[Coral-List] New Global Change Biology study: trait-based invasion impact hotspots

[Stephanie Green]

Hi everyone,

We're writing to alert you about our new study "Trait-based 
vulnerability reveals hotspots of potential impact for a global marine 
invader" in Global Change Biology.

Read the full text here: 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gcb.15732

Download the PDF here: https://greenlab.ca/publications/

_Summary:_
We identify coastal regions with coral reef fishes most vulnerable to 
impacts and potential extirpation from invasive lionfish (/Pterois 
volitans/ P. miles)/ in order to help inform prioritization for 
management intervention. Our approach uses information on traits know to 
increase fish vulnerability to predation by lionfish (shape, size, water 
column position, habitat use, aggregation behaviour, others) and 
geographic range size for >1,500 species. We also estimate timelines for 
management intervention in newly invaded regions from past population 
trajectories in the invaded Western Atlantic.

_Results highlights:_
- In the Atlantic, we identify coastal regions off Belize, the Bahamas, 
Bonaire, and Curaçao as hotspots of endemic fishes highly vulnerable to 
invasion impacts.
- Ahead of the invasion front, reefs around several offshore islands of 
Brazil harbour high numbers of endemic species likely to be most 
impacted once the invasion takes hold.
- Data from lionfish stomach contents and native fish populations from 
REEF citizen science surveys validate our trait-based predictions.
- Lionfish population data from the Western Atlantic reveal the average 
invasion timeline is 5 yrs, median 2 yrs (yrs to reach peak high 
abundances after first sighting). This timeline could be used as a proxy 
for the maximum time management authorities have to organize a 
management response before the invasion is at peak local abundance.
- Our approach and findings are also relevant for identifying spatial 
priorities and estimating management timelines within the Mediterranean 
invasion.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this work.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Green (sgreen1 at ualberta.ca) and Christi Linardich 
(clina001 at odu.edu)

-- 
Stephanie Green, PhD (she/her)
Assistant Professor
Canada Research Chair, Aquatic Global Change Ecology & Conservation
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Alberta
www.greenlab.ca <http://www.greenlab.ca>
/The University of Alberta is located on Treaty 6 territory, a 
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Cree, Blackfoot, Metis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway/ 
Saulteaux/Anishinaabe, Inuit, and many others whose histories, 
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