Lionfish Scientific name : Pterois volitans

1. By: Ali Olson Emily Stringham LionfishScientificname: Pteroisvolitans

3. ECOSYSTEM • Indo. Pacific. • South Pacific • Indian ocean • Reefs and rocky crevices • They have now been introduced to the southeast coast of the US, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. They are not native to the Atlantic and have become a threat to the ecosystem.

4. ROLES IN ECOSYSTEM • The diet of the lionfish includes over 40 species of fish and crustacean. This invasive species has become a real threat to many native reef fish communities. • They are predators that eat fish but are not eaten by many others because of their venomous spines. • Relatively resistant to parasites, this gives them another advantage over other native species in their new ecosystem.

5. LIFE SPAN • Lion fish can live up to 15 years. • Average life span is 5-10 years. • If kept in captivity, the lionfish can have a life span that exceeds 15 years.

6. FEEDING BEHAVIOR • Eat small fish, crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans. • Fairy basslet, bridle cardnalfish, white grunt, bi-colored damselfish, yellowheaded wrasse, blue headed wrasse, striped parrot fish, spiny lobster, and banded coral shrimp. • A lionfish will often spread its feathery pectoral fins and heard small fish into a confined space where it can more easily swallow them. • They always swallow their food whole.

7. REPRODUCTION • Capable of reproducing year-round with unique reproduction mechanisms not commonly found in native fishes. • Are external spawners. • Females have the potential to reproduce every 4 days! • Can spawn around 2 million eggs per year. • The female will release between 2,000 and 15,000 eggs into the water to be fertilized. • (note card)

8. SURVIVAL Helpful survival skill: • Venomous spines Predators: • Have very few predators in their native range, where they occupy the upper levels of the food chain. • moray eels, bluespotted cornetfish, larger groupers (tiger grouper and Nassau grouper) and sharks are the only known predators.

9. Human Impact • Humans have hunted them to use as a tasty treat for any menu. • Humans have taken them from their normal ecosystem and put them in new areas. •  Divers and fisherman are supposed to document and report any sighting of lionfish along the Atlantic and Gulf waters.

10. UNIQUE FEATURES • Can grow to 15 inches in length but most are only 1 foot. • Weigh between 2-3 lbs. • 18 needle-like dorsal fins-venomous spines • Carnivores • Are often used as Aquarium pets, but need lots of space with very few other fish. Need to feel like they have dominance in the tank. • There are many different species of lionfish.

11. UNIQUE FEATURES • Relatives of the Lionfish belong to the scorpion fish family, which includes some of the most venomous fishes in the ocean.

12. SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE • Biological invasion of the Indo-pacific lionfish along the Atlantic coast of North America. • It is amazing that the lionfish has been able to adapt to a new habitat that is so different from its native home. • Things that it has had to adapt to is the water temperatures, the reef structures, the fish species. • Researchers have reported that within a short period after the lionfish was introduced into a new area, survival of the native reef fishes declined about 80 percent.

13. RECAP • Originally from Indo. Pacific region, but now found in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. • Is a predator. • Average of 5-10 years life span, with exception to 15 years. • Eat small fish, crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans. • External spawners, who reproduce year round. • Venomous Spines • Trying to rid the fish from its new habitat.

14. SOURCES • National Geographic (nationalgeographic.com) • NOAA (noaa.gov) • Oceana (oceana.org) • Reef (reef.org) • Marine Bio (marinebio.org) • New England Aquarium (neaq.org) • Science News (phschool.com/science/science news/articles/bad_news_beauties.html.) • A-Z Animals (a-zanimal.com/animals/lionfish) • Google images