assessment of invasiveness potential of pterois miles by the...

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17 J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment Vol. 23, No. 1: 17-37 (2017) RESEARCH ARTICLE Assessment of invasiveness potential of Pterois miles by the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit Halit Filiz * , A. Serhan Tarkan, Gökçen Bilge, Sercan Yapıcı Faculty of Fisheries, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Kötekli, Muğla, TURKEY * Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract Risk screening tools to identify species with a high or low risk of invasiveness are being increasingly used for effective management purposes. Whilst non-native freshwater fish species have been studied more widely, there is little effort for implementing the risk- screening tools for Lessepsian or invasive marine fish species in the Mediterranean. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the invasiveness risk of Pterois miles in the eastern Mediterranean using the recently-developed Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK). Calculated Basic Risk Assessment (BRA= 45.5) and Climate Change Assessment (CCA= 57.5) scores indicated a high risk of invasiveness of P. miles for the Mediterranean. The factors increasing overall AS-ISK scores were; high climate match, tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions, flexibility in utilising food resources, high fecundity, small size at maturity, high reproductive effort and high invasiveness potential elsewhere while factors decreasing scores were; no hybridization with native fish, no parental care, and no data about parasite transmission. This information is expected to allow managers and agencies that are responsible for risk assessment and management of P. miles to perform a better decision-making. Keywords: AS-ISK, Lessepsian fish, biological invasion, Mediterranean Received: 31.01.2017, Accepted: 27.02.2017 Introduction Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) naturally occurs in the Indian Ocean from South Africa to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, and east to Sumatra (Froese and Pauly 2016). P. miles is currently considered amongst the most successful marine invaders in the history of aquatic invasions (Bariche et al. 2013). In the Mediterranean Sea, a single specimen of P. miles was recorded from the Levantine coast in 1991 (Golani and Sonin 1992). In 2012, two P. miles individuals were captured separately off the village of Al Minie (34°29'26.15"N; 35°54'47.73"E) in the northern part of Lebanon (Bariche et al. 2013). Soon

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    J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment Vol. 23, No. 1: 17-37 (2017)

    RESEARCH ARTICLE

    Assessment of invasiveness potential of Pterois miles by the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit Halit Filiz*, A. Serhan Tarkan, Gökçen Bilge, Sercan Yapıcı Faculty of Fisheries, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Kötekli, Muğla, TURKEY *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract Risk screening tools to identify species with a high or low risk of invasiveness are being increasingly used for effective management purposes. Whilst non-native freshwater fish species have been studied more widely, there is little effort for implementing the risk-screening tools for Lessepsian or invasive marine fish species in the Mediterranean. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the invasiveness risk of Pterois miles in the eastern Mediterranean using the recently-developed Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK). Calculated Basic Risk Assessment (BRA= 45.5) and Climate Change Assessment (CCA= 57.5) scores indicated a high risk of invasiveness of P. miles for the Mediterranean. The factors increasing overall AS-ISK scores were; high climate match, tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions, flexibility in utilising food resources, high fecundity, small size at maturity, high reproductive effort and high invasiveness potential elsewhere while factors decreasing scores were; no hybridization with native fish, no parental care, and no data about parasite transmission. This information is expected to allow managers and agencies that are responsible for risk assessment and management of P. miles to perform a better decision-making. Keywords: AS-ISK, Lessepsian fish, biological invasion, Mediterranean Received: 31.01.2017, Accepted: 27.02.2017 Introduction Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) naturally occurs in the Indian Ocean from South Africa to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, and east to Sumatra (Froese and Pauly 2016). P. miles is currently considered amongst the most successful marine invaders in the history of aquatic invasions (Bariche et al. 2013). In the Mediterranean Sea, a single specimen of P. miles was recorded from the Levantine coast in 1991 (Golani and Sonin 1992). In 2012, two P. miles individuals were captured separately off the village of Al Minie (34°29'26.15"N; 35°54'47.73"E) in the northern part of Lebanon (Bariche et al. 2013). Soon

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    after, additional sightings were reported along the coasts of Cyprus (Iglésias and Frotté 2015; Oray et al. 2015; Kletou et al. 2016), Turkey (Turan et al. 2014; Turan and Öztürk 2015) and Rhodes (Crocetta et al. 2015) between 2014 and 2015. These records were reported indicating a westerly migration of the species towards the Aegean Sea. To confirm this, a specimen of P. miles has recently been recorded from the southern Aegean Sea (off Datça) (Bilge et al. 2016). Previously, it has been suggested two introduction ways for P. miles: (i) entered through the Suez Canal, like other hundreds of marine organisms (Zenetos et al. 2012), and (ii) released from captivity (Golani et al. 2002). Considering that P. miles is a common fish in the Red Sea and the proximity of the Suez Canal to the recent sightings, the Suez Canal seems to be the most likely pathway for the introduction of the species into the Mediterranean Sea (Bariche et al. 2013). The recent findings of P. miles may be an indication of a new wave of arrivals of the species in the Levant, raising justifiable concerns of a possible onset of a new invasion in the Mediterranean Sea (Bariche et al. 2013). Risk screening practices are part of risk assessment systems and used to estimate a potential invader colonizing into a new environment (Daehler et al. 2004). Risk screenings are based on a synthesis of information about the biological, ecological and developmental characteristics of a target organism and the bio-geographical region in which it is found or may be found (Pheloung et al. 1999). The characteristic features of the risk screening methods include question-answer format information scans, use of simple computer programs, high reliability estimates, and flexibility in usage for many different taxonomic groups (Pheloung et al. 1999; Daehler et al. 2004). Risk scanning tools have a wide range of use and application strategies. These systems can be particularly useful in distinguishing between a number of potential invasive and non-invasive alien species with a fast and efficient way (Baker et al. 2007). In addition, risk screening tools can also be very useful in recognizing shortcomings in the quality and reliability of data in the literature (Copp et al. 2009), which plays an important role in determining management and research priorities. Even in some countries, risk scans are used when the importation status of some non-native species has been decided (Pheloung et al. 1999). More commonly, risk scans make initial assessments of the species studied and then decide whether to conduct further risk analysis and management actions (Kolar and Lodge 2002; Daehler et al. 2004; Baker et al. 2007; Gordon et al. 2008). The first application of species-risk analysis was on potentially invasive freshwater fish (Copp et al. 2005) and is known by the abbreviation FISK (Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit). This tool has been replaced by a generic decision-support tool for screening all plants and animals in marine, brackish and fresh waters: The Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK: Copp et al., 2016) that has been developed to incorporate the ‘minimum requirements’ (Roy et al. 2014) for the assessment of species with regard to the recent EU Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (European Commission 2014). AS-ISK and FISK v2 have

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    been used successfully for the screening of non-native and translocated fish species in the freshwater systems (e.g. Almeida et al. 2013; Copp 2013; Simonović et al. 2013; Vilizzi and Copp 2013; Tarkan et al. 2014; 2017). However, only one attempt (Uyan et al. 2016) has been made for marine Lessepsian fish species, Nemipterus randalli, in the Mediterranean Basin. It is expected that the native/endemic fish fauna of the seas can be affected to a different extent by the introduction of non-native fish species. Clearly, there is a need to assess risks posed by non-native fishes at local scales. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the invasive potential of Lessepsian Pterois miles in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) using a tool recently developed, AS-ISK, and to evaluate the applicability of AS-ISK to a large risk assessment (RA) area for a single fish species. Notably, the outcomes of the present study are expected to assist local environmental managers and stakeholders in the implementation of suitable policies for the prevention and management of potential, existing and future undesired translocations of Lessepsian/invasive fishes in the Mediterranean Sea. Materials and Methods Before starting the risk screening, through literature reviews were carried out to obtain all available information on biogeographical and historical traits (AS-ISK Section 1) and biological and ecological characteristics (AS-ISK Section 2) of P. miles, together yielding Basic Risk Assessment (BRA) score. Peer-viewed publications were priority sources in retrieving this information, with Internet databases, dissertations and, occasionally, reports used whenever necessary to fill in gaps in the peer-reviewed literature. For Climate Change Assessment (CCA) section (AS-ISK Section 3), Demir et al. (2008) and Poursanidis (2015) that provided several likely future scenarios for the Mediterranean region were used. Notably, most scenarios in these paper predicted 0.5 and 1˚C increase of air temperature in near future (i.e. next fifty years). Likely future change in water temperature was calculated from this prediction based on the relationship between water temperature (Tw) and air temperature (Ta) as per Erickson and Stefan (1996): Tw= 3.47+0.898Ta. Using AS-ISK v1 (available at https://www.cefas.co.uk/nns/tools/), the eastern Mediterranean Sea was identified as the risk assessment (RA) area. Assessment was carried out by the first author of the study, who is knowledgeable in the Lessepsian/invasive marine fish fauna in the eastern Mediterranean. As each response in AS-ISK for a given species is allocated a confidence category (1= low; 2=medium; 3=high; 4=very high), a confidence factor (CF) was computed as:

    ∑(CQi)/(4 × 55) (i = 1, …, 55) where CQi is the certainty for question i, 4 is the maximum achievable value for certainty (i.e. ‘very certain’) and 55 is the total number of questions comprising

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    the AS-ISK tool. The CF therefore ranges from a minimum of 0.25 (i.e. all 55 questions with certainty score equal to 1) to a maximum of 1 (i.e. all 55 questions with certainty score equal to 4). Results Overall, the results of the assessment indicated that P. miles under study have a high chance to survive and establish in the eastern Mediterranean. Considering the high Basic Risk Assessment (BRA) score 45.5, P. miles should have a high risk at different levels for almost all ecoregions of the Mediterranean. Climate Change Assessments (CCA) revealed score of 57.5 meaning maximum score (12) on top of BRA score of 45.5. This suggests that risks of entry, dispersal and establishment, impact on biodiversity, ecosystem structure and socio-economic factors of P. miles in the eastern Mediterranean under predicted future climatic conditions are highly likely (Table 1).

