Current Search: University of West Florida. (x) » Brower, Amy L. (x)
-
-
Title
-
Environmental DNA detection of invasive lionfish in estuaries of the northern Gulf of Mexico.
-
Author
-
Brower, Amy L.
-
Abstract/Description
-
Invasive species are non-native species that pose a threat to current biodiversity, alter the community structure, and disrupt the ecosystem. Invasive species of high concern are in the genus Pterois, commonly known as lionfish. These species were introduced to the Western Atlantic Ocean and today can be found all throughout the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have been recently observed in estuaries even though they are not traditionally euryhaline species. However, confirming presence of...
Show moreInvasive species are non-native species that pose a threat to current biodiversity, alter the community structure, and disrupt the ecosystem. Invasive species of high concern are in the genus Pterois, commonly known as lionfish. These species were introduced to the Western Atlantic Ocean and today can be found all throughout the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have been recently observed in estuaries even though they are not traditionally euryhaline species. However, confirming presence of a particular fish in estuarine environments can be costly in terms of resources and can be difficult due to environmental conditions and fishing methods required. The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of lionfish throughout river systems and estuarine environments of the Northern Gulf Coast using environmental DNA (eDNA). Six locations in the Northern Gulf of Mexico were sampled seasonally: The Mobile Delta, Escambia Bay, Blackwater Bay, Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay and Perdido Key. Results show that lionfish were present in each of the sampled estuarine environments and river systems in the Northern Gulf of Mexico during the course of this study. This information can be used to aid in management techniques for estuaries that are home to commercially and ecologically important species.
Show less
-
Identifier
-
1128883118, WFE0000648
-
Format
-
Document (PDF)