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SEARCH FOR INVASIVE SPECIES
RESEARCH DATE(S)Aug 02-Aug 08 2008
RESEARCH MISSION
Human transportation of non-native species threatens biodiversity on a global scale. Unfortunately, the remote reefs of Little Cayman are not beyond the reach of invasive species.
In early January 2008, a particular species of concern, the Lionfish (Pterois volitans) has been spotted at Bloody Bay. This fish has a voracious appetite eating juvenile fish, shrimp and crabs with no natural predators in Little Cayman. Establishment of this species could have potentially negative impact on the biodiversity on the reefs.
Another species of high concern is an encrusting organism called a Mat Tunicate (Trididemum solidum). This species occurs in Little Cayman and may be increasing in numbers. It has been shown to have reduced live coral cover by 40% in other locations throughout the Caribbean.
The objectives of this project is to:
- Search the reefs of Little Cayman for the Lionfish and record baseline data and determine to what extent is may be starting to invade.
- Examine the impact of the Mat Tunicate on native coral species by using underwater photography and digital image analysis.
Oceanographer Carrie Manfrino is president and founder of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. Her Ph.D. was granted by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Marine Geology and Geophysics. She is an associate professor of oceanography and brings a lifetime of experience diving and researching both modern and ancient coral reefs. For fun, she teaches college courses in tropical ecology and conservation at the Little Cayman Research Center. Manfrino and her team of marine scientists completed the first and largest regional expedition to understand the distribution and structure of the reef communities around all three Cayman Islands. This study continues to provide a reference for current and future research.
DIVING ACTIVITIES
Each research dive will involve several activities. Specific activities may vary depending on the previous experience of divers. Divers will learn to accurately record percentages of each type of organism and will work on identification of key groups of the benthic community. Avid photographers are also welcome to help with a photographic catalog of the benthic reef community in Little Cayman.
Lionfish are not native to the Cayman Islands but have been sighted on our reefs. Lionfish have poisonous spines and prey on small reef fish. They have no natural local predators. As a result, they may become a pest and seriously disrupt local reefs.