    Table 1. AS-ISK (v1) scoring output for Pterois miles in the eastern Mediterranean Statistics Scores BRA Score 45.5 CCA Score Score partition 57.5

    A. Biogeography/Historical 19.5 1. Domestication/Cultivation 4.0 2. Climate, distribution and introduction risk 2.0 3. Invasive elsewhere 13.5 B. Biology/Ecology 26.0 4. Undesirable (or persistence) traits 9.0 5. Resource exploitation 7.0 6. Reproduction 3.0 7. Dispersal mechanisms 4.0 8. Tolerance attributes 3.0 C. Climate change 12.0 9. Climate change 12.0 Confidence factor 0.65

    The factors increasing overall AS-ISK scores were; high climate match, tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions, flexibility in utilising food resources, high fecundity, small size at maturity, high reproductive effort and high invasiveness potential elsewhere whereas factors decreasing scores were; no hybridization with native fish, no parental care, and no data about parasite transmission (Table 2). Finally, the assessor confidence in responses to questions was relatively high, with 60% of the responses ranging from ‘high’ to ‘very high’ confidence and with the most uncertain answers being related to questions regarding undesirable traits, resource exploitation and dispersal mechanism.

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    Discussion We have faced a rapid invasion of P. miles in the Mediterranean, from a single specimen in 1991 to several sightings between 2014 and 2016 (for further information see Bilge et al. 2016). This increase is similar to the pattern of invasion recorded in some other areas (e.g. Albins and Hixon 2013). P. miles first appeared in the eastern Mediterranean at about the same time that they were first reported off Florida where it spread rapidly and colonised almost all warm parts of the east coast of United States, the Gulf of Mexico and the entire Caribbean Sea (Schofield et al. 2016) whereas more than two decades passed for a second sighting to occur in the Mediterranean Sea. For P. miles in the western Atlantic, Morris (2009) reported that females mature at approximately 175 mm total length or 1 year of age and release approximately 25000 eggs per spawning event. Based on the presence of hydrated oocytes, mature females appeared capable of spawning every 3.6-4.1 days throughout the year, although the proportion of females with ovaries in spawning condition was higher in summer (June-August). The combination of its high spawning frequency (year round, ~every 4 d) and protracted pelagic larval phase (~26 d, Ahrenholz and Morris 2010), coupled with release in a region with multiple oceanographic currents has resulted in the rapid dispersal of lionfishes into the western Atlantic Ocean (Fogg et al. 2013). Quantitative analyses of reproductive characteristics for P. miles in the Mediterranean will enhance our understanding of how reproduction supports the spread and establishment of this invader. In 2008, P. miles were observed in the waters surrounding Little Cayman Island, and they were considered established there by 2009 (Schofield 2010). At this location, they have reached densities of up to 650 fish ha-1 (Frazer et al. 2012), which is far greater than the 26.3 fish ha-1 recorded in the native range (Kulbicki et al. 2012). Judging from the recent increase in P. miles in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, its few natural predators, the dispersal capabilities of their planktonic larvae and its ability to adapt to a range of habitats, we suspect that a rapid expansion throughout the Mediterranean Sea may soon be followed by significant impacts on local ecosystems and fisheries. In accordance with this, the high risk ranking of P. miles found in BRA in AS-ISK seems appropriate due to its potential for establishment, with the potential for associated adverse impacts. Additionally, given predicted climate change scenarios for the Mediterranean, potential translocation and establishment success of this species are expected to exacerbate according to climate change assessment (CCA) in AS-ISK. Indeed, in both its native and introduced ranges, P. miles thrives in warm waters, so the predicted increases in water temperature of the Mediterranean resulted in positive responses to all of questions on how future climatic conditions are likely to affect the invasiveness of P. miles in the risk assessment area (Table 1). It is known that the number of introduced Lessepsian fish species is correlated significantly and positively with the Mediterranean water temperature (r= 0.77, p< 0.05; Ben Rais Lasram et al. 2010).

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    Controversially, lionfishes (Pterois spp.) can potentially spread and survive in a large part of the Mediterranean Sea because they have shown extensive dispersal capabilities and can survive to a minimum temperature of 10°C (Kimball et al. 2004). These risks may be compensated by local mitigation factors such as predation. However, dramatic invasive success of P. miles results from a combination of factors such as early maturation and reproduction, anti-predatory venomous defences and ecological versatility, coupled with native prey and the overfishing of native predators (Côté et al. 2013). Furthermore, CO2 emissions warming the Mediterranean Sea and the construction of a deeper and wider Suez Canal are expected to increase invasion rates (Galil et al. 2015). The possibility of P. miles invasion in the Mediterranean Sea and the potential ecological and socio-economic impacts that may follow have been largely neglected by the regional scientific community, managers and other stakeholders. This information is expected to allow managers and agencies that are responsible for risk assessment and management of Lessepsian/invasive species to perform a better decision-making. In the case of P. miles, the results derived from AS-ISK suggests a more detailed (i.e. full) risk assessment is necessary (cf. NAPRA: Baker et al. 2007). Specifically, lower confidence factors observed in AS-ISK assessments on undesirable traits, resource exploitation and dispersal mechanism of the species call for the need for more detailed studies on these subjects. Although risk identification tools such as FISK and its updated version AS-ISK have been largely used for freshwater fishes so far (Copp et al. 2009; Simonović et al. 2013; Lawson et al. 2013; Almedia et al. 2013; Tarkan et al. 2014), AS-ISK can be used for all relevant aquatic non-native organisms including in the marine environment as proved in the present study. Given increasing concern regarding Lessepsian fishes in the Mediterranean, this risk identification tool may be useful for identifying which non-native and translocated species in the Mediterranean are likely to become invasive. Using this tool is strongly recommended for multiple assessments of species that are likely to be invasive (e.g. Almeida et al. 2013). Besides, single assessor assessment should be avoided for more reliable results (e.g. Tarkan et al. 2014). Finally, this tool can be applicable also for small risk assessment areas such as separate ecoregions in the Mediterranean as previously done for river or lake basins (i.e. Glamuzina et al. 2017; Tarkan et al. 2017).

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    Pterois miles’in istila potansiyelinin sucul türlerde istilacılık tarama aracı ile değerlendirilmesi Öz Etkin yönetim için, bir türün istilacılık riskinin düşük ya da yüksek olduğunu belirlemede risk tarama araçlarının kullanımı gittikçe artmaktadır. Her ne kadar yerli-olmayan tatlısu balık türleri çok geniş olarak çalışılmışsa da, Akdeniz’de risk tarama araçlarının Lesepsiyen veya istilacı deniz balığı türleri için kullanımı bulunmamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışmanın amacı doğu Akdeniz’deki Pterois miles’in istilacılık riskini son zamanlarda geliştirilmiş olan Sucul Türlerde İstilacılık Tarama Aracı (ST-ITA) kullanılarak değerlendirmektir. Hesaplanan Temel Risk Değerlendirme (TRD= 45.5) ile İklim Değişim Değerlendirme (İDD= 57.5) puanları Akdeniz için oldukça yüksek bir istilacılık riskini işaret etmiştir. Genel olarak ST-ITA puanlarını arttıran etkenler yüksek iklim benzerliği, çevre şartlarına olan yüksek tolerans, besin kaynaklarının kullanımındaki esneklik, yüksek fekondite, küçük boyda olgunluk, yüksek üreme çabası ve herhangi bir yerdeki yüksek istilacılık potansiyeli iken, puanları azaltan etkenler yerli türler ile melezleme olmaması, ailesel ilginin bulunmaması ve parazit taşınımı ile ilgili veriye rastlanmaması olarak bulunmuştur. Bu bilginin, Lesepsiyen/istilacı türlerin risk değerlendirme ve yönetiminde sorumlu olan yöneticiler ile ajanslara daha iyi bir karar vermede yardımcı olması beklenmektedir. Anahtar kelimeler: ST-ITA, Lesepsiyen balıklar, biyolojik istilalar, Akdeniz References Ahrenholz, D.W., Morris, J.A. (2010) Larval duration of the lionfish, Pterois volitans along the Bahamian Archipelago. Environ Biol Fish. 88: 305-309. Albins, M.A., Hixon, M.A. (2013) Worst case scenario: potential long-term effects of invasive predatory lionfish (Pterois volitans) on Atlantic and Caribbean coral-reef communities. Environ. Biol. Fish. 96:1151-1157. Almeida, D., Ribeiro, F., Leunda, P.A., Vilizzi, L., Copp, G.H. (2013) Effectiveness of FISK, an invasiveness screening tool for non-native freshwater fishes, to perform risk identification assessments in the Iberian Peninsula. Risk Anal 33: 1404-1413. Azzurro, E., Soto, S., Garofalo, G., Maynou, F. (2012) Fistularia commersonii in the Mediterranean Sea: invasion history and distribution modelling based on presence-only records. Biol Invasions 15: 977-990. Baker, R.H.A., Black, R., Copp, G.H., Haysom, K.A., Hulme, P.E., Thomas, M.B., Brown, A., Brown, M., Cannon, R.J.C., Ellis, J., Ellis, E., Ferris, R., Glaves, P., Gozlan, R.E., Holt, H., Howe, L., Knight, J.D., MacLeod, A., Moore, N.P., Mumford, J.D., Murphy, S.T., Parrott, D., Sansford, C.E., Smith,

