Highlight: Lionfish Invasion!

Invasion of Atlantic Coral Reefs by Pacific Lionfish
In 2007, our long-term research on the ecology of coral-reef fishes in the Bahamas was interrupted by a population explosion of invasive Pacific lionfish. Protected by cryptic color and form, as well as by venomous spines, these voracious predators of small fish and other reef animals had been introduced to the Atlantic, probably as a result of aquarium releases in the early 1990s.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, my lab is actively studying this invasion, focusing mostly on the ecological effects of lionfish on Atlantic coral-reefs ecosystems.  Our first field experiment, conducted by Ph.D. student Mark Albins (left), demonstrated that a single lionfish can reduce recruitment of native fishes on a small coral patch reef by about 80% is just 5 weeks (Albins & Hixon 2008). To the extent that such effects are typical, this could very well become the most disastrous marine invasion in history (Albins & Hixon 2011).

--To read more about the invasion in Science magazine, click here.
--To read more about the invasion in Reader's Digest magazine, click here.
--To read more about the invasion on the Oregon State University web page, click here.
--To view an Associated Press TV video about the invasion, click here.
--To view Dr. Hixon's TED Youth talk about the invasion, click here or see below.
--To view PhD students Mark Albins and Tim Pusack in "Invasion of the Alien Fish," click here.
--To see other press about the lionfish invasion, please use the "Press" menu (left side of page)
--To download our scientific publications, please scroll down this page.

A coral reef in the Bahamas before and after the lionfish invasion (1-min video by Mark Albins, Oregon State University):

Invader (2 min)
video accompanying Reader's Digest article (April 2010):
[Many thanks to journalist Robert Kiener!]

The World In Our Grasp: How Will You Prevent An Alien Invasion? (13 min)
TEDxYouth, San Deigo (November 2011):   [Many thanks for allowing use of your fabulous images and videos:  Antonio Busiello, Tom Fitz, David Hall, and Ziggy Livnat!]

COMING IN WINTER 2013:  "Scourge of the Lionfish" episode of "Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina" on PBS TV:  On location at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Bahamas, with (L to R) cameraman Dan Lyons, diving technician Nick Poole, soundman Tim Wessel, Mark Hixon, and host Carl Safina (photo by Executive Producer and Director John Angier):


  Albins, M.A.  2012.  Effects of invasive Pacific red lionfish Pterois volitans versus a native predator on Bahamian coral-reef fish communities.  Biological Invasions, Online First.  DOI:  10.1007/s10530-012-0266-1.

  Albins, M.A., and M.A. Hixon.  2008.  Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) reduce recruitment of Atlantic coral-reef fishes.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 367:233-238.  [reviewed in "News in Brief" column of Nature (2008) 454:265]

  Albins, M.A., and M.A. Hixon.  2011.  Worst case scenario: potential long-term effects of invasive predatory lionfish (Pterois volitans) on Atlantic and Caribbean coral-reef communities.  Environmental Biology of Fishes, Online First.  DOI:  10.1007/s10641-011-9795-1.

  Albins, M.A., and P.J. Lyons.  2012.  Invasive red lionfish Pterois volitans blow directed jets of water at prey fish.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 448:1-5.

  Kulbicki, M., J. Beets, P. Chabanet, K. Cure, E. Darling, S. Floeter, R. Galzin, A. Green, M. Harmelin-Vivien, M. Hixon, Y. Letourneur, T. Lison de Loma, T. McClanahan, J. McIlwain, G. MouTham, R. Myers, J. O’Leary, S. Planes, V. L., and W. L. 2012. Distributions of Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois spp.) in their native ranges: implications for the Atlantic invasion. Marine Ecology Progress Series 446:189-205.

  Cure, K., C.E. Benkwitt, T.L. Kindinger, E.A. Pickering, T.J. Pusack, J.L. McIlwain, and M.A. Hixon.  2012.  Comparative behavior of red lionfish Pterois volitans on native Pacific versus invaded Atlantic coral reefs.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 467:181-192.

Lionfish invasion poster:








For KIDS, click here for the "I Am The Lionfish" music video, by Kathy Cure!

For other accurate information about the lionfish invasion, we recommend these links:
     NOAA Lionfish Program
     NPS Lionfish Web Page
     REEF Lionfish Research Program
     USGS Lionfish Invasion Web Page

 Our research is generously funded by the National Science Foundation.