Results of an unpublished biophysical modeling study show that ‘crossing events’ occasionally occur between Florida and the Bahamas ( Freshwater et al., 2009). Coupled with the high dispersal capability of the lionfish, this is one possible explanation for the source of Bahamas lionfish. Based on the observed pattern of actual capture records, our study suggests that larvae from populations in Bermuda and possibly the Sargasso Sea, could have seeded the population in the Bahamas by transport on prevailing currents.
Although lionfish were sparsely reported from south Florida since 1985, they were not observed in the Florida Keys until January of 2009 when 36 captures were reported. This event appears to be current-driven again with recruitment from downstream sources and represents stage three, a full circle completion of the invasion cycle. From analysis in this study, we predict populations in south Florida, which have been relatively low since their introduction, are likely to increase substantially and quickly due to up-current seeding of juveniles from the Florida Keys and Caribbean waters. Planktonic lionfish larvae are capable of transport over long distances on ocean currents (Imamura and Yabe, 1996) and the Gulf Stream likely is the most important mechanism for initial recruitment events in this region.
Results of an unpublished biophysical modeling study show that ‘crossing events’ occasionally occur between Florida and the Bahamas ( Freshwater et al., 2009). Coupled with the high dispersal capability of the lionfish, this is one possible explanation for the source of Bahamas lionfish. Based on the observed pattern of actual capture records, our study suggests that larvae from populations in Bermuda and possibly the Sargasso Sea, could have seeded the population in the Bahamas by transport on prevailing currents.Although lionfish were sparsely reported from south Florida since 1985, they were not observed in the Florida Keys until January of 2009 when 36 captures were reported. This event appears to be current-driven again with recruitment from downstream sources and represents stage three, a full circle completion of the invasion cycle. From analysis in this study, we predict populations in south Florida, which have been relatively low since their introduction, are likely to increase substantially and quickly due to up-current seeding of juveniles from the Florida Keys and Caribbean waters. Planktonic lionfish larvae are capable of transport over long distances on ocean currents (Imamura and Yabe, 1996) and the Gulf Stream likely is the most important mechanism for initial recruitment events in this region.
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