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    Kletou, D., Hall-Spencer, J., Kleitou, P. (2016) A lionfish (Pterois miles) invasion has begun in the Mediterranean. Marine Biodiversity Records 9: 46. Kolar, C.S., Lodge, D.M. (2002) Ecological predictions and risk assessment for alien fishes in North America. Science 298: 1233-1236. Kulbicki, M., Beets, J., Chabanet, P., Cure, K., Farling, E. et al. (2012) Distributions of Indo-Pacific Lionfihes Pterois spp. in their native ranges: implications for the Atlantic invasion. Marine Ecology Progress Series 446: 189-205. Lawson, L.L.Jr., Hill, J.E., Hardin, S., Vilizzi, L., Copp, G.H. (2013) Revisions of the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK) for its application in warmer climatic zones, with particular reference to peninsular Florida. Risk Anal 33: 1414-1431. Lesser, M.P., Slattery, M. (2011) Phase shift to algal dominated communities at mesotrophic depths associated with lionfish (Pterois volitans) invasion on a Bahamian coral reef. Biol. Invasions 13: 1855-1868. Morris, J.A. (2009) The Biology and ecology of the Invasive IndoPacific Lionfish. Ph.D. Thesis, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 168 pp. Mumby, P.J., Harborne, A.R., and Brumbaugh, D.R. (2011) Grouper as a natural biocontrol of invasive lionfish. PLoS ONE. 6:e21510. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021510 Oray, I., Sınay, E., Saadet Karakulak, F., Yıldız, T. (2015) An expected marine alien fish caught at the coast of Northern Cyprus: Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828). J. Appl. Ichthyol. 31: 733-755. Pheloung, P.C., Williams, P.A., Halloy, S.R. (1999) A weed risk assessment model for use as a biosecurity tool evaluating plant introductions. Journal of Environmental Management 57: 239-251. Poursanidis, D. (2015) Ecological niche modeling of the the invasive lionfish Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) in the Mediterranean Sea. In: Proceeding of 11th Panhellenic Symposium on Oceanography and Fisheries, 13-17 May 2015, (eds., P. Karachle, A. Giannakourou, S. Zervoudaki, E. Bintoudi, A. Gkouvousi, C. Asimakopoulou, S. Giakoumi, I. Varkitzi, E. Kalogianni, K.-N. Papadopoulou, M. Giannoulaki, and T. Manousaki), Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Lesvos Island, Greece, 621-624 pp.

  • 28

    Ricciardi, A., Rasmussen, J.B. (1998) Predicting the identity and impact of future biological invaders: a priority for aquatic resource management. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 55: 1759–1765. Roy, H., Schonrogge, K., Dean, H. et al. (2014) Invasive Alien Species - Framework for the Identification of Invasive Alien Species of EU Concern. European Commission DG Environment, Brussels. doi: ENV.B.2/ETU/2013/0026. Ruttenberg, B.I., Schofield P.J., Akins, J.L., Acosta, A., Feeley M.W., Blondeau, J., Smith, S.G., Ault, J.S. (2012) Rapid invasion of indo-pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) in the Florida Keys, USA: evidence from multiple pre- and post-invasion data sets. Bull. Mar. Sci. 88(4): 1051-1059. Schofield, P.J. (2010) Update on geographic spread of invasive lionfishes (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758] and P. miles [Bennett, 1828]) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Aquatic Invasions 5(1): 117- 122. Schofield, P.J., Morris, Jr. J., Langston, J., and Fuller, P. (2016) Pterois volitans/miles FactSheet. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database online Gainesville, FL. (http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?species ID=963 Revision Date: 18/09/2012.) (Accessed on 03.02.2017). Simonović, P., Tošić, A., Vassilev, M., Apostolou, A., Mrdak, D., Ristovska, M., Kostov, V., Nikolic, V., Škraba, D., Vilizzi, L. et al. (2013) Risk identification of non-native freshwater fishes in four countries of the Balkans Region using FISK. Medit. Mar. Sci. 14: 369-376. Tarkan, A.S., Ekmekçi, F.G., Vilizzi, L., Copp, G.H. (2014) Risk screening of non-native freshwater fishes at the frontier between Asia and Europe: first application in Turkey of the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK). J. Appl. Ichthyol. 30: 392-398. Tarkan, A.S., Sarı, H.M., İlhan, A., Kurtul, I., Vilizzi, L. (2017) Risk screening of non-native and translocated freshwater fish species in a Mediterranean-type shallow lake: Lake Marmara (West Anatolia). Zoology in the Middle East. Doi: 10.1080/09397140.2017.1269398. Turan, C., Öztürk, B. (2015) First record of the lionfish Pterois miles from the Aegean Sea. J. Black Sea/Mediterr Environ. 21: 334-338. Turan, C., Ergüden, D., Gürlek, M., Yağlıoğlu, D., Uyan, A., Uygur, N. (2014) First record of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828)

  • 29

    (Osteichthyes: Scorpaenidae) for the Turkish marine waters. J. Black Sea/Mediterr. Environ. 20: 158-163. Uyan, U., Filiz, H., Top, N., Tarkan, A.S. (2016) Assessment of invasiveness potential of Nemipterus randalli in Mediterranean Sea by Aaquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK). In: Proceedings of Workshop on Risk Assessment Tools in Aquatic Species, 28-29 Apr. 2016 (eds. A.S. Tarkan, F.G. Ekmekçi, P. Göç Rasgele), Ankara, Turkey. 63 pp. Vilizzi, L., Copp, G.H. (2013) Application of FISK, an invasiveness screening tool for non-native freshwater fishes, in the Murray-Darling Basin (south-eastern Australia). Risk Analysis 33: 1432-1440. Zenetos, A., Ballesteros, E., Verlaque, M. (2012) Alien species in the Mediterranean Sea by 2012. A contribution to the application of European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Part 2. Introduction trends and pathways. Medit. Mar. Sci. 13: 328-352.

  • 30

    Tabl

    e 2.

    AS-

    ISK

    (v1)

    out

    put r

    epor

    t for

    the

    Pter

    ois m

    iles a

    sses

    sed

    for t

    he e

    aste

    rn M

    edite

    rran

    ean.

    Q

    uest

    ion

    Res

    pons

    e Ju

    stifi

    catio

    n C

    onfid

    ence

    A. B

    ioge

    ogra

    phy/

    His

    tori

    cal

    1.

    Dom

    estic

    atio

    n/C

    ultiv

    atio

    n

    1 1.

    01

    Has

    the

    taxo

    n be

    en th

    e su

    bjec

    t of d

    omes

    ticat

    ion

    (or

    culti

    vatio

    n) fo

    r at l

    east

    20

    gene

    ratio

    ns?

    Y

    They

    are

    thou

    ght t

    o ha

    ve b

    een

    intro

    duce

    d to

    the

    wes

    tern

    Atla

    ntic

    in th

    e m

    id

    1990

    ’s (R

    utte

    nber

    g et

    al.

    2012

    ). 2

    2 1.

    02

    Is th

    e ta

    xon

    harv

    este

    d in

    the

    wild

    and

    like

    ly to

    be

    sold

    or

    use

    d in

    its

    live

    form

    ? Y

    Fi

    shBa

    se re

    ports

    that

    it is

    usu

    ally

    use

    d as

    com

    mer

    cial

    ly in

    the

    aqua

    rium

    3

    3 1.

    03

    Doe

    s the

    taxo

    n ha

    ve in

    vasi

    ve ra

    ces,

    varie

    ties,

    sub-

    taxa

    or c

    onge

    ners

    ? Y

    Few

    wor

    ldw

    ide

    fish

    inva

    sion

    s of s

    imila

    r mag

    nitu

    de a

    re d

    ocum

    ente

    d; th

    e in

    trodu

    ctio

    n of

    the

    red

    lionf

    ish

    Pter

    ois v

    olita

    ns a

    nd th

    e de

    vil f

    irefis

    h P.

    mile

    s in

    the

    wes

    tern

    Atla

    ntic

    is o

    ne o

    f the

    fast

    est a

    nd m

    ost e

    colo

    gica

    lly h

    arm

    ful m

    arin

    e fis

    h in

    trodu

    ctio

    ns to

    dat

    e (A

    lbin

    s and

    Hix

    on 2

    013)

    .

    4

    2. C

    limat

    e, d

    istr

    ibut

    ion

    and

    intr

    oduc

    tion

    risk

    4 2.

    01

    How

    sim

    ilar a

    re th

    e cl

    imat

    ic c

    ondi

    tions

    of t

    he R

    A

    area

    and

    the

    taxo

    n's n

    ativ

    e ra

    nge?

    2

    Lion

    fishe

    s can

    pot

    entia

    lly sp

    read

    and

    surv

    ive

    in a

    larg

    e pa

    rt of

    the

    Med

    iterr

    anea

    n Se

    a be

    caus

    e th

    ey h

    ave

    show

    n ex

    tens

    ive

    disp

    ersa

    l cap

    abili

    ties a

    nd c

    an su

    rviv

    e to

    a

    min

    imum

    tem

    pera

    ture

    of 1

    0°C

    (Kim

    ball

    et a

    l. 20

    04).

    3

    5 2.

    02

    Wha

    t is t

    he q

    ualit

    y of

    the

    clim

    ate

    mat

    chin

    g da

    ta?

    2 N

    ew m

    odel

    ling

    appr

    oach

    es a

    re n

    eede

    d (H

    all-S

    penc

    er a

    nd A

    llen

    2015

    ). 2

    6 2.

    03

    Is th

    e ta

    xon

    alre

    ady

    pres

    ent o

    utsi

    de o

    f cap

    tivity

    in th

    e R

    A a

    rea?

    Y

    Th

    e ta

    xon

    is al

    read

    y in

    the

    risk

    asse

    ssm

    ent a

    rea.

    3

    7 2.

    04

    How

    man

    y po

    tent

    ial p

    athw

    ays c

    ould

    the

    taxo

    n us

    e to

    en

    ter i

    n th

    e R

    A a

    rea?

    >1

    It

    has b

    een

    sugg

    este

    d th

    at th

    is sp

    ecim

    en e

    nter

    ed th

    roug

    h th

    e Su

    ez C

    anal

    (Zen

    etos

    et

    al.

