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A hotspot of non-native marine fishes: evidence for the aquarium trade as an invasion pathway

Year: 2004

Type: article

Abstract: MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 266:239-244 (2004) - doi:10.3354/meps266239 A hotspot of non-native marine fishes: evidence for the aquarium trade as an invasion pathway Brice X. Semmens1,*, Eric R. Buhle1, Anne K. Salomon1, Christy V. Pattengill-Semmens2 1University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Department of Biology, Box 351800, Seattle, Washington 98195-1800, USA 2Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), PO Box 246, Key Largo, Florida 33037, USA *Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT: Invasions of non-native species in marine ecosystems can be ecologically damaging and economically costly. Identifying 'hot-spots' of non-native species and their sources of introduction is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of invasion quarantine programs. We use a large spatially explicit marine fish database to show that there are a surprising number of non-native fishes on the reefs of southeast Florida, USA. Two likely sources explain the occurrence of non-native marine fishes in this region: introductions through ballast-water exchange, and introductions from aquaria. Data on international shipping patterns and marine fish imports were used to evaluate the culpability of these 2 vectors. Our results suggest that the introductions are the result of aquarium releases. Prevention of further releases and invasions will require education, outreach, and enforcement efforts directed at marine aquarists and the aquarium industry. KEY WORDS: Non-indigenous species · Aquarium trade · Reef fish · Ballast water · Marine conservation · Reef Environmental Education Foundation · Invasion control Full article in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 266. Online publication date: January 30, 2004 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2004 Inter-Research.

Source: Marine Ecology Progress Series

DOI: 10.3354/meps266239

Authors: BX Semmens, ER Buhle, AK Salomon, CV Pattengill-Semmens

Institutions: University of Washington, Reef Environmental Education Foundation

Language: English

Topic: Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2112977231