Assess management options to mitigate lionfish impacts to reef ecosystems
Implementing Organization
University of Florida
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$294,006
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
The U.S. Department of Treasury
Funding Program
The RESTORE Act Funds Bucket 5: Centers of Excellence Research Grant Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Environmental Research
Targeted Resources
Fish/Fish Habitats
Project Description
In the past decade, invasive lionfish originally from the Indo-Pacific, have rapidly colonized the northern Gulf of Mexico, and their numbers are increasing exponentially. Recent studies in other Atlantic regions indicate that the invasion has potentially devastating impacts on native reef fish populations and ecology, and threatens valued reef fisheries such as snappers and groupers. This project will develop new observations and ecological models to evaluate lionfish impacts on native reef fish, and develop models to predict how stronger management actions and varying levels of lionfish removals may mitigate their impacts.
Contact
Allen, Micheal352-273-3624
msal@ufl.edu
Project Website
None
Location is center of study area