    2012

    ; Bar

    iche

    et a

    l. 20

    13),

    or re

    leas

    ed fr

    om c

    aptiv

    ity (G

    olan

    i et a

    l. 20

    02).

    3

    8 2.

    05

    Is th

    e ta

    xon

    curr

    ently

    foun

    d in

    clo

    se p

    roxi

    mity

    to, a

    nd

    likel

    y to

    ent

    er in

    to, t

    he R

    A a

    rea

    in th

    e ne

    ar fu

    ture

    (e

    .g. u

    nint

    entio

    nal a

    nd in

    tent

    iona

    l int

    rodu

    ctio

    ns)?

    Y

    Th

    e ta

    xon

    is al

    read

    y in

    the

    risk

    asse

    ssm

    ent a

    rea.

    4

    3. In

    vasi

    ve e

    lsew

    here

    9 3.

    01

    Has

    the

    taxo

    n be

    com

    e na

    tura

    lised

    (est

    ablis

    hed

    viab

    le

    popu

    latio

    ns) o

    utsi

    de it

    s nat

    ive

    rang

    e?

    Y

    Info

    rmat

    ion

    from

    Gol

    ani a

    nd S

    onin

    (199

    2), B

    aric

    he e

    t al.

    (201

    3), T

    uran

    et a

    l. (2

    014)

    , Cro

    cetta

    et a

    l. (2

    015)

    , Igl

    ésia

    s and

    Fro

    tté (2

    015)

    , Ora

    y et

    al.

    (201

    5),

    Tura

    n an

    d Ö

    ztür

    k (2

    015)

    , Kle

    teu

    et a

    l. (2

    016)

    , and

    Bilg

    e et

    al.

    (201

    6).

    4

    10

    3.02

    In

    the

    taxo

    n's

    intro

    duce

    d ra

    nge,

    are

    ther

    e kn

    own

    adve

    rse

    impa

    cts t

    o w

    ild st

    ocks

    or c

    omm

    erci

    al ta

    xa?

    Y

    Acc

    ordi

    ng to

    Gar

    dner

    et a

    l. (2

    015)

    , in

    the

    Car

    ibbe

    an a

    nd w

    este

    rn A

    tlant

    ic, t

    he

    spre

    ad o

    f lio

    nfis

    h ex

    acer

    bate

    s con

    cern

    for t

    he h

    ealth

    of c

    oral

    reef

    s alre

    ady

    thre

    aten

    ed b

    y ot

    her s

    tress

    es. F

    or e

    xam

    ple,

    man

    ipul

    ativ

    e fie

    ld st

    udie

    s in

    the

    Baha

    mas

    hav

    e sh

    own

    that

    lion

    fish

    can

    redu

    ce re

    crui

    tmen

    t of n

    ativ

    e re

    ef fi

    sh b

    y up

    to 7

    9%, w

    ith p

    reda

    tion

    bein

    g th

    e lik

    ely

    mec

    hani

    sm

    Afte

    r lio

    nfis

    h in

    vade

    d a

    mes

    opho

    tic re

    ef, L

    esse

    r and

    Sla

    ttery

    (201

    1) re

    porte

    d a

    shift

    from

    cor

    al a

    nd sp

    onge

    com

    mun

    ities

    to a

    lgal

    dom

    inat

    ed c

    omm

    uniti

    es.

    Few

    wor

    ldw

    ide

    fish

    inva

    sion

    s of s

    imila

    r mag

    nitu

    de a

    re d

    ocum

    ente

    d; th

    e in

    trodu

    ctio

    n of

    the

    red

    lionf

    ish

    Pter

    ois v

    olita

    ns a

    nd th

    e de

    vil f

    irefis

    h P.

    mile

    s in

    the

    wes

    tern

    Atla

    ntic

    is o

    ne o

    f the

    fast

    est a

    nd m

    ost e

    colo

    gica

    lly h

    arm

    ful m

    arin

    e

    4

  • 31

    Que

    stio

    n R

    espo

    nse

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    Con

    fiden

    ce

    fish

    intro

    duct

    ions

    to d

    ate

    (Alb

    ins a

    nd H

    ixon

    201

    3).

    11

    3.03

    In

    the

    taxo

    n's

    intro

    duce

    d ra

    nge,

    are

    ther

    e kn

    own

    adve

    rse

    impa

    cts t

    o aq

    uacu

    lture

    ? Y

    It

    may

    be

    a ne

    gativ

    e ef

    fect

    on

    natu

    ral f

    ish

    spec

    ies

    usin

    g as

    feed

    raw

    mat

    eria

    l in

    aqua

    cultu

    re

    1

    12

    3.04

    In

    the

    taxo

    n's

    intro

    duce

    d ra

    nge,

    are

    ther

    e kn

    own

    adve

    rse

    impa

    cts t

    o ec

    osys

    tem

    serv

    ices

    ?

    Y

    Acc

    ordi

    ng to

    Gar

    dner

    et a

    l. (2

    015)

    , in

    the

    Car

    ibbe

    an a

    nd w

    este

    rn A

    tlant

    ic, t

    he

    spre

    ad o

    f lio

    nfis

    h ex

    acer

    bate

    s con

    cern

    for t

    he h

    ealth

    of c

    oral

    reef

    s alre

    ady

    thre

    aten

    ed b

    y ot

    her s

    tress

    es. A

    fter l

    ionf

    ish

    inva

    ded

    a m

    esop

    hotic

    reef

    , Les

    ser a

    nd

    Slat

    tery

    (201

    1) re

    porte

    d a

    shift

    from

    cor

    al a

    nd sp

    onge

    com

    mun

    ities

    to a

    lgal

    do

    min

    ated

    com

    mun

    ities

    . Inc

    reas

    ed p

    reda

    tion

    on h

    erbi

    voro

    us fi

    sh w

    as im

    plic

    ated

    as

    the

    caus

    e of

    the

    shift

    bec

    ause

    it w

    as n

    ot a

    ssoc

    iate

    d w

    ith b

    leac

    hing

    , fis

    hing

    , st

    orm

    s and

    dise

    ase

    (Les

    ser a

    nd S

    latte

    ry, 2

    011)

    .

    3

    13

    3.05

    In

    the

    taxo

    n's

    intro

    duce

    d ra

    nge,

    are

    ther

    e kn

    own

    adve

    rse

    soci

    o-ec

    onom

    ic im

    pact

    s?

    Y

    Econ

    omic

    ally

    , the

    app

    eara

    nce

    of th

    e lio

    nfis

    h ca

    n ca

    use

    a se

    rious

    impa

    ct o

    n th

    e lo

    cal’s

    eco

    nom

    y. It

    s pre

    senc

    e in

    oth

    er a

    reas

    has

    resu

    lted

    in a

    redu

    ctio

    n on

    the

    num

    ber o

    f gro

    uper

    s and

    oth

    er c

    omm

    erci

    al s

    peci

    es, a

    ffect

    ing

    the

    econ

    omie

    s of t

    he

    coas

    tal f

    ishi

    ng. T

    he li

    onfis

    h ca

    n al

    so h

    ave

    an im

    pact

    on

    artis

    anal

    fish

    erie

    s and

    the

    naut

    ical

    or d

    ivin

    g to

    uris

    m a

    s it i

    s hi

    ghly

    toxi

    c an

    d its

    pre

    senc

    e co

    uld

    inhi

    bit

    tour

    ists a

    nd d

    iver

    s alik

    e. T

    he li

    onfis

    h st

    ing

    shou

    ld b

    e tre

    ated

    as s

    oon

    as p

    ossib

    le

    as it

    can

    cau

    se a

    llerg

    ic re

    actio

    ns. O

    n th

    e ot

    her h

    and,

    som

    e no

    n-M

    edite

    rrane

    an

    coun

    tries

    hav

    e be

    gun

    to c

    omm

    erci

    aliz

    e th

    is fis

    h as

    edi

    ble

    com

    mer

    cial

    spec

    ies,

    whi

    ch c

    ould

    be

    an a

    ltern

    ativ

    e w

    ay, a

    mon

    g ot

    her m

    easu

    res,

    to b

    ette

    r con

    trol t

    he

    popu

    latio

    ns (h

    ttps:

    //ww

    w.iu

    cn.o

    rg/n

    ews/

    new

    -lion

    fish-

    sigh

    tings

    -turk

    ey-a

    nd-

    cypr

    us-m

    arin

    e-pr

    otec

    ted-

    area

    s). A

    ccor

    ding

    to K

    lete

    u et

    al.

    (201

    6), t

    he p

    ossi

    bilit

    y of

    a li

    onfis

    h in

    vasi

    on in

    the

    Med

    iterr

    anea

    n Se

    a an

    d th

    e po

    tent

    ial e

    colo

    gica

    l and

    so

    cio-

    econ

    omic

    impa

    cts.

    4

    B. B

    iolo

    gy/E

    colo

    gy

    4.

    Und

    esir

    able

    (or p

    ersi

    sten

    ce) t

    raits

    14

    4.01

    Is

    it li

    kely

    that

    the

    taxo

    n w

    ill b

    e po

    isono

    us, o

    r pos

    e ot

    her r

    isks t

    o hu

    man

    hea

    lth?

    Y

    The

    dors

    al- a

    nd a

    nal-f

    in sp

    ines

    of t

    he li

    onfis

    h co

    ntai

    n a

    pote

    nt v

    enom

    that

    can

    ad

    min

    iste

    r a p

    ainf

    ul st

    ing.

    Lio

    nfis

    h ve

    nom

    has

    bee

    n fo

    und

    to c

    ause

    ca

    rdio

    vasc

    ular

    , neu

    rom

    uscu

    lar,

    and

    cyto

    lytic

    effe

    cts r

    angi

    ng fr

    om m

    ild re

    actio

    ns

    such

    as s

    wel

    ling

    to e

    xtre

    me

    pain

    and

    par

    alys

    is in

    upp

    er a

    nd lo

    wer

    ext

    rem

    ities

    (K

    izer

    et a

    l. 19

    85).

