[Coral-List] Lion fish question
Steve Mussman
sealab at earthlink.net
Sat Apr 20 15:37:08 EDT 2013
Pardon the redundancy, but I feel compelled to follow up in the hope that
some listers might consider alternative hypotheticals. Iâll keep it brief.
* Is it possible that a primary factor related to the density and
proliferation of lion fish populations throughout the Caribbean {when
compared to native ranges} might be the relative scarcity of
higher-level, larger predatory fish such as sharks, grouper, and
snapper?
* Has anyone compared the relative total biomass of higher-level predators
on the Caribbean reefs where lion fish are now found with that of the
native Indo-Pacific ranges where anomalous controls are not required?
* Is it reasonable to at least theorize that the best case scenario for
effectively keeping invasive lion fish populations in check would be one
that encompasses a strategy for overall coral reef recovery including
the related re-emergence of a greater number of potential natural
predators?
* In the spirit of full disclosure, I raise these questions because it
appears to me as if many in my industry are deluding themselves by
focusing reef conservation efforts on this particular issue. Its good
for business and thatâs a positive, but there needs to be an awareness
that the implementation of currently advocated mitigation strategies
will not miraculously restore once healthy coral reef ecosystems. In
the end we canât continue to ignore the eight-hundred-pound gorilla
sitting squarely upon the Acropora palmata.
Regards,
Steve
www.sea-lab.com
http://www.news-press.com/article/20120514/GREEN/305140006/Are-predators-eat
ing-lionfish-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pazS-13gzVE&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hkan5JHUA0
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