Habitat and body size effects on the isotopic niche space of invasive lionfish and endangered Nassau grouper

O'Farrell, S., Bearhop, S., McGill, R. A.R. , Dahlgren, C. P., Brumbaugh, D. R. and Mumby, P. J. (2014) Habitat and body size effects on the isotopic niche space of invasive lionfish and endangered Nassau grouper. Ecosphere, 5(10), 123. (doi: 10.1890/ES14-00126.1)

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Abstract

Species invasions are a significant threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem function, and yet our knowledge of consequences for native species remains poor. The problem is exacerbated in highly speciose ecosystems like coral reefs. The invasion of the wider Caribbean by predatory lionfish (Pterois spp.) is one of the most successful marine colonizations ever documented, and its impact is anticipated to be substantial on native species. However, despite the ecological and commercial importance of iconic Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), the impacts of the invasion on this IUCN Red-Listed species remain unexamined. Using data gathered from two critical habitats in the Bahamas, we investigate isotopic niche space overlap between lionfish, Nassau grouper and putative prey species. Despite their relatively small body size, we find that lionfish occupy the highest isotopic niche position on patch reefs, occupying much of the same space as the native apex predator. Contrary to expectation, lionfish trophic level (δ15N) does not increase with body size, contrasting with confamilials in their native range. However, we find that tissue carbon (δ13C) changes systematically with body size on deep forereef habitats, representing a length-specific shift in food resources, with smaller individuals partitioning resources from larger individuals in this habitat but not on shallow patch reefs. We conclude that, despite the difference in body size, lionfish are capable of directly competing for food resources with Nassau grouper, and that impacts on guilds such as planktivores and invertivores may vary systematically by habitat. Our study contributes to the growing body of research aimed at understanding how a species that is relatively rare in its native range achieved the most successful fish invasion ever documented.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McGill, Dr Rona
Authors: O'Farrell, S., Bearhop, S., McGill, R. A.R., Dahlgren, C. P., Brumbaugh, D. R., and Mumby, P. J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
Journal Name:Ecosphere
Publisher:Ecological Society of America
ISSN:2150-8925
ISSN (Online):2150-8925
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2014 O'Farrell et al.
First Published:First published in Ecosphere 5(10):123
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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