    4

    15

    4.02

    Is

    it li

    kely

    that

    the

    taxo

    n w

    ill s

    mot

    her o

    ne o

    r mor

    e na

    tive

    taxa

    (tha

    t are

    not

    thre

    aten

    ed o

    r pro

    tect

    ed)?

    Y

    In w

    este

    rn A

    tlant

    ic, l

    ionf

    ish

    are

    mor

    e ab

    unda

    nt th

    an in

    thei

    r nat

    ive

    regi

    on a

    nd

    have

    bec

    ome

    the

    dom

    inan

    t pre

    dato

    r on

    cora

    l ree

    fs w

    ith a

    gre

    at im

    pact

    on

    nativ

    e re

    ef fi

    shes

    , dec

    reas

    ing

    the

    abun

    danc

    e of

    >40

    pre

    y sp

    ecie

    s by

    65%

    on

    aver

    age,

    in

    just

    2 y

    ears

    (Gre

    en e

    t al.

    2012

    ).

    3

    16

    4.03

    A

    re th

    ere

    thre

    aten

    ed o

    r pro

    tect

    ed ta

    xa th

    at th

    e no

    n-na

    tive

    taxo

    n w

    ould

    par

    asiti

    se in

    the

    RA

    are

    a?

    N

    No

    data

    3

  • 32

    Que

    stio

    n R

    espo

    nse

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    Con

    fiden

    ce

    17

    4.04

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n ad

    apta

    ble

    in te

    rms o

    f clim

    atic

    and

    oth

    er

    envi

    ronm

    enta

    l con

    ditio

    ns, t

    hus e

    nhan

    cing

    its p

    oten

    tial

    pers

    isten

    ce if

    it h

    as in

    vade

    d or

    cou

    ld in

    vade

    the

    RA

    ar

    ea?

    Y

    For t

    he M

    edite

    rran

    ean

    no d

    ata

    is av

    aila

    ble.

    But

    , the

    com

    bina

    tion

    of th

    eir h

    igh

    spaw

    ning

    freq

    uenc

    y (y

    ear r

    ound

    , ~ev

    ery

    4 d,

    Mor

    ris 2

    009)

    and

    pro

    tract

    ed p

    elag

    ic

    larv

    al p

    hase

    (~26

    d, A

    hren

    holz

    and

    Mor

    ris 2

    010)

    , cou

    pled

    with

    rele

    ase

    in a

    re

    gion

    with

    mul

    tiple

    oce

    anog

    raph

    ic c

    urre

    nts (

    e.g.

    , Gul

    f Stre

    am, C

    arib

    bean

    C

    urre

    nt, Y

    ucat

    an C

    urre

    nt a

    nd L

    oop

    Cur

    rent

    ) has

    resu

    lted

    in th

    e ra

    pid

    disp

    ersa

    l of

    lionf

    ishe

    s in

    to th

    e w

    este

    rn A

    tlant

    ic O

    cean

    , inc

    ludi

    ng th

    e C

    arib

    bean

    Sea

    and

    Gul

    f of

    Mex

    ico

    (Kle

    tou

    et a

    l. 20

    16, a

    nd re

    fere

    nce

    ther

    ein)

    . The

    rece

    nt fi

    ndin

    gs o

    f Li

    onfis

    h m

    ay b

    e an

    indi

    catio

    n of

    a n

    ew w

    ave

    of a

    rriv

    als o

    f P. m

    iles i

    n th

    e Le

    vant

    , ra

    ising

    just

    ifiab

    le c

    once

    rns o

    f a p

    ossib

    le o

    nset

    of a

    new

    inva

    sion

    in th

    e M

    edite

    rrane

    an S

    ea (B

    aric

    he e

    t al.

    2013

    ). Li

    onfis

    hes c

    an p

    oten

    tially

    spre

    ad a

    nd

    surv

    ive

    in a

    larg

    e pa

    rt of

    the

    Med

    iterra

    nean

    Sea

    bec

    ause

    they

    hav

    e sh

    own

    exte

    nsiv

    e di

    sper

    sal c

    apab

    ilitie

    s and

    can

    surv

    ive

    to a

    min

    imum

    tem

    pera

    ture

    of

    10°C

    (Kim

    ball

    et a

    l. 20

    04).

    3

    18

    4.05

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to d

    isrup

    t foo

    d-w

    eb

    stru

    ctur

    e/fu

    nctio

    n in

    aqu

    atic

    eco

    syst

    ems

    it ha

    s or i

    s lik

    ely

    to in

    vade

    in th

    e R

    A a

    rea?

    Y

    3

    19

    4.06

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to e

    xert

    adve

    rse

    impa

    cts o

    n ec

    osys

    tem

    serv

    ices

    in th

    e R

    A a

    rea?

    Y

    For t

    he M

    edite

    rran

    ean

    no d

    ata.

    But

    , in

    2008

    , lio

    nfis

    h w

    ere

    obse

    rved

    in th

    e w

    ater

    s su

    rrou

    ndin

    g Li

    ttle

    Cay

    man

    Isla

    nd, a

    nd th

    ey w

    ere

    cons

    ider

    ed e

    stab

    lishe

    d th

    ere

    by

    2009

    (Sch

    ofie

    ld 2

    010)

    . At t

    his

    loca

    tion,

    they

    hav

    e re

    ache

    d de

    nsiti

    es o

    f up

    to 6

    50

    fish

    ha-1

    (Fra

    zer e

    t al.

    2012

    ), w

    hich

    is fa

    r gre

    ater

    than

    the

    26.3

    fish

    ha-1

    reco

    rded

    in

    the

    nativ

    e ra

    nge

    (Kul

    bick

    i et a

    l. 20

    12).

    3

    20

    4.07

    Is

    it li

    kely

    that

    the

    taxo

    n w

    ill h

    ost,

    and/

    or a

    ct a

    s a

    vect

    or fo

    r, re

    cogn

    ised

    pest

    s and

    infe

    ctio

    us a

    gent

    s tha

    t ar

    e en

    dem

    ic in

    the

    RA

    are

    a?

    N

    Ther

    e ar

    e no

    kno

    wn

    OIE

    -rep

    orta

    ble

    dise

    ases

    for t

    his s

    peci

    es

    (http

    s://w

    ww

    .fws.g

    ov/fi

    sher

    ies/

    ans/

    erss

    /hig

    hrisk

    /Pte

    rois-

    mile

    s-W

    EB-7

    -28-

    2014

    .pdf

    ) 1

    21

    4.08

    Is

    it li

    kely

    that

    the

    taxo

    n w

    ill h

    ost,

    and/

    or a

    ct a

    s a

    vect

    or fo

    r, re

    cogn

    ised

    pest

    s and

    infe

    ctio

    us a

    gent

    s tha

    t ar

    e ab

    sent

    from

    (nov

    el to

    ) the

    RA

    are

    a?

    N

    Ther

    e ar

    e no

    kno

    wn

    OIE

    -rep

    orta

    ble

    dise

    ases

    for t

    his s

    peci

    es

    (http

    s://w

    ww

    .fws.g

    ov/fi

    sher

    ies/

    ans/

    erss

    /hig

    hrisk

    /Pte

    rois-

    mile

    s-W

    EB-7

    -28-

    2014

    .pdf

    ) 1

    22

    4.09

    Is

    it li

    kely

    that

    the

    taxo

    n w

    ill a

    chie

    ve a

    bod

    y si

    ze th

    at

    will

    mak

    e it

    mor

    e lik

    ely

    to b

    e re

    leas

    ed fr

    om c

    aptiv

    ity?

    Y

    Yes

    , it m

    ay b

    e re

    ach

    a 35

    .0 c

    m S

    L (F

    roes

    e an

    d Pa

    uly

    2016

    ) 2

    23

    4.10

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n ca

    pabl

    e of

    sus

    tain

    ing

    itsel

    f in

    a ra

    nge

    of

    wat

    er v

    eloc

    ity c

    ondi

    tions

    (e.g

    . ver

    satil

    e in

    hab

    itat

    use)

    ? Y

    A

    ccor

    ding

    to K

    lete

    u et

    al.

    (201

    6) in

    the

    wes

    tern

    Atla

    ntic

    , lio

    nfis

    h ha

    ve b

    een

    foun

    d in

    a w

    ide

    varie

    ty o

    f hab

    itats

    incl

    udin

    g ha

    rd b

    otto

    m a

    nd p

    atch

    y re

    efs,

    seag

    rass

    bed

    s and

    wre

    cks.

    3

    24

    4.11

    Is

    it li

    kely

    that

    the

    taxo

    n's m

    ode

    of e

    xist

    ence

    (e.g

    . ex

    cret

    ion

    of b

    y-pr

    oduc

    ts) o

    r beh

    avio

    urs (

    e.g.

    feed

    ing)

    w

    ill re

    duce

    hab

    itat q

    ualit

    y fo

    r nat

    ive

    taxa

    ? Y

    The

    lionf

    ish

    are

    gene

    ralis

    t car

    nivo

    res a

    nd c

    an fe

    ed o

    n a

    larg

    e va

    riety

    of f

    ish

    and

    crus

    tace

    ans a

    lthou

    gh la

    rge

    indi

    vidu

    als p

    rey

    alm

    ost e

    xclu

    sive

    ly o

    n fis

    h (C

    ôté

    et a

    l. 20

    13).

    2

    25

    4.12

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to m

    aint

    ain

    a vi

    able

    pop

    ulat

    ion

    N

    No

    data

    1

  • 33

    Que

    stio

    n R

    espo

    nse

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    Con

    fiden

    ce

    even

    whe

    n pr

    esen

    t in

    low

    den

    sitie

    s (or

    per

    sistin

    g in

    ad

    vers

    e co

    nditi

    ons b

    y w

    ay o

    f a d

    orm

    ant f

    orm

    )?

