InvasiveSpecies

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Invasive Species

An invasive species is a non-native species introduced to an area that has an adverse economic, ecologic, or environmental effect on the native ecosystem[1]. Invasive species spread and excel in the ecosystems that they invade because of a lack of competition or a lack of predation from native organisms. In the context of coral reefs, invasive species frequently refers to the lionfish, which is native to the Pacific and is currently invading the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic due to its voracious appetite and lack of natural predators.

Impact

  • Vertebrate invasives
  • Invertebrate invasives [2]
  • Community-wide effects [3]

Common examples

  • Algae (many types) [2]
  • Amphipods [4]
  • Sponge [4]

Lionfish

  • Where it came from (Hurricane Andrew) [5]
  • Sightings and dispersal [5]
  • Impact on coral reef ecosystems [6] [7]
  • Effects on people
  • Effects on fisheries [5]
  • Explosive populations [8]
  • Control and management? [5]

Management Plans

  • Aquatic Invasive Species Project [2]
  • Seychelles Invasive Species Project [4]

Notes

  1. www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/invasive.html
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.hawaiicoralreefstrategy.com/index.php/local-action-strategies/aquatic-invasive-species
  3. Levin et al. "Community-wide effects of non-indigenous species on temperate rocky reefs." Ecology. Vol. 83: 3182:3193, 2002
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/marine/marine_our_work/marine_invasives/seychelles/
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://coris.noaa.gov/exchanges/lionfish/
  6. Albins, Mark A. and Mark A. Hixon. "Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans reduce recruitment of Atlantic coral-reef fishes." Mar Ecol Prog Ser. Vol. 367: 233-238. 2008
  7. Barbour et al. "Mangrove use by the invasive lionfish Pterois volitans." Mar Ecol Prog Ser. Vol. 401: 291-294. 2010
  8. Morris, James A. and John L. Akins. "Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Bahamian archipelago." Environ Biol Fish. Vol. 86: 389:398. 2009