Abstract

Lionfish were collected, weighed and measured, and their ages estimated by counting opaque zones in otoliths from 3,296 lionfish sampled between 2013 and 2017. This dataset supports the publication: Dahl, K., Edwards, M., & Patterson, W. (2019). Density-dependent condition and growth of invasive lionfish in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 623, 145–159. doi:10.3354/meps13028.

Comments

Supplemental Information

Sample Date (date of sample collection), Lat (latitude), Long (longitude), Site (site location name), Sample ID (unique samples number), Habitat (habitat type: AR (artificial reef), NR (natural reef)), TL (total length, mm), Mass (kg), Sex (sex of lionfish: F (female), M (male), U (unidentified)), Lionfish Count (number of lionfish culled at particular site), AR Lionfish Density (density estimated from lionfish count and area sampled), Opaque Zones (number of opaque zones counted in sectioned otoliths), Margin (condition of otolith margin: O (opaque), T (translucent)), Score (readability score of otoliths: G (Good), R (readable), D (difficult), U (unreadable)), Integer Age (age estimated from otolith opaque zones and margin condition, yrs), Fractional Age (age estimated from opaque zones, assumed birthdate of July 1, timing of otolith formation, and capture date).|||||

Purpose

To describe and document life history characteristics of invasive lionfish over a long time scale of invasion. We aimed to document the effect of sex, population density, and habitat type on lionfish relative body condition and size-at-age with a focus on determining whether lionfish populations in the region were nearing carrying capacity.

Keywords

growth, age, condition, carrying capacity, invasive species, density-dependence

UDI

R6.x805.000:0084

Date

August 2019

Point of Contact

Name

William Frank Patterson

Organization

University of Florida / Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Name

Kristen Dahl

Organization

University of South Alabama / Department of Marine Sciences

Funding Source

RFP-6

DOI

10.7266/n7-krwm-b876

Rights Information

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 License.

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