    5. R

    esou

    rce

    expl

    oita

    tion

    26

    5.

    01

    Is th

    e ta

    xon

    likel

    y to

    con

    sum

    e th

    reat

    ened

    or p

    rote

    cted

    na

    tive

    taxa

    in R

    A a

    rea?

    Y

    No

    stud

    y in

    the

    Med

    iterr

    anea

    n re

    gion

    but

    out

    side

    of t

    he re

    gion

    : acc

    ordi

    ng to

    Sc

    hofie

    ld e

    t al.

    (201

    6): “

    Res

    earc

    h on

    sm

    all p

    atch

    reef

    s in

    the

    Baha

    mas

    pro

    vide

    d th

    e fir

    st e

    vide

    nce

    of n

    egat

    ive

    effe

    cts o

    f lio

    nfis

    h on

    nat

    ive

    Atla

    ntic

    cor

    al-re

    ef

    fishe

    s. Th

    e re

    crui

    tmen

    t of c

    oral

    -ree

    f fis

    hes w

    as st

    udie

    d du

    ring

    the

    2007

    re

    crui

    tmen

    t per

    iod

    (Jul

    y-A

    ugus

    t) on

    sm

    all p

    atch

    reef

    s in

    the

    Baha

    mas

    with

    and

    w

    ithou

    t lio

    nfis

    h. O

    ver t

    he fi

    ve w

    eek

    perio

    d, n

    et re

    crui

    tmen

    t (i.e

    ., ac

    cum

    ulat

    ion

    of

    new

    juve

    nile

    fish

    es v

    ia se

    ttlem

    ent o

    f lar

    vae)

    was

    redu

    ced

    by 7

    9% o

    n re

    efs w

    ith a

    si

    ngle

    lion

    fish

    com

    pare

    d to

    reef

    s with

    no

    lionf

    ish.

    Sto

    mac

    h co

    nten

    t ana

    lyse

    s and

    ob

    serv

    atio

    ns o

    f fee

    ding

    beh

    avio

    r sho

    wed

    that

    redu

    ctio

    ns in

    nat

    ive

    fish

    dens

    ity

    wer

    e al

    mos

    t cer

    tain

    ly d

    ue to

    pre

    datio

    n by

    lion

    fish.

    Pre

    y ite

    ms

    foun

    d in

    lion

    fish

    stom

    achs

    incl

    uded

    the

    fairy

    bas

    slet G

    ram

    ma

    lore

    to, b

    ridle

    d ca

    rdin

    alfis

    h Ap

    ogon

    au

    rolin

    eatu

    s, w

    hite

    gru

    nt H

    aem

    ulon

    plu

    mie

    rii,

    bico

    lor d

    amse

    lfish

    Ste

    gast

    es

    perti

    tus,

    seve

    ral w

    rass

    es H

    alic

    hoer

    es b

    ivitt

    atus

    , H. g

    arno

    ti an

    d Th

    alas

    oma

    bifa

    scia

    tum

    , stri

    ped

    parr

    otfis

    h Sc

    arus

    iser

    ti, a

    nd d

    usky

    ble

    nny

    Mal

    acoc

    tenu

    s gill

    i. In

    itial

    exa

    min

    atio

    n of

    cru

    stac

    ean

    prey

    sug

    gest

    s tha

    t lio

    nfis

    h m

    ay a

    lso e

    at th

    e ju

    veni

    le sp

    iny

    lobs

    ter P

    anul

    irus

    arg

    us. T

    he re

    duct

    ion

    in re

    crui

    tmen

    t of c

    oral

    -ree

    f fis

    hes s

    ugge

    sts t

    hat l

    ionf

    ish

    may

    also

    com

    pete

    with

    nat

    ive

    pisc

    ivor

    es b

    y m

    onop

    oliz

    ing

    this

    impo

    rtant

    food

    reso

    urce

    . In

    addi

    tion,

    lion

    fish

    have

    the

    pote

    ntia

    l to

    decr

    ease

    the

    abun

    danc

    e of

    eco

    logi

    cally

    impo

    rtant

    spec

    ies s

    uch

    as

    parro

    tfish

    and

    oth

    er h

    erbi

    voro

    us fi

    shes

    that

    kee

    p se

    awee

    ds a

    nd m

    acro

    alga

    e fro

    m

    over

    grow

    ing

    cora

    ls.”

    1

    27

    5.02

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to se

    ques

    ter f

    ood

    reso

    urce

    s (in

    clud

    ing

    nutri

    ents

    ) to

    the

    detri

    men

    t of n

    ativ

    e ta

    xa in

    th

    e R

    A a

    rea?

    Y

    N

    o da

    ta

    2

    6. R

    epro

    duct

    ion

    28

    6.

    01

    Is th

    e ta

    xon

    likel

    y to

    exh

    ibit

    pare

    ntal

    car

    e an

    d/or

    to

    redu

    ce a

    ge-a

    t-mat

    urity

    in re

    spon

    se to

    env

    ironm

    enta

    l co

    nditi

    ons?

    Y

    G

    ood

    adap

    tabi

    lity

    in a

    sho

    rt tim

    e 2

    29

    6.02

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to p

    rodu

    ce v

    iabl

    e ga

    met

    es o

    r pr

    opag

    ules

    (in

    the

    RA

    are

    a)?

    Y

    Spre

    adin

    g in

    a sh

    ort t

    ime

    3

    30

    6.03

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to h

    ybrid

    ize

    natu

    rally

    with

    nat

    ive

    taxa

    ? N

    N

    o da

    ta

    1

    31

    6.04

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to b

    e he

    rmap

    hrod

    itic

    or to

    disp

    lay

    asex

    ual r

    epro

    duct

    ion?

    N

    P.

    mile

    s is

    gono

    chor

    istic

    ; mal

    es a

    nd fe

    mal

    es e

    xhib

    it m

    inor

    sexu

    al d

    imor

    phis

    m

    only

    dur

    ing

    repr

    oduc

    tion

    (Fis

    helso

    n 19

    75).

    3

  • 34

    Que

    stio

    n R

    espo

    nse

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    Con

    fiden

    ce

    32

    6.05

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n de

    pend

    ent o

    n th

    e pr

    esen

    ce o

    f ano

    ther

    ta

    xon

    (or s

    peci

    fic h

    abita

    t fea

    ture

    s) to

    com

    plet

    e its

    life

    cy

    cle?

    N

    N

    o ev

    iden

    ce

    3

    33

    6.06

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n kn

    own

    (or l

    ikel

    y) to

    pro

    duce

    a la

    rge

    num

    ber o

    f pro

    pagu

    les o

    r offs

    prin

    g w

    ithin

    a sh

    ort t

    ime

    span

    (e.g

    . <1

    year

    )?

    Y

    P. m

    iles

    from

    the

    wes

    tern

    Atla

    ntic

    : Mor

    ris (2

    009)

    repo

    rted

    that

    fem

    ales

    mat

    ured

    at

    app

    roxi

    mat

    ely

    175

    mm

    tota

    l len

    gth

    or 1

    yea

    r of a

    ge a

    nd re

    leas

    ed a

    ppro

    xim

    atel

    y 25

    000

    eggs

    per

    spaw

    ning

    eve

    nt. B

    ased

    on

    the

    pres

    ence

    of h

    ydra

    ted

    oocy

    tes,

    mat

    ure

    fem

    ales

    app

    eare

    d ca

    pabl

    e of

    spaw

    ning

    eve

    ry 3

    .6–4

    .1 d

    ays t

    hrou

    ghou

    t the

    ye

    ar, a

    lthou

    gh th

    e pr

    opor

    tion

    of fe

    mal

    es w

    ith o

    varie

    s in

    spaw

    ning

    con

    ditio

    n w

    as

    high

    er in

    sum

    mer

    (Jun

    e–A

    ugus

    t).

    3

    34

    6.07

    H

    ow m

    any

    time

    units

    (day

    s, m

    onth

    s, ye

    ars)

    doe

    s the

    ta

    xon

    requ

    ire to

    reac

    h th

    e ag

    e-at

    -firs

    t-rep

    rodu

    ctio

    n?

    [In

    the

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    field

    , ind

    icat

    e th

    e re

    leva

    nt ti

    me

    unit

    bein

    g us

    ed.]

    1 P.

    mile

    s fro

    m th

    e w

    este

    rn A

    tlant

    ic: M

    orris

    (200

    9) re

    porte

    d th

    at fe

    mal

    es m

    atur

    ed

    at a

    ppro

    xim

    atel

    y 17

    5 m

    m to

    tal l

    engt

    h or

    1 y

    ear o

    f age

    4

    7. D

    ispe

    rsal

    mec

    hani

    sms

    35

    7.

    01

    How

    man

    y po

    tent

    ial i

    nter

    nal p

    athw

    ays c

    ould

    the

    taxo

    n us

    e to

    disp

    erse

    with

    in th

    e R

    A a

    rea

    (with

    su

    itabl

    e ha

    bita

    ts n

    earb

    y)?

    1 M

    edite

    rrane

    an’s

    cur

    rent

    syst

    em c

    an b

    e us

    ed. S

    imila

    rly, i

    t is r

    epor

    ted

    that

    thei

    r eg

    gs a

    re p

    lank

    toni

    c an

    d ca

    n rid

    e th

    e cu

    rren

    ts a

    nd c

    over

    larg

    e di

    stan

    ces f

    or a

    bout

    a

    mon

    th b

    efor

    e th

    ey se

    ttle

    in th

    e A

    tlant

    ic (A

    hren

    holz

    and

    Mor

    ris 2

    010)

    . 3

    36

    7.02

    W

    ill a

    ny o

    f the

    se p

    athw

    ays b

    ring

    the

    taxo

    n in

    clo

    se

    prox

    imity

    to o

    ne o

    r mor

    e pr

    otec

    ted

    area

    s (e.

    g. M

    CZ,

    M

    PA, S

    SSI)

    ? Y

    The

    Mar

    ine

    Prot

    ecte

    d A

    reas

    of K

    as-K

    ekov

    a (T

    urke

    y) a

    nd C

    ape

    Gre

    co (C

    ypru

    s)

    have

    bee

    n th

    e lo

    catio

    ns w

    here

    sigh

    tings

    hav

    e ta

    ken

    plac

    e fo

    r the

    lion

    fish

    (http

    s://w

    ww

    .iucn

    .org

    /new

    s/ne

    w-li

    onfis

    h-si

    ghtin

    gs-tu

    rkey

    -and

    -cyp

    rus-

    mar

    ine-

    prot

    ecte

    d-ar

    eas)

    .

    4

    37

    7.03

    D

    oes t

    he ta

    xon

    have

    a m

    eans

    of a

    ctiv

    ely

    atta

    chin

    g its

    elf t

    o ha

    rd su

    bstra

    ta (e

    .g. s

    hip

    hulls

    , pili

    ngs,

    buoy

    s)

    such

    that

    it e

    nhan

    ces t

    he li

    kelih

    ood

    of d

    isper

    sal?

    N

    N

    ekto

    n 3

    38

    7.04

    Is

    nat

    ural

    disp

    ersa

    l of t

    he ta

    xon

    likel

    y to

    occ

    ur a

    s eg

    gs (f

    or a

    nim

    als)

    or a

    s pro

    pagu

    les (

    for p

    lant

    s: se

    eds,

    spor

    es) i

    n th

    e R

    A a

    rea?

    Y

    The

    com

    bina

    tion

    of th

    eir h

    igh

    spaw

    ning

    freq

    uenc

    y (y

    ear r

    ound

    , ~ev

    ery

    4 d,

    M

    orris

    200

    9) a

    nd p

    rotra

    cted

    pel

    agic

    larv

    al p

    hase

    (~26

    d, A

    hren

    holz

    and

    Mor

    ris

    2010

    ), co

    uple

    d w

    ith re

    leas

    e in

    a re

    gion

    with

    mul

    tiple

    oce

    anog

    raph

    ic c

    urre

    nts

    (e.g

    ., G

    ulf S

    tream

    , Car

    ibbe

    an C

    urre

    nt, Y

    ucat

    an C

    urre

    nt a

    nd L

    oop

    Cur

    rent

    ) has

    re

    sulte

    d in

    the

    rapi

    d di

    sper

    sal o

    f lio

    nfis

    hes i

    nto

    the

    wes

    tern

    Atla

    ntic

    Oce

    an,

    incl

    udin

    g th

    e C

    arib

    bean

    Sea

    and

    Gul

    f of M

    exic

    o (K

    leto

    u et

    al.

    2016

    , and

    re

    fere

    nce

    ther

    ein)

    .

    2

    39

    7.05

    Is

    nat

    ural

    disp

    ersa

    l of t

    he ta

    xon

    likel

    y to

    occ

    ur a

    s la

    rvae

    /juve

    nile

    s (fo

    r ani

    mal

    s) o

    r as

    fragm

    ents

    /see

    dlin

    gs (f

    or p

    lant

    s) in

    the

    RA

    are

    a?

    Y

    Sam

    e w

    ith a

    bove

    ans

    wer

    . 2

    40

    7.06

    A

    re o

    lder

    life

    stag

    es o

    f the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to m

    igra

    te in

    th

    e R

    A a

    rea

    for r

    epro

    duct

    ion?

    Y

    N

    o da

    ta

    1

  • 35

    Que

    stio

    n R

    espo

    nse

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    Con

    fiden

    ce

    41

    7.07

    A

    re p

    ropa

    gule

    s or e

    ggs o

    f the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to b

    e di

    sper

    sed

    in th

    e R

    A a

    rea

    by o

    ther

    ani

    mal

    s?

    N

    No

    data

    2

    42

    7.08

    Is

    disp

    ersa

    l of t

    he ta

    xon

    alon

    g an

    y of

    the

    path

    way

    s m

    entio

    ned

    in th

    e pr

    evio

    us se

    ven

    ques

    tions

    (7.0

    1–7.

    07; i

    .e. b

    oth

    unin

    tent

    iona

    l or i

    nten

    tiona

    l) lik

    ely

    to

    be ra

    pid?

    Y

    1991

    - P. m

    iles h

    as b

    een

    reco

    rded

    from

    the

    Leva

    ntin

    e co

    ast (

    Gol

    ani a

    nd S

    onin

    , 19

    92).

    2012

    - Leb

    anon

    (Bar

    iche

    et a

    l. 20

    13).

    Soon

    afte

    r, tw

    o m

    ore

    wer

    e re

    porte

    d in

    a n

    ewsp

    aper

    arti

    cle,

    cap

    ture

    d of

    f Cyp

    rus

    and

    in 2

    014,

    ano

    ther

    spec

    imen

    was

    si

    ghte

    d in

    Tur

    key,

    then

    in 2

    015

    two

    mor

    e w

    ere

    capt

    ured

    in C

    ypru

    s and

    then

    si

    ghte

    d in

    Rho

    des

    in G

    reec

    e (T

    uran

    et a

    l. 20

    14; O

    ray

    et a

    l. 20

    15; C

    roce

    tta e

    t al.

    2015

    ; Igl

    ésia

    s and

    Fro

    tté 2

    015)

    . Rec

    ently

    , sev

    eral

    reco

    rds w

    ere

    repo

    rted

    from

    so

    uth

    Turk

    ey in

    dica

    ting

    a w

    este

    rly m

    igra

    tion

    of th

    e sp

    ecie

    s tow

    ards

    the

    Aeg

    ean

    Sea

    (Tur

    an a

    nd Ö

    ztür

    k 20

    15).

    Hith

    erto

    , lio

    nfis

    h w

    ere

    repo

    rted

    only

    occ

    asio

    nally

    in

    the

    east

    ern

    Med

    iterr

    anea

    n Se

    a an

    d th

    eir s

    ucce

    ssfu

    l inv

    asio

    n in

    the

    Med

    iterra

    nean

    Sea

    is q

    uest

    iona

    ble

    due

    to u

    nfav

    oura

    ble

    ocea

    nogr

    aphi

    c co

    nditi

    ons

    that

    lim

    it th

    e w

    ide

    disp

    ersi

    on o

    f lio

    nfis

    h la

    rvae

    (Joh

    nsto

    n an

    d Pu

    rkis

    2014

    ). Th

    e lio

    nfis

    h P.

    mile

    s ha

    s spr

    ead

    rapi

    dly

    and

    colo

    nise

    d al

    mos

    t the

    ent

    ire so

    uth

    east

    ern

    coas

    t of C

    ypru

    s, fro

    m L

    imas

    sol (

    sout

    h) to

    Pro

    tara

    s (so

    uth

    east

    ) in

    just

    1 y

    ear

    3

    43

    7.09

    Is

    disp

    ersa

    l of t

    he ta

    xon

    dens

    ity d

    epen

    dent

    ?

    Y

    Lion

    fishe

    s wer

    e fo

    und

    abun

    dant

    in so

    me

    inva

    ded

    area

    s as w

    ell a

    s dom

    inat

    ing

    reef

    fis

    h co

    mm

    uniti

    es (K

    ulbi

    cki e

    t al.

    2012

    ). Th

    eir d

    ram

    atic

    inva

    sive

    suc

    cess

    resu

    lts

    from

    a c

    ombi

    natio

    n of

    fact

    ors s

    uch

    as e

    arly

    mat

    urat

    ion

    and

    repr

    oduc

    tion,

    ant

    i-pr

    edat

    ory

    veno

    mou

    s def

    ence

    s and

    eco

    logi

    cal v

    ersa

    tility

    of t

    he li

    onfis

    h co

    uple

    d w

    ith n

    ativ

    e pr

    ey a

    nd th

    e ov

    erfis

    hing

    of n

    ativ

    e pr

    edat

    ors (

    Côt

    é et

    al.

    2013

    ).

    3

    8. T

    oler

    ance

    attr

    ibut

    es

    44

    8.

    01

    Is th

    e ta

    xon

    able

    to w

    ithst

    and

    bein

    g ou

    t of w

    ater

    for

    exte

    nded

    per

    iods

    (e.g

    . min

    imum

    of o

    ne o

    r mor

    e ho

    urs)

    at s

    ome

    stag

    e of

    its

    life

    cycl

    e?

    N

    Mar

    ine

    fish

    4

    45

    8.02

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n to

    lera

    nt o

    f a w

    ide

    rang

    e of

    wat

    er q

    ualit

    y co

    nditi

    ons r

    elev

    ant t

    o th

    at ta

    xon?

    [In

    the

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    field

    , ind

    icat

    e th

    e re

    leva

    nt w

    ater

    qua

    lity

    varia

    ble(

    s)

    bein

    g co

    nsid

    ered

    .]

    Y

    No

    data

    1

    46

    8.03

    C

    an th

    e ta

    xon

    be c

    ontro

    lled

    or e

    radi

    cate

    d in

    the

    wild

    w

    ith c

    hem

    ical

    , bio

    logi

    cal,

    or o

    ther

    age

    nts/

    mea

    ns?

    Y

    Thei

    r hig

    hly

    veno

    mou

    s ne

    edle

    -sha

    rp d

    orsa

    l, an

    al a

    nd p

    ecto

    ral f

    in sp

    ines

    offe

    r pr

    otec

    tion

    and

    sign

    ifian

    tly re

    duce

    pre

    datio

    n (B

    aric

    he e

    t al.

