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Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology
All textbooksFreeman 8th EditionCh. 49 - An Introduction to EcologyProblem 13
Chapter 48, Problem 13

The red lionfish, Pterois volitans, has beautiful red stripes, streaming fins, and a fearless disposition, and it is deadly. Native to the Pacific Ocean, the red lionfish was first discovered on coral reefs in the Bahamas in 1985. The species has spread to over 3 million square kilometers of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have a voracious appetite for native fish, are armed with venomous spines, and have no natural predators in their new range. DNA studies suggest that the lionfish invasion began with just a few females released off the coast of Florida, probably from a fish tank. Based on your knowledge of ocean currents, predict the direction in which the lionfish dispersed most quickly.

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Step 1: Understand the problem. The problem is asking us to predict the direction in which the lionfish dispersed most quickly based on our knowledge of ocean currents.
Step 2: Recall that the Gulf Stream, a major ocean current, flows from the Gulf of Mexico along the east coast of the United States and then towards Europe.
Step 3: Consider that the lionfish were first released off the coast of Florida. Given the direction of the Gulf Stream, it is likely that the lionfish dispersed most quickly to the north and east.
Step 4: Remember that the lionfish were first discovered in the Bahamas in 1985, which is consistent with the direction of the Gulf Stream.
Step 5: Conclude that the lionfish likely dispersed most quickly to the north and east, following the direction of the Gulf Stream.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Invasive Species

Invasive species are non-native organisms that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause significant ecological disruption. They often outcompete local species for resources, leading to declines in native populations. The red lionfish is a prime example, as it has rapidly spread in the Atlantic, preying on local fish and disrupting marine ecosystems.
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Ocean Currents

Ocean currents are large-scale movements of seawater driven by factors such as wind, temperature differences, and the Earth's rotation. These currents play a crucial role in the distribution of marine species, including the dispersal of invasive species like the lionfish. Understanding the patterns of ocean currents can help predict how and where species spread in marine environments.
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Venomous Adaptations

Venomous adaptations refer to the biological mechanisms that allow certain species to produce toxins for defense or predation. The red lionfish possesses venomous spines that deter predators and enhance its survival in new habitats. This adaptation not only aids in its own protection but also contributes to its success as an invasive species by allowing it to dominate local fish populations.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Scientists predict that global climate change will cause a greater increase in average temperature at higher latitudes than in the tropics. This seems like good news since most of the world's biodiversity occurs in the tropics. However, recent data suggest that a smaller temperature change in the tropics will cause a larger physiological response in organisms there than the larger temperature change will in organisms in temperate areas. Based on what you have learned about thermal niches in this chapter, propose a hypothesis to explain this result.

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Textbook Question

The red lionfish, Pterois volitans, has beautiful red stripes, streaming fins, and a fearless disposition, and it is deadly. Native to the Pacific Ocean, the red lionfish was first discovered on coral reefs in the Bahamas in 1985. The species has spread to over 3 million square kilometers of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have a voracious appetite for native fish, are armed with venomous spines, and have no natural predators in their new range. Why are species like the lionfish considered 'invasive'? a. They are found in areas where they are not native. b. They were accidentally introduced by humans. c. They spread aggressively and displace native species. d. They are predators of other fish.

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Textbook Question

The red lionfish, Pterois volitans, has beautiful red stripes, streaming fins, and a fearless disposition, and it is deadly. Native to the Pacific Ocean, the red lionfish was first discovered on coral reefs in the Bahamas in 1985. The species has spread to over 3 million square kilometers of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have a voracious appetite for native fish, are armed with venomous spines, and have no natural predators in their new range. Lionfish are usually found in full-salinity seawater (35 parts per thousand). However, lab studies show that lionfish can tolerate salinities as low as 4 parts per thousand for several days, suggesting that the low-salinity water of estuaries (such as at the mouth of the Amazon River) may not be a barrier to lionfish dispersal along the coasts. Sketch a niche model predicting lionfish abundance as a function of salinity.

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Textbook Question

The red lionfish, Pterois volitans, has beautiful red stripes, streaming fins, and a fearless disposition, and it is deadly. Native to the Pacific Ocean, the red lionfish was first discovered on coral reefs in the Bahamas in 1985. The species has spread to over 3 million square kilometers of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have a voracious appetite for native fish, are armed with venomous spines, and have no natural predators in their new range. List the five main levels of ecological study, and write a question about the ecology of lionfish that you could research at each level.

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Textbook Question

The red lionfish, Pterois volitans, has beautiful red stripes, streaming fins, and a fearless disposition, and it is deadly. Native to the Pacific Ocean, the red lionfish was first discovered on coral reefs in the Bahamas in 1985. The species has spread to over 3 million square kilometers of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have a voracious appetite for native fish, are armed with venomous spines, and have no natural predators in their new range. Biologists are scrambling to study the reproductive biology of lionfish to inform management decisions. For example, Alexander Fogg and colleagues studied lionfish females in the northern Gulf of Mexico and estimated that an average female could produce 2,332,490 eggs per year. What time of year is reproductive rate the highest? To answer this question, the researchers collected an average of 200 lionfish each month and measured ovary size relative to body size, an indicator of reproductive capacity. Describe the take-home message of the graph. How do the error bars affect your confidence in this message?

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