Navigation Links
Lionfish decimating tropical fish populations, threaten coral reefs
Date:7/17/2008

CORVALLIS, Ore. The invasion of predatory lionfish in the Caribbean region poses yet another major threat there to coral reef ecosystems a new study has found that within a short period after the entry of lionfish into an area, the survival of other reef fishes is slashed by about 80 percent.

Aside from the rapid and immediate mortality of marine life, the loss of herbivorous fish also sets the stage for seaweeds to potentially overwhelm the coral reefs and disrupt the delicate ecological balance in which they exist, according to scientists from Oregon State University.

Following on the heels of overfishing, sediment depositions, nitrate pollution in some areas, coral bleaching caused by global warming, and increasing ocean acidity caused by carbon emissions, the lionfish invasion is a serious concern, said Mark Hixon, an OSU professor of zoology and expert on coral reef ecology.

The study is the first to quantify the severity of the crisis posed by this invasive species, which is native to the tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean and has few natural enemies to help control it in the Atlantic Ocean. It is believed that the first lionfish a beautiful fish with dramatic coloring and large, spiny fins were introduced into marine waters off Florida in the early 1990s from local aquariums or fish hobbyists. They have since spread across much of the Caribbean Sea and north along the United States coast as far as Rhode Island.

"This is a new and voracious predator on these coral reefs and it's undergoing a population explosion," Hixon said. "The threats to coral reefs all over the world were already extreme, and they now have to deal with this alien predator in the Atlantic. These fish eat many other species and they seem to eat constantly."

Findings of the new research will be published soon in Marine Ecology Progress Series. The lead author is Mark Albins, a doctoral student working with Hixon.

In stud
'/>"/>

Contact: Mark Hixon
hixonm@science.oregonstate.edu
541-737-5018
Oregon State University
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Tropical insects go the distance to inform rainforest conservation
2. New study warns limited carbon market puts 20 percent of tropical forest at risk
3. Tropical crab invades Georgia oyster reefs -- but the long-term impact cant be predicted
4. Spatial patterns in tropical forests can help to understand their high biodiversity
5. Researchers discover forests of endangered tropical kelp
6. If corn is biofuels king, tropical maize may be emperor
7. Why do so many species live in tropical forests and coral reefs?
8. Time-sharing tropical birds key to evolutionary mystery
9. Springer launches Tropical Plant Biology
10. No convincing evidence for decline in tropical forests
11. Tropical soils impede landmine detection
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/21/2013)... to a whale entangled in fishing gear, scientists showed ... whale,s diving and swimming behavior. The monitoring revealed how ... depletes their energy as they drag gear for months ... , The scientists in this entanglement response suction-cupped a ... North Atlantic right whale called Eg 3911. The Dtag, ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... of pharmaceuticals can both prevent and treat Alzheimer,s Disease ... ligands," are currently used for certain types of neuroimaging. ... in young adult mice when pathology was at an ... quite severe," said lead researcher Christian Pike of the ... of pathology and improved behavior at both ages." , ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine is a ... soy. Proven to improve cognition and slow memory ... experiencing memory impairment. Now a team headed by ... Tel Aviv University,s Department of Human Molecular ... improves the functioning of genes involved in degenerative ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Study reveals how fishing gear can cause slow death of whales 2Study reveals how fishing gear can cause slow death of whales 3Drugs found to both prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in mice 2Common food supplement fights degenerative brain disorders 2
... international team of scientists has used gene therapy in ... normal movements in monkeys and rats with a drug-induced ... in the scientific publications Brain and The Journal of ... at its onset and another strategy to treat the ...
... 2005 workshop in Tunisia, supported by the European ... in improving health in countries bordering the Mediterranean ... importance of Euro-Mediterranean partnerships in order to capitalise ... particular following the mapping of the human genome ...
... Research Center are analyzing the surprising results of the first ... , From January 2000 to July 2004, rainfall was excluded ... the Tapajós National Forest, in Brazil. A total of 6 ... 6' clear plastic panels suspended 3 to 12 feet above ...
Cached Biology News:Gene therapy for Parkinson's disease moves forward in animals 2Gene therapy for Parkinson's disease moves forward in animals 3Gene therapy for Parkinson's disease moves forward in animals 4Measuring the impact of post-genomics on Mediterranean populations 2World's largest rainforest drying experiment completes first phase 2World's largest rainforest drying experiment completes first phase 3
(Date:5/22/2013)... -- Cleveland BioLabs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBLI) today announced that the Company ... Microcap Conference, May 30, in New York, NY ... , CPA, Chief Financial Officer of Cleveland BioLabs, will present ... 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  A live and archived webcast of ... of the Cleveland BioLabs website at www.cbiolabs.com . ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 2013 Mold remediation could take a toll ... is a way to cut down the process' expense. And ... post the details of a method how to kill ... could be prevented, My Cleaning Products said. But in case ... a mold remediation must then be promptly implemented as it ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... May 22, 2013 Alton Housing Authority was ... 15, 2013 said that their presence has already caused ... bug sufferers avoid such big spending, My Cleaning Products shared ... , It was said in the report that to clear ... related. Apart from that, its employees also attended a mandatory ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... FL (PRWEB) May 22, 2013 A recent ... of probiotics on athletes to find that those who took ... longer. The results from the study showed that in extreme ... Action, known for their adult acne treatment explains ... and how it may help their skin condition. , ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Cleveland BioLabs to Present at Second Annual Marcum LLP Microcap Conference 2How to Kill Mold While Saving Thousands of Dollars on Mold Remediation Projects Explained by My Cleaning Products 2Bed Bugs Cost Alton Housing Authority $35,000; New Help, How to Kill Bed Bugs With Less Expense, Introduced by My Cleaning Products 2Adult Acne Treatment, Probiotic Action Shares Insight on New Findings Between Probiotics and Heat Tolerance, and What It Means for Acne Sufferers 2
... Ethanol Fuels, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BFRE), a ... the production of ethanol from non-food cellulosic wastes, ... company and leading algal synthetic biology company, is ... compatibility with its renewable oil process to produce ...
... Science &,Technology division China and Science News announced today ... Summit" in Beijing on,June 2, 2009, at the Beijing ... a time when China has increased efforts to build ... competition for,academic talent among universities is a topic of ...
... May 25 Beactica AB, the Swedish,fragment-based drug ... an agreement with Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Lexington, MA; ... will use its Sprint(TM) surface plasmon,resonance (SPR)-integrated drug ... of interest to Cubist. Financial terms of,the agreement ...
Cached Biology Technology:Solazyme Testing BlueFire Ethanol Cellulosic Sugars in Its Microalgae Renewable Oil Production Process 2Solazyme Testing BlueFire Ethanol Cellulosic Sugars in Its Microalgae Renewable Oil Production Process 3Elsevier's Science & Technology Division and Science News Partner to Organize the First "Attracting Academic Talent Summit" in Beijing 2Elsevier's Science & Technology Division and Science News Partner to Organize the First "Attracting Academic Talent Summit" in Beijing 3