Professional Documents
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addition to the lack of contact they also lack focus the Lionfish reproduced rapidly
meaning unless groups are exterminated completely the population quickly rises again.
Research Proposal
Subject of my paper: The infestation of lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico
Topic description: The topic of this paper would revolve around the harm lionfish
are causing and what can be done to prevent the damage to our local ecosystem. A
potential question the reader may have is how does this affect me? The majoritys
perspective on this issue is that the lionfish need to be culled in order to help the native
species survive. There are some who less educated individuals who believe that we
should not interfere with the lionfish. The third point of view is that we should focus on
trying to remove the lionfish and return them to their natural habitat unharmed.
Purpose: I am currently in the process of changing majors and a major that I am
considering is Marine Biology and writing on this topic would be beneficial to me
because it will help me to understand if this is a topic I am interested in. This topic is
clearly linked to the major because a significant part of Marine Biology is preservation of
the natural habitat and the Lionfish are an evasive species that is harming the native fish
in the local ecosystem.
Preliminary Thesis/Argument: "The decrease in the Grouper and Snapper
population in the Gulf of Mexico and the increase in the Lionfish population causes me
to investigate both the source and potential solutions for this infestation.
Intended audience: The audience that would benefit the most from reading this
paper would be divers this is because they have the ability to directly help be a part of
the solution to a problem that is harming their hobby or profession. I must keep in mind
that this presentation will be given to my fellow classmates and as Florida residents they
will hopefully see how this issue affects themselves when I discuss how the lionfish hurt
the local economy by making less fresh fish available.
Types of research areas: I will likely be using: scholarly, internet, and field research
in my paper and are all recognized by my major. This is due to the fact that both
scholarly and internet research are accessible. I will be able to use some field research
due to the fact that I not only know others who have helped participate in organized
attempts to control the population but I myself have done the same.
Kinds of sources: I will focus on scholarly sources because they are often the most
helpful due to their vast amount of information on the subject and increased credibility.
I will be using other internet sources as well but will still use credible websites avoiding
websites like Wikipedia.
Graphs or charts: I have no Graphs or charts at this point in my research
Documentation Style: It would appear as though both MLA and CMS are used in my
major so I will be using MLA because I have more experience with it.
Research Map
Keywords:
February 16
Lionfish
February 1829
Cull
February 29
March 1
Ecosystem
Library instruction
Work on first draft to minimize work over spring
Typesbreak
of Research:
The Library
Have majority of the research completed
prior to(scholarly)
today
Online studies (Internet
Research Map
over the 5 wk duration of the experiment. This strong effect on a key life stage of
coral-reef fishes suggests that invasive lionfish are already having substantial
negative impacts on Atlantic coral reefs. While complete eradication of lionfish in
the Atlantic is likely impossible, it would be prudent to initiate focused lionfish
control efforts in strategic locations.
Considering that this source is itself a scholarly article found in the UCF web of
science database and is cited in 141 other scholarly articles it is likely that it is a
credible source.
Iglsias, Samuel, and Lou Frott. "Alien Marine Fishes in Cyprus: Update and
New Records." Aquatic Invasions AI 10.4 (2015): 425-38. Web.
Abstract provided:
The Mediterranean Sea, due to its connection to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal,
its heavy maritime traffic, and the effects of climate change is a hotspot of
invasion by alien species. A survey carried out around Cyprus during September
2014 documented the occurrence of 25 alien fishes. Seven Lessepsian migrants
(Hippocampus fuscus Ruppell, 1838, Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986,
Ostorhinchus fasciatus (Shaw, 1790), Parupeneus forsskali (Fourmanoir & Gueze,
1976), Pomadasys stridens (Forsskal, 1775), Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829 and
Spratelloides delicatulus (Bennett, 1832)) were recorded for the first time,
increasing to 35 the number of alien fishes recorded around the island. Four of
these first records can be considered as 'established', whereas the 2013 first
record of Pterois volitans/miles is confirmed by new findings placing the species
as newly 'established' in Cyprus. All the recorded alien fishes of Cyprus are
Lessepsian migrants, 80% of which can be considered established and four of
them are invasive. The rapid increase of alien fish species over time in Cyprus
supports the accelerating tropicalisation process observed elsewhere in the
Mediterranean over the last decades. Furthermore, the new finding of the tropical
Atlantic immigrant Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1839) is documented.
Considering that this source is itself a scholarly article found in the UCF web of
science database and it cites 67 other scholarly articles it is likely that it is a
credible source.
"Invasive Lionfish Threaten Coral Reefs and Fisheries." :: NOAA Fisheries.
Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
This is a brief explanation of history of the lionfish infestation. Provided by
NOAA Fisheries which is a government run site so is likely a credible source.
Johnston, Matthew W., and Sam J. Purkis. "Are Lionfish Set for a
Mediterranean Invasion? Modelling Explains Why This Is Unlikely to Occur."
Marine Pollution Bulletin 88.1-2 (2014): 138-47. Web.
Abstract provided:
The Atlantic invasion of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans/P. miles) has been
as swift as it has been disastrous. Lionfish are non-native to the Mediterranean,
but an invasion is perhaps even more likely than for the Atlantic. First, as for the
Atlantic, there are many major cities on the coast of the Mediterranean (where
aquarium-keeping is a common practice and chances of accidental and deliberate
releases are high), and second, lionfish are native to the Red Sea, to which the
Mediterranean is connected via the Suez Canal. Furthermore, there have already
been four records of lionfish in the Mediterranean and so the pretext for an
invasion is already in place. Up until now, however, it has been difficult to gauge
the likelihood of an infestation of lionfish in the Mediterranean as, unlike the
Atlantic, this sea has not been examined in terms of its hydrodynamics, ocean
climate, and bathymetry, all factors known to be relevant to assessing the
possibility of invasion. Motivated by this knowledge-gap, this study used remote
sensing and computer modeling to investigate the connectivity between areas
along the Mediterranean coastline that fulfill the necessary physical criteria to
serve as potential lionfish habitat. Model results from the Mediterranean were
compared and contrasted to those from the Atlantic and eastern Pacific. The
Atlantic was considered because the lionfish invasion there has been voracious.
Meanwhile, the eastern Pacific is interesting as a site without native lionfish, but
with plenty of opportunity for their introduction, but no invasion yet recorded.
Results indicated that, unlike in the Atlantic, connectivity among potential
lionfish habitats in the Mediterranean was low in the study and comparable to
that in the eastern Pacific. Although oceanographic conditions in the
Mediterranean were found unfavorable for wide dispersion of lionfish larvae,
hotspots where numerous lionfish sightings would forewarn an impending
invasion were identified. This paper can therefore serve as a guide to the most
efficient monitoring of lionfish in the Mediterranean and to where removal
efforts should be concentrated, should the species become established. (C) 2014
Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Considering that this source is itself a scholarly article found in the UCF web of
science database and is cited in 6 other scholarly articles it is likely that it is a
credible source.
Johnston, Mw, and Sj Purkis. "A Coordinated and Sustained International
Strategy Is Required to Turn the Tide on the Atlantic Lionfish Invasion."
Marine Ecology Progress Series Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 533 (2015): 219-35.
Web.
Abstract provided:
Atlantic lionfish have caused measurable ecosystem damage in their invaded
range. As a matter of urgency, strategies to suppress lionfish have therefore risen
to the fore amongst the ocean management community. We use a biophysical
model and ocean climate data to demonstrate how Atlantic lionfish larvae are
dispersed by currents and how this dispersal, combined with their breeding
strategy, negates effective control using methods traditionally executed on a local
scale. This study quantitatively emphasizes the high level of larval connectivity
that exists between the many nations whose waters now support established
lionfish populations. For any given area, our results indicate that the key to
suppressing the invasion is to simultaneously choke all upstream linkages that
supply external larvae and renourish the local population. On the basis of a case
study developed for the Carolinas, USA, an area of high lionfish abundance, the
model suggests that such a strategy requires monthly culls that remove 20% of
lionfish biomass in the Carolinas and all locations to which the Carolinas are
linked hydrographically. Conversely, if culls target only those locales that deliver
the majority (95%) of lionfish larvae to the Carolinas, and therefore ignore those
locations which contribute the remaining 5% of lionfish larvae, the requisite cull
rate exceeds 60% and suppresses lionfish abundance for only 5 yr. The latter
finding exposes an intrinsic danger: sparse lionfish left uncontrolled may derail a
concerted, yet not comprehensive, effort to control the invader. This study
provides a modelling approach to quantitatively target and manage the lionfish
population for nations whose waters are now plagued by invasive lionfish.
Considering that this source is itself a scholarly article found in the UCF web of
science database and is cited in 2 other scholarly articles it is likely that it is a
credible source.
Morris, James A., and John L. Akins. "Feeding Ecology of Invasive Lionfish
(Pterois Volitans) in the Bahamian Archipelago." Environ Biol Fish
Environmental Biology of Fishes 86.3 (2009): 389-98. Web.
Abstract provided:
Feeding ecology of the lionfish (Pterois volitans), an invasive species in the
Western North Atlantic, was examined by collecting stomach content data from
fishes taken throughout the Bahamian archipelago. Three relative metrics of prey
quantity, including percent number, percent frequency, and percent volume,
were used to compare three indices of dietary importance. Lionfish largely prey
upon teleosts (78% volume) and crustaceans (14% volume). Twenty-one families
and 41 species of teleosts were represented in the diet of lionfish; the top 10
families of dietary importance were Gobiidae, Labridae, Grammatidae,
Apogonidae, Pomacentridae, Serranidae, Blenniidae, Atherinidae, Mullidae, and
Monacanthidae. The proportional importance of crustaceans in the diet was
inversely related to size with the largest lionfish preying almost exclusively on
teleosts. Lionfish were found to be diurnal feeders with the highest predation
occurring in the morning (08:00-11:00).
Considering that this source is itself a scholarly article found in the UCF web of
science database and is cited in 91 other scholarly articles it is likely that it is a
credible source.
Nemeth, Richard S. "Ecosystem Aspects of Species That Aggregate to
Spawn." Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations: Biology, Research and
Management (2011): 21-55. Web.
Abstract provided: A wide diversity of species form spawning aggregations and
migrate from home ranges or feeding sites to specific locations for reproduction.