Lionfish Observations - Gulf of Mexico (GCOOS)

The red lionfish is an invasive species native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Their human-caused introduction to the northern Atlantic and subsequent population increase are now causing negative impacts on marine ecosystems in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Lionfish are efficient predators invading a variety of natural and artificial habitats, competing with native predator fish and consuming smaller fishes, including the young of large species. Observations of red lionfish have been recorded on coral reefs, artificial reefs and deeper hard bottom areas (up to 1000 feet deep or 305 meters), wrecks, mangroves, seawalls, docks, and estuaries ranging from the northeastern U.S. and Bermuda to the western Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean Sea. The first observation in 1985, but no locational information was available until 1995. Data source: USGS NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Number of records does not imply species abundance. These maps represent collection records only and may not reflect the actual distribution of established populations.红蓑鲉（red lionfish）是原产于印度洋-太平洋海域的入侵物种。其经人为活动引入北大西洋北部后，种群规模持续扩大，目前正对墨西哥湾东南部及加勒比海的海洋生态系统造成负面影响。 蓑鲉为高效捕食者，可入侵各类自然与人工生境，与本土捕食性鱼类竞争生态资源，并捕食小型鱼类——包括大型鱼类的幼体。 红蓑鲉的观测记录已见于珊瑚礁、人工鱼礁及深层硬质底质区域（最深可达1000英尺，约305米）、沉船残骸区、红树林、海堤、码头以及河口，分布范围从美国东北部、百慕大延伸至墨西哥湾西部，覆盖整个加勒比海海域。 该物种的首次观测记录可追溯至1985年，但直至1995年才获取到具体的地理位置信息。 数据来源：美国地质调查局外来水生生物物种数据库（USGS NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species） 记录条数并不代表物种的种群丰度。本数据集的地图仅展示采集记录，未必能反映已建立种群的实际分布范围。