巴哈馬群島至美東新英格蘭發現外來獅子魚 | 環境資訊中心
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巴哈馬群島至美東新英格蘭發現外來獅子魚

2011年03月22日
摘譯自2011年3月15日ENS美國,佛羅里達州報導;張桂芳編譯,蔡麗伶審校

在佛羅里達海岸發現的魔鬼簑鮋,學名Pterois volitans。圖片來自:NOAA。美國地質調查局(USGS)一位海洋專家於3月15日表示,沿美國東海岸、墨西哥灣和加勒比海快速繁衍的外來獅子魚,為非原生海魚魚群在該地區得以大量生存下來首見。

任職於蓋恩斯維爾市的(Gainsville)美國地質調查局,東南生態科學中心的生物學家帕姆舒菲爾德(Pam Schofield)博士說:「這些水域過去從沒發生過這種現象。」

即便佛羅里達沿岸曾經出現過多達30多種非原生海魚,但截至目前爲止,沒有任何一個物種證明有本事存活、繁衍和魚群數量增長成功的例子。

舒菲爾德博士表示:「我們雖已目擊過不少非原生物種,但獅子魚繁衍的程度與速度,可説是前所未見。在短短三年半其蹤跡幾乎遍及整個加勒比海地區。」

獅子魚(魔鬼簑鮋),學名Pterois volitans,原生於印度西太平洋。80年代中期在美國佛羅里達州的大西洋海岸首次有其出沒的報導,但直到2000年前並沒有在該地區大量繁衍的跡象。

從那時起,整個美國東岸從佛羅里達州到麻州、東到百慕達、巴哈馬群島以南各地和其他加勒比海各國,如特克斯、凱科斯群島和古巴,都有獅子魚出沒的記載。

舒菲爾德博士表示,沒有人確實掌握當初第一批獅子魚如何來到大西洋和加勒比海。但她認為,這個例子可以作為外來物種侵入危及當地生態系統的警示。

她繼續說道:「該事件很可能是外來物種威脅沿岸生態系統平衡的預兆。」她還表示,目前還未掌握新的外來物種究竟對這個地區珊瑚礁的影響爲何。

科學家們表示,獅子魚嗜食成性天敵也不多。本身即有掠食生物的行為,爲此,舒菲爾德博士説道:「可能對其新入侵生態系統内的原生物種產生負面影響。」

她還表示,已注意到獅子魚捕食多種原生物種並與其競爭生存條件。

她也承認,徹底移除獅子魚可能性或許不大。然而,局部控制有可能讓其增長數量得以緩和,降低原生生態系統存活的壓力。

Invasive Lionfish Now Found From Bahamas to New England
GAINSVILLE, Florida, March 15, 2011 (ENS)

The rapid spread of invasive lionfish along the U.S. eastern seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean is the first documented case of a non-native marine fish establishing a self-sustaining population in the region, a U.S. Geological Survey marine expert said today.

"Nothing like this has been seen before in these waters," said Dr. Pam Schofield, a biologist with the USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center in Gainsville.

More than 30 species of non-native marine fishes have been sighted off the coast of Florida alone, but until now none of these have demonstrated the ability to survive, reproduce, and spread successfully.

"We've observed sightings of numerous non-native species, but the extent and speed with which lionfish have spread has been unprecedented," Schofield said. "Lionfishes pretty much blanketed the Caribbean in three short years."

Indo-pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans, originally came from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. They were first reported off Florida's Atlantic coast in the mid-1980s, but did not become numerous in the region until 2000.

Since then, lionfishes have been documented along the entire U.S. east coast from Florida to Massachusetts, east to Bermuda and south throughout the Bahamas and in other Caribbean nations such as Turks and Caicos and Cuba.

Schofield says no one knows exactly how the predecessors of the current population first made it into the Atlantic and Caribbean, but she believes the invasion serves as a warning of the dangers posed by the introduction of non-native fishes into an ecosystem.

"This invasion may constitute a harbinger of the emerging threat of non-native marine fishes to coastal systems," Schofield said.

Schofield says it is not yet clear exactly how the new invasive species will affect reefs in this part of the world.

Scientists say lionfish have voracious appetites and few predators. Lionfish themselves exhibit predatory behavior, which Schofield says "may negatively impact native species in the newly invaded ecosystems."

She says lionfish have been observed preying on and competing with a wide range of native species.

Eradication of lionfish is probably not possible, admits Schofield. Yet, local control efforts may be able to keep the population tamped down, releasing pressure on the native ecosystem.

全文及圖片詳見:ENS報導

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.