Shelter use interactions of invasive lionfish with commercially and ecologically important native invertebrates on Caribbean coral reefs.

ABSTRACT: Indo-Pacific lionfish have become invasive throughout the western Atlantic. Their predatory effects have been the focus of much research and are suggested to cause declines in native fish abundance and diversity across the invaded range. However, little is known about their non-consumptive effects, or their effects on invertebrates. Lionfish use shelters on the reef, thus there is potential for competition with other shelter-dwelling organisms. We demonstrate similar habitat associations between invasive lionfish, native spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) and native long-spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum), indicating the potential for competition. We then used a laboratory experiment to compare activity and shelter use of each species when alone and when lionfish were paired with each n

SUBMITTER: Hunt CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7449759 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature