A hotspot of non-native marine fishes: evidence for the aquarium trade as an invasion pathway
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MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 266:239-244 (2004) - doi:10.3354/meps266239 A hotspot of non-native marine fishes: evidence for the aquarium trade as an invasion pathway Brice X. Semmens1,*, Eric R. Buhle1, Anne K. Salomon1, Christy V. Pattengill-Semmens2 1University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Department of Biology, Box 351800, Seattle, Washington 98195-1800, USA 2Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), PO Box 246, Key Largo, Florida 33037, USA *Email: semmens@u.washington.edu ABSTRACT: Invasions of non-native species in marine ecosystems can be ecologically damaging and economically costly. Identifying 'hot-spots' of non-native species and their sources of introduction is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of invasion quarantine programs. We use a large spatially explicit marine fish database to show that there are a surprising number of non-native fishes on the reefs of southeast Florida, USA. Two likely sources explain the occurrence of non-native marine fishes in this region: introductions through ballast-water exchange, and introductions from aquaria. Data on international shipping patterns and marine fish imports were used to evaluate the culpability of these 2 vectors. Our results suggest that the introductions are the result of aquarium releases. Prevention of further releases and invasions will require education, outreach, and enforcement efforts directed at marine aquarists and the aquarium industry. KEY WORDS: Non-indigenous species · Aquarium trade · Reef fish · Ballast water · Marine conservation · Reef Environmental Education Foundation · Invasion control Full article in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 266. Online publication date: January 30, 2004 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2004 Inter-Research.
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Lionfish are venomous predators whose popularity in the aquarium trade may have contributed to their introduction to Atlantic waters.
“Native to the subtropical and tropical regions of the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea, lionfish are venomous predators whose popularity in the aquarium trade may have contributed to their introduction to Atlantic waters (Whitfield et al. 2002, Semmens et al. 2004, Ruiz-Carus et al. 2006).”
From Diet of invasive lionfish on hard bottom reefs of the Southeast USA: insights from stomach contents and stable isotopes (2011) · cites this paper as Semmens et al. 2004
The Results identify Indo-Pacific lionfish among non-native fishes sighted in the western Atlantic and say the observed species were imported for aquaria. The Discussion finds aquarium releases consistent with the introductions, supporting the claim's hedged pathway. Our copy does not describe lionfish as venomous predators or establish their species-specific popularity in the aquarium trade. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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References 42 · Cited by 277
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Courtenay WR, Robins CR (1973) Exotic aquatic organisms in Florida with emphasis on fishes: a review and recommenda- tions. Trans AFS 102:1-12
- D'Antonio C, Meyerson LA, Denslkow J (2001) Exotic species and conservation. In: Soulé ME, Orians GH (eds) Conserva- tion biology; research priorities for the next decade. Island Press, Washington, DC, p 59-80
- Hobbs RJ (1989) The nature and effects of disturbance relative to invasions. In: Drake JA, Mooney HA, Di Castri F, Groves RH, Kruger M, Rejmanek M, Williamson M (eds) Biological invasions: a global perspective. Scope 37. John Wiley & Sons, New York, p 389-405
- Levine JM, D'Antonio CM (1999) Elton revisited: a review of evidence linking diversity and invasibility. Oikos 87:15-26
- Authors
- Semmens, B., Buhle, E., Salomon, A., & Pattengill-Semmens, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- Venue
- Marine Ecology Progress Series
- Publisher
- Inter-Research Science Center
- Published
- 2004
- Volume
- 266
- Pages
- 239-244
- ISSN
- 0171-8630 (ISSN-L)
- 1616-1599
- OpenAlex
- W2112977231
- Cited by
- 277
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 10.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Marine Ecology Progress Series (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Keywords
- aquarium trade, ballast water, biological invasions, invasion pathways, reef fish, international shipping, introduced species
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