Editorial Material
Ecology
Morelia Camacho-Cervantes, Bob B. M. Wong
Summary: This article discusses how pollution alters species interactions by impacting wildlife behavior, influencing invasion dynamics. Addressing knowledge gaps is crucial for the management of invasive species and the conservation of native ecosystems in an increasingly toxic world.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Anastasia Quintana, Sergio Marcos, Luis Malpica-Cruz, Lizbeth Tamayo, Jose Angel Canto Noh, Francisco Fernandez-Rivera Melo, Stuart Fulton
Summary: The development of commercial markets as a control strategy for invasive species has both social dilemmas and opportunities. Based on the experiences of fishing cooperatives in Mexico, the commercial harvest of invasive lionfish has shown mixed outcomes. While it has successfully reduced lionfish abundance, it disproportionately benefits fishers using unsustainable fishing gear and reinforces the tragedy of the commons narrative. Despite these dilemmas, fishing cooperatives have managed to position themselves as conservation leaders through partnership with government and non-governmental organizations.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Anastasia Quintana, Sergio Marcos, Luis Malpica-Cruz, Lizbeth Tamayo, Jose Angel Canto Noh, Francisco Fernandez-Rivera Melo, Stuart Fulton
Summary: Commercial markets offer a potential solution for controlling invasive species, but their social impacts are not well understood. This study examines the social dilemmas and opportunities created by the commercialization of lionfish harvesting in Mexico. While the program has succeeded in reducing lionfish abundance, it disproportionately benefits fishers using unsustainable fishing gear and reinforces the tragedy of the commons narrative. Despite these challenges, fishing cooperatives have managed to navigate the dilemmas and position themselves as conservation leaders.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura del Rio, Zenaida Maria Navarro-Martinez, Dorka Cobian-Rojas, Pedro Pablo Chevalier-Monteagudo, Jorge A. Angulo-Valdes, Leandro Rodriguez-Viera
Summary: This review analyzes the biology and ecology of lionfish as an invasive species, with a focus on Cuba. It is found that lionfish has successfully established in Cuban waters, with high population density and reproductive capacity. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of lionfish on ecosystems and develop effective control strategies.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Montana E. Airey, Alexander Q. Fogg, Joshua A. Drew
Summary: Invasive lionfish pose a threat to native fishes and ecosystem health in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean. The control of their spread and population growth is challenging due to their characteristics such as early maturity, high fecundity, long larval dispersal period, and preference for structure. The role of deep-water refugia in connecting with shallow-water populations and recruiting pelagic larvae remains poorly understood.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rachel L. L. Gunn, Cassandra E. E. Benkwitt, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Ian R. R. Hartley, Adam C. C. Algar, Sally A. A. Keith
Summary: Human-induced environmental changes, such as the introduction of invasive species, can disrupt nutrient flows across ecosystems and have negative consequences for ecosystem function. In this study, we found that an invasive species (black rats) disrupts a nutrient pathway provided by seabirds, leading to changes in territorial behavior of coral reef fish. Rat eradication as a conservation strategy has the potential to restore species interactions and influence populations and communities at higher ecological levels.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jazel Ouled-Cheikh, Francisco Ramirez, Moises Sanchez-Fortun, Augusto Cortejana, Carola Sanpera, Josep Lluis Carrasco
Summary: Human activities can influence the feeding behavior and movement patterns of opportunistic species in marine ecosystems. This study used GPS tracking data to analyze the flight behavior of Audouin's gulls in relation to fishing activities. The results showed that gulls adjusted their flight behavior when fishing vessels were present, flying faster and more directly. This research enhances our understanding of seabird-fishery interactions and has implications for monitoring fisheries and combating illegal fishing.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Carmela Marangi, Angela Martiradonna, Stefania Ragni
Summary: Controlling and planning the removal of invasive species is of great importance in natural resource management. By combining population dynamics models with optimization procedures, an effective allocation of resources can be achieved. In this study, we propose a parabolic optimal control model that incorporates external forces to improve the accuracy of the model. We also introduce a novel numerical procedure to reduce computational costs.
APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabel Acosta-Coley, Maria Cabarcas-Montalvo, Ricardo Enrique Hernandez-Lambrano, Lucellys Sierra-Marquez, Camilo Valcarcel-Castellanos, Diego Duque, Sebastian Martinez-Silva, Milena Marrugo, Milena Benavides-Serrato
Summary: Lionfish, invasive species in the Caribbean, are being controlled through capture and consumption strategies in the Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo National Natural Park. Total mercury levels in muscle were measured for the first time, ranging from 0.01 to 0.38 µg/g, with compliance to consumption regulations. However, a precautionary approach and continuous monitoring are strongly advised due to potential daily health risks.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alex K. Bogdanoff, Kyle W. Shertzer, Craig A. Layman, Jennifer K. Chapman, Marc L. Fruitema, Jennifer Solomon, Julie Sabattis, Stephanie Green, James A. Morris
Summary: This study introduces the concept of optimum lionfish yield (OLY) to manage invasive lionfish fisheries, considering local ecological health and using indicators to quantify management targets. Results suggest that fishing at rates above MSY levels significantly reduces population abundance compared to rates below MSY, with minimal impacts on yield.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniel Szarmach, Kamil Wisniewski, Jaroslaw Kobak, Tomasz Kakareko, Anna Maria Labecka, Ronaldo Sousa, Malgorzata Poznanska-Kakareko
Summary: Clams of the Corbicula species complex from Asia have become invasive worldwide and are now spreading to Central European waters. This study examined the substrate preferences and behavior of three Corbicula morphospecies from Poland to understand their potential impacts and ecological adaptations. The results showed that different Corbicula species have distinct substrate preferences and behaviors, which may affect their invasive potential. Understanding the overlap of preferred habitats between non-native Corbicula clams and native bivalves is crucial for determining their potential competition strength, impact, and displacement.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eric G. Johnson, Angelina Dichiera, Danielle Goldberg, MaryKate Swenarton, James Gelsleichter
Summary: The study found that mercury levels in lionfish increase with size, vary by location and sex, but overall, the mercury levels in lionfish are lower than other commonly consumed marine fishes, posing a low risk to consumption.
Review
Ecology
Peter S. Stewart, Russell A. Hill, Philip A. Stephens, Mark J. Whittingham, Wayne Dawson
Summary: This study investigates how invasive plants impact the behavior of native animals, introducing a mechanistic framework to understand these impacts. While some behavioral impacts of invasive plants are well-covered in the literature, others are supported by only a handful of studies, indicating the need for further exploration. The study concludes by identifying priority topics for future research, emphasizing the benefit of an interdisciplinary approach uniting invasion ecology with the study of animal behavior and cognition.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Holden E. Harris, William F. Patterson III, Robert N. M. Ahrens, Micheal S. Allen, David D. Chagaris, Sherry L. Larkin
Summary: Commercialized harvest for invasive species is a compelling solution to control their populations and minimize their impact on ecosystems. However, reducing the population of an invasive species might make their harvest uneconomical. A case study on invasive lionfish in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico examined this paradox and found that lionfish demonstrated strong compensatory capabilities and were robust to fishing pressure. The study also explored different market scenarios and economic strategies that could incentivize fishing efforts for invasive species control.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Vincent Calcagno, Nik J. Cunniffe, Frederic M. Hamelin
Summary: Many statistical methods attempt to detect species associations from co-occurrence patterns, but the impact of patch disturbance on these associations has been overlooked. This study shows that classical metacommunity dynamics can produce statistical associations even without species interactions, but with patch disturbance. The consequences of patch disturbance should not be underestimated when analyzing species distribution patterns.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)