Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: at Jupiter inlet, 2 miles out and 1 mile south/FL/Atlantic Ocean (2001, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies 2009, 26.925 N, -80.0167 W);
Geographic Extent
at Jupiter inlet, 2 miles out and 1 mile south/FL/Atlantic Ocean (2001, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies 2009, 26.925 N, -80.0167 W); ~ 22 nautical mi SE of Port Canaveral/FL/Atlantic Ocean (2006, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies 2009, 28.1385 N, 80.2209 W); Sewells Point/FL/St. Lucie River (9/13/2010, 27.1715, -80.186, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2010); Jupiter/FL/3 miles inside the Loxahatchee River (6/22/2011, WPEC TV http://www.cbs12.com/articles/lionfish-4733293-fla-river.html; Jud et al. 2011 )
Vectors
Level | Vector |
---|---|
Probable | Pet Release |
Regional Impacts
Ecological Impact | Predation | |
Caging experiments in the Loxahatchee estuary of the Indian River Lagoon found that Lionfish caused a 90% reduction in Grass Shrimp (Palaemon) abundance, and a general reduction of benthic invertebrate abundance and diversity (Layman et al. 2014). | ||