BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhuanet) -- As if nitrates, acids, coral bleaching and increasing amounts of sediments were not enough, young resident Caribbean fish have to contend with ravenous, non-nativelionfish.
A newOregon State University study , which will be published soon in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, found that it took five weeks for lionfish to decimate juvenile fish populations by 79 percent. Researchers saw one large lionfish consume 20 small fish in 30 minutes.
Andfewer herbivorous fish sets the table for seaweeds to potentially overwhelm the coral reefs and threaten the already delicate ecological balance.
Unfortunately, there are no solutions for neutralizing invasive lionfish. Rounding up the lionfish individually, while possibly effective in the local area, does not provide the broad solution required. And introducing predators could be promising, but groupers that prey on lionfish in the Pacific Ocean have been over-fished in the tropical Atlantic.
Lionfish likely entered the Florida waters in the early 1990s compliments of local aquariums or fish hobbyists. They have ventured north as far as Rhode Island and can now be found in much of the Caribbean.
One of the few lionfish predators roaming the warm Caribbean waters is another lionfish. They can consume other fish up to two-thirds their own length.
The lionfish uses its large, fan-like fins to corral its next meal. Then, it consumes its prey with one rapid strike. With their innate ability to defend themselves, lionfish are fearless of most marine life.
(Agencies)
