To corroborate the results obtained in the RSM, a LSM was produced using the same methodology by assembling data at a resolution of 0.10° latitude by 0.10° longitude cell size (about 10 km × 10 km) for a smaller geographical area – the eastern seaboard of the United States and Bahamas. This LSM serves to (1) validate the larger scale RSM and (2) provide finer resolution output for examining the invasion on a local scale.
A “best-fit” regional scale model (BF-RSM) was produced and was defined as the RSM whose output most closely matched the pattern and temporal sequence of captures recorded in the USGS database. This BF-RSM was iterative through 60 cycles and the results were both plotted as a GIS map and animated (animations available for download at: http://www.mattspace.com/lionfish/MPBAnimations.htm) to show the invasion progression within the BF-RSM and its fit to the USGS database records. Based on our BF-RSM and observed historical captures spanning 1992 to 2010, each cycle represents roughly 3–4 months of spread (i.e. 208 months/60 cycles).