    2013

    ). N

    ever

    thel

    ess,

    one

    pote

    ntia

    l nat

    ural

    pre

    dato

    r of P

    . mile

    s alre

    ady

    exist

    s in

    the

    Med

    iterr

    anea

    n. In

    th

    e no

    rther

    n R

    ed S

    ea, a

    juve

    nile

    Lio

    nfis

    h (1

    0 cm

    SL)

    was

    disc

    over

    ed in

    the

    stom

    ach

    of F

    istu

    lari

    a co

    mm

    erso

    nii R

    üppe

    ll, 1

    838,

    the

    blue

    spot

    ted

    corn

    etfis

    h w

    ho h

    as in

    vade

    d th

    e M

    edite

    rran

    ean

    Sea

    with

    in th

    e la

    st d

    ecad

    e an

    d es

    tabl

    ishe

    d la

    rge

    popu

    latio

    ns in

    the

    east

    ern

    part

    (Azz

    urro

    et a

    l. 20

    12) a

    nd m

    ay a

    ct a

    s a

    biol

    ogic

    al c

    ontro

    l of a

    futu

    re p

    ossib

    le in

    vasi

    on. O

    ther

    pos

    sible

    pre

    dato

    rs c

    ould

    be

    nativ

    e M

    edite

    rrane

    an g

    roup

    ers,

    as fo

    und

    in th

    e C

    arib

    bean

    (Mum

    by e

    t al.

    2011

    ).

    3

  • 36

    Que

    stio

    n R

    espo

    nse

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    Con

    fiden

    ce

    Nat

    ive

    grou

    pers

    such

    as E

    pine

    phel

    us m

    argi

    natu

    s will

    lear

    n to

    pre

    y on

    lion

    fish

    and

    cont

    rol t

    heir

    inva

    sion

    . Res

    trict

    ions

    on

    fishi

    ng se

    em se

    nsib

    le to

    hel

    p th

    reat

    ened

    IUC

    N R

    ed L

    ist sp

    ecie

    s suc

    h as

    the

    Med

    iterr

    anea

    n du

    sky

    grou

    per,

    as

    thes

    e m

    ay in

    turn

    hel

    p co

    ntro

    l the

    spre

    ad o

    f inv

    asiv

    e fis

    h (M

    umby

    et a

    l. 20

    11).

    47

    8.04

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to to

    lera

    te o

    r ben

    efit

    from

    en

    viro

    nmen

    tal/h

    uman

    dist

    urba

    nce?

    Y

    Judg

    ing

    from

    the

    rece

    nt in

    crea

    se in

    P. m

    iles i

    n th

    e ea

    ster

    n M

    edite

    rrane

    an S

    ea, i

    ts

    few

    nat

    ural

    pre

    dato

    rs, t

    he d

    isper

    sal c

    apab

    ilitie

    s of t

    heir

    plan

    kton

    ic la

    rvae

    and

    its

    abili

    ty to

    ada

    pt to

    a ra

    nge

    of h

    abita

    ts, w

    e su

    spec

    t tha

    t a ra

    pid

    expa

    nsio

    n th

    roug

    hout

    the

    Med

    iterr

    anea

    n Se

    a m

    ay so

    on fo

    llow

    with

    sig

    nific

    ant i

    mpa

    cts o

    n lo

    cal e

    cosy

    stem

    s and

    fish

    erie

    s. Fu

    rther

    mor

    e, C

    O2 e

    miss

    ions

    whi

    ch a

    re w

    arm

    ing

    the

    Med

    iterra

    nean

    Sea

    and

    the

    cons

    truct

    ion

    of a

    dee

    per a

    nd w

    ider

    Sue

    z C

    anal

    are

    ex

    pect

    ed to

    incr

    ease

    inva

    sion

    rate

    s (G

    alil

    et a

    l. 20

    15; H

    all-S

    penc

    er a

    nd A

    llen

    2015

    ).

    Incr

    ease

    d pr

    edat

    ion

    on h

    erbi

    voro

    us fi

    sh w

    as im

    plic

    ated

    as t

    he c

    ause

    of t

    he sh

    ift

    beca

    use

    it w

    as n

    ot a

    ssoc

    iate

    d w

    ith b

    leac

    hing

    , fis

    hing

    , sto

    rms a

    nd d

    iseas

    e (L

    esse

    r an

    d Sl

    atte

    ry, 2

    011)

    . Th

    eir d

    ram

    atic

    inva

    sive

    succ

    ess r

    esul

    ts fr

    om a

    com

    bina

    tion

    of fa

    ctor

    s suc

    h as

    ea

    rly m

    atur

    atio

    n an

    d re

    prod

    uctio

    n, a

    nti-p

    reda

    tory

    ven

    omou

    s def

    ence

    s and

    ec

    olog

    ical

    ver

    satil

    ity o

    f the

    lion

    fish

    coup

    led

    with

    nat

    ive

    prey

    and

    the

    over

    fishi

    ng

    of n

    ativ

    e pr

    edat

    ors (

    Côt

    é et

    al.

    2013

    ).The

    war

    min

    g an

    d ac

    idifi

    catio

    n of

    M

    edite

    rrane

    an w

    ater

    s due

    to C

    O2 e

    miss

    ions

    may

    requ

    ire n

    ew m

    odel

    ling

    appr

    oach

    es (H

    all-S

    penc

    er a

    nd A

    llen

    2015

    ).

    2

    48

    8.05

    Is

    the

    taxo

    n ab

    le to

    tole

    rate

    salin

    ity le

    vels

    that

    are

    hi

    gher

    or l

    ower

    than

    thos

    e fo

    und

    in it

    s usu

    al

    envi

    ronm

    ent?

    Y

    Fr

    om F

    roes

    e an

    d Pa

    uly

    (201

    6): T

    ropi

    cal;

    30°N

    - 36

    °S, 1

    9°E

    - 112

    °E.

    3

    49

    8.06

    A

    re th

    ere

    effe

    ctiv

    e na

    tura

    l ene

    mie

    s (pr

    edat

    ors)

    of t

    he

    taxo

    n pr

    esen

    t in

    the

    RA

    are

    a?

    Y

    Fist

    ular

    ia c

    omm

    erso

    nii R

    üppe

    ll, 1

    838

    (Azz

    urro

    et a

    l. 20

    12).

    Epin

    ephe

    lus

    mar

    gina

    tus w

    ill le

    arn

    to p

    rey

    on li

    onfis

    h an

    d co

    ntro

    l the

    ir in

    vasi

    on (M

    umby

    et a

    l. 20

    11).

    2

    C. C

    limat

    e ch

    ange

    9. C

    limat

    e ch

    ange

    50

    9.01

    U

    nder

    the

    pred

    icte

    d fu

    ture

    clim

    atic

    con

    ditio

    ns, a

    re th

    e ris

    ks o

    f ent

    ry in

    to th

    e R

    A a

    rea

    pose

    d by

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to in

    crea

    se, d

    ecre

    ase

    or n

    ot c

    hang

    e?

    + O

    vera

    ll, th

    e nu

    mbe

    r of i

    ntro

    duce

    d Le

    ssep

    sian

    fish

    spec

    ies i

    s cor

    rela

    ted

    sign

    ifica

    ntly

    and

    pos

    itive

    ly w

    ith th

    e M

    edite

    rrane

    an w

    ater

    tem

    pera

    ture

    (r =

    0.7

    7,

    p<0.

    05) (

    Ben

    Rai

    ş La

    sram

    et a

    l. 20

    10).

    3

    51

    9.02

    U

    nder

    the

    pred

    icte

    d fu

    ture

    clim

    atic

    con

    ditio

    ns, a

    re th

    e ris

    ks o

    f est

    ablis

    hmen

    t pos

    ed b

    y th

    e ta

    xon

    likel

    y to

    in

    crea

    se, d

    ecre

    ase

    or n

    ot c

    hang

    e?

    +

    The

    rece

    nt fi

    ndin

    gs o

    f Lio

    nfis

    h m

    ay b

    e an

    indi

    catio

    n of

    a n

    ew w

    ave

    of a

    rriv

    als o

    f P.

    mile

    s in

    the

    Leva

    nt, r

    aisi

    ng ju

    stifi

    able

    con

    cern

    s of a

    pos

    sibl

    e on

    set o

    f a n

    ew

    inva

    sion

    in th

    e M

    edite

    rrane

    an S

    ea (B

    aric

    he e

    t al.

    2013

    ). 3

  • 37

    Que

    stio

    n R

    espo

    nse

    Just

    ifica

    tion

    Con

    fiden

    ce

    52

    9.03

    U

    nder

    the

    pred

    icte

    d fu

    ture

    clim

    atic

    con

    ditio

    ns, a

    re th

    e ris

    ks o

    f disp

    ersa

    l with

    in th

    e R

    A a

    rea

    pose

    d by

    the

    taxo

    n lik

    ely

    to in

    crea

    se, d

    ecre

    ase

    or n

    ot c

    hang

    e?

    + Si

    nce

    the

    1980

    s the

    rate

    of i

    ntro

    duct

    ion

    of L

    esse

    psia

    n sp

    ecie

    s fro

    m th

    e R

    ed S

    ea

    to th

    e M

    edite

    rran

    ean

    has i

    ncre

    ased

    (Ben

    Rai

    s La

    sram

    et a

    l. 20

    10).

    3

    53

    9.04

    U

    nder

    the

    pred

    icte

    d fu

    ture

    clim

    atic

    con

    ditio

    ns, w

    hat

    is th

    e lik

    ely

    mag

    nitu

    de o

    f fut

    ure

    pote

    ntia

    l im

    pact

    s on

    biod

    iver

    sity

    and

    /or e

    colo

    gica

    l int

    egrit

    y/st

    atus

    ? +

    Prof

    essi

    onal

    ass

    essm

    ent

    2

    54

    9.05

    U

    nder

    the

    pred

    icte

    d fu

    ture

    clim

    atic

    con

    d