfish into the Atlantic. There is no absolute proof, but all of the evidence points to the aquarium trade as the vector. There is no evidence that lionfish entered the Atlantic by swimming over from the Pacific or that they were released in ballast
water. We know for sure that a seaside aquarium in Key Biscayne Bay, Florida, broke during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, releasing six lionfish. In addition, thousands of lionfish are imported into the United States every year! It is very likely that their owners released some proportion of these lionfish either on purpose or by accident. There are many other examples of the introduction (and spread) of aquarium fish by their owners into Florida waters - so why not lionfish?
Interviewer:
Assuming
lionfish are here to stay, what steps do
you recommend to stop their further spread? Are
regulations in place in the United States
to control marine invasive species like
lionfish? If so, what are they?
Paula Whitfield:
I'm afraid that lionfish are here to stay. I don't believe there is any way to stop their spread throughout the warmer Atlantic waters. The broad geographic area that they have already colonized - from Florida all the way up the Eastern Seaboard to North Carolina - and the depths at which we are finding them, from 85 to 300 ft - makes it very difficult to remove them. Short of establishing a lionfish fishery and asking people to fish for them, I don't think there is a solution. But even this would be prohibitive because the lionfish's spines make it difficult to collect them without stinging incidents.
Another complicating factor is that there
are people who actually want the lionfish
in the Atlantic! Recreational divers want to see
interesting and exotic sea creatures, and
lionfish are certainly exotic. The charter companies
that take people out to dive don’t want
to see the lionfish killed or removed because
they are good for business. I would hope that
if they were educated on the devastating effects
of invasive species, they
might think again…but probably not.
Also, lionfish are big business in the aquarium
trade and I don't see the importation of lionfish slowing down or stopping. There are no federal or state regulations that prohibit the importation of lionfish, period. However, some states, like Florida, do have regulations that prohibit certain organisms from being released into native waters. Obviously, these regulations are not enforced very well.
In contrast
to lionfish, it was fairly easy to halt the importation of snakeheads
to the USA. They are rather ugly creatures and people can see and understand
the devastating effects they have in ponds and other waterways in their
own neighborhoods. Therefore, lawmakers were able to quickly stop snakeheads
from being imported. Lionfish are different, though. They are attractive
animals that people want to look at and they are found in rather remote locations off the coast, so they are "out of sight, out of mind" to the public. Snakeheads have a very low likeability factor, whereas lionfish are very charismatic. I don't anticipate that the importation of lionfish will slow down any time soon, so new releases are likely to continue.
Lastly, because lionfish eggs and larvae are "free-floating," water currents rapidly spread them to new areas. This is now the main way lionfish are spreading up and down the East Coast. There is just no way to stop this from happening.
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Some Lionfish Reading Material:
The following
is a list of Paula Whitfield’s publications
that relate to her research on lionfish:
Hare, Jonathan A. and Paula E. Whitfield. 2003. An Integrated Assessment of the Introduction of the Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) to the Western Atlantic Ocean. NOAA NOS Technical Memorandum CCFHR 1 (available online at: http://shrimp.ccfhrb.noaa.gov/lionfish/lionfish_ia.pdf).
Whitfield, P.E., T. Gardner, S.P. Vives, M.R. Gilligan, W.R. Courtenay, Jr., G.C. Ray, and J.A. Hare. 2002. Biological invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans along the Atlantic Coast of North America. Marine Ecology Progress Series 235: 289-297 (for copies contact paula.whitfield@noaa.gov or available online at:
http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v235/p289-297.html).
Whitfield, P.E., J. Hare, and D. Kesling. 2004. Dive operations plan for the assessment of the status and risk posed by the invasive lionfish in North Carolina hard-bottom communities. Accessed on September 20, 2004 at: http://www.uncwil.edu/nurc/research/cruise_plan_whitfield.pdf.
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