title: Native predators do not influence invasion success of pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs.
abstract: Biotic resistance, the process by which new colonists are excluded from a community by predation from and/or competition with resident species, can prevent or limit species invasions. We examined whether biotic resistance by native predators on Caribbean coral reefs has influenced the invasion success of red lionfishes (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles), piscivores from the Indo-Pacific. Specifically, we surveyed the abundance (density and biomass) of lionfish and native predatory fishes that could interact with lionfish (either through predation or competition) on 71 reefs in three biogeographic regions of the Caribbean. We recorded protection status of the reefs, and abiotic variables including depth, habitat type, and wind/wave exposure at each site. We found no relationship between the density or biomass of lionfish and that of native predators. However, lionfish densities were significantly lower on windward sites, potentially because of habitat preferences, and in marine protected areas, most likely because of ongoing removal efforts by reserve managers. Our results suggest that interactions with native predators do not influence the colonization or post-establishment population density of invasive lionfish on Caribbean reefs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America. snhackerott@gmail.com
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hackerott
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valdivia
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Isabelle M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Courtney E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Lad
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Akins
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Layman
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Precht
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bruno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D017691:Caribbean Region; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*