INVASIVE SPECIES

This section provides information about the Invasive Species project:

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. Some of the species of particular interest are as follows:

(a) Lionfish
In early January 2008, a species of particular concern, the lionfish (Pterois volitans), was spotted at Bloody Bay. This fish has a voracious appetite, eating juvenile fish, shrimp and crabs. It has no known natural predators in Little Cayman. Establishment of this species could have potentially negative impact on the biodiversity on the reefs. The objective of this part of the project is to search the reefs of Little Cayman for lionfish and record baseline data to help determine the impact these voracious predators are having on the biodiversity of our reefs.

(b) Mat Tunicate
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 objective of this aspect of the project is to examine the impact of the mat tunicate on native coral species by using underwater photography and digital image analysis.