The Threat of Invasive Lionfish on Bermuda's Marine Ecosystem

WHAT: Lionfish with their array of colorful fins about their heads have become the poster child for invasive species, and they fit the definition perfectly. With their insatiable and indiscriminate appetites, they were introduced by humans to the Atlantic Ocean where they have no natural predators. They have had big impacts on coral reef fish populations, which may later cause further significant environmental harm on those ecosystems. Naturally found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, they were first reported off southern Florida in the late 1980s, and in less than 30 years, they have spread north to North Carolina and throughout the Caribbean.

WHO: Corey Eddy, a PhD Candidate at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, will share his findings from research conducted about lionfish and their impact on Bermuda’s Marine Ecosystem. His work looked at the potential impact on Bermuda’s coral reef ecosystem, and he will discuss the biology, ecology and predatory qualities of lionfish which is causing such concern.

WHEN: The free lecture takes place Thursday, June 2 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: New England Aquarium’s Simons IMAX Theatre, Central Wharf, Boston

REGISTRATION: Register online: http://support.neaq.org/site/Calendar?id=106430&view=Detail

THANKS: The Aquarium’s series of free lectures, films and discussions is made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.