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Mark A. Hixon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Parasite-mediated enemy release and low biotic resistance may facilitate invasion of Atlantic coral reefs by Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans)
    Biological Invasions, 2017
    Co-Authors: Lillian J. Tuttle, Katherine Cure, Paul C. Sikkel, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Successful invasions are largely explained by some combination of enemy release, where the invader escapes its natural enemies from its native range, and low biotic resistance, where native species in the introduced range fail to control the invader. We examined the extent to which parasites may mediate both release and resistance in the introduction of Pacific red lionfish ( Pterois volitans ) to Atlantic coral reefs. We found that fewer lionfish were parasitized at two regions in their introduced Atlantic range (The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands) than at two regions in their native Pacific range (the Northern Marianas Islands and the Philippines). This pattern was largely driven by relatively high infection rates of lionfish by didymozoan fluke worms and parasitic copepods (which may be host-specific to Pterois lionfishes) in the Marianas and the Philippines, respectively. When compared with sympatric, native fishes in the Atlantic, invasive lionfish were at least 18 times less likely to host a parasite in The Bahamas and at least 40 times less likely to host a parasite in the Cayman Islands. We found no indication that lionfish introduced Pacific parasites into the Atlantic. In conjunction with demographic signs of enemy release such as increased density, fish size, and growth of invasive lionfish, it is possible that escape from parasites may have contributed to the success of lionfish. This is especially true if future studies reveal that such a loss of parasites has led to more energy available for lionfish growth, reproduction, and/or immunity.

  • parasitism in Pterois volitans scorpaenidae from coastal waters of puerto rico the cayman islands and the bahamas
    Journal of Parasitology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Zullaylee Ramosascherl, Lillian J. Tuttle, Paul C. Sikkel, Ernest H Williams, Lucy Bunkleywilliams, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Abstract:  Recently, Pterois volitans, a Pacific species of lionfish, invaded the Atlantic Ocean, likely via the aquarium trade. We examined for internal and external parasites 188 individuals from 8 municipalities of Puerto Rico collected during 2009–2012, 91 individuals from Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, collected during the summers of 2010 and 2011, and 47 individuals from Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas, collected during the summer of 2009. In total, 27 parasite taxa were found, including 3 previously reported species from lionfish, the digenean Lecithochirium floridense, the leech Trachelobdella lubrica, and an Excorallana sp. isopod. We also report another 24 previously unreported parasite taxa from lionfish, including digeneans, monogeneans, cestodes, nematodes, isopods, a copepod, and an acanthocephalan. Among these parasites, several were previously unreported at their respective geographic origins: We report 5 new locality records from Puerto Rico, 9 from Cayman Islands, 5 from the Bahamas, 5 from...

  • habitat plasticity in native pacific red lionfish Pterois volitans facilitates successful invasion of the atlantic
    Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2014
    Co-Authors: Katherine Cure, Jennifer L Mcilwain, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Red lionfish were transported outside their native Pacific range to supply aquaria, subsequently escaped or were released, and have established breeding populations in Atlantic reefs. This invasion has negatively affected coral reef fishes, reducing recruitment success through predation. To provide insight into the factors explaining invasion success, we examined the distribution and abundance of native lionfish in 2 regions of the Western Pacific (Marianas and Philippines). Densities of lionfish and other predatory coral reef fishes were evaluated via strati- fied surveys targeting habitat preferred by lionfish. There were considerable regional differences in species composition of lionfishes in general and density of Pterois volitans in particular. Red lionfish were uncommon on Guam (3.5 fish ha �1 ) but 6 times more abundant in the Philippines (21.9 fish ha �1 ). Densities in both regions were an order of magnitude less than reported in the invaded Atlantic. There was no relationship between density of lionfish and that of other reef predators, including groupers. Both native populations of P. volitans were more common on reef- associated habitats (sandy slopes, reef channels, and artificial reefs) than on coral reefs. On Guam, P. volitans was more abundant in areas of low water visibility (reef channels and river mouths) compared to reefs with high water clarity. Lionfish in their native range are habitat generalists that occupy various environments, including areas with low salinity and high sediment loads. This plasticity in habitat use helps explain invasive success, given that ecological generalization is recognized as a major factor accounting for the successful establishment of invasive species.

  • low susceptibility of invasive red lionfish Pterois volitans to a generalist ectoparasite in both its introduced and native ranges
    PLOS ONE, 2014
    Co-Authors: Paul C. Sikkel, Katherine Cure, Lillian J. Tuttle, Ann Marie Coile, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Escape from parasites in their native range is one of many mechanisms that can contribute to the success of an invasive species. Gnathiid isopods are blood-feeding ectoparasites that infest a wide range of fish hosts, mostly in coral reef habitats. They are ecologically similar to terrestrial ticks, with the ability to transmit blood-borne parasites and cause damage or even death to heavily infected hosts. Therefore, being highly resistant or highly susceptible to gnathiids can have significant fitness consequences for reef-associated fishes. Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) have invaded coastal habitats of the western tropical and subtropical Atlantic and Caribbean regions. We assessed the susceptibility of red lionfish to parasitic gnathiid isopods in both their native Pacific and introduced Atlantic ranges via experimental field studies during which lionfish and other, ecologically-similar reef fishes were caged and exposed to gnathiid infestation on shallow coral reefs. Lionfish in both ranges had very few gnathiids when compared with other species, suggesting that lionfish are not highly susceptible to infestation by generalist ectoparasitic gnathiids. While this pattern implies that release from gnathiid infestation is unlikely to contribute to the success of lionfish as invaders, it does suggest that in environments with high gnathiid densities, lionfish may have an advantage over species that are more susceptible to gnathiids. Also, because lionfish are not completely resistant to gnathiids, our results suggest that lionfish could possibly have transported blood parasites between their native Pacific and invaded Atlantic ranges.

  • Box and whisker plot of infestation of gnathiid isopods on red lionfish, Pterois volitans, compared with ecologically similar, native tropical western Atlantic species.
    2014
    Co-Authors: Paul C. Sikkel, Katherine Cure, Lillian J. Tuttle, Ann Marie Coile, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Levels of infestation are expressed as residuals from regression of gnathiid loads against host fish surface area and the local abundance of gnathiids as measured by the average gnathiid density on 5 French grunt “standards” placed near each host fish. Data for Caribbean species are grouped by families, with species codes given in parentheses: Haemulidae: Hs =  Haemulon sciurus (n = 24); Lutjanidae: La =  Lutjanus apodus (n = 29), Ls = L. synagris (n = 14); Serranidae: Eg =  Epinephelus guttatus (n = 26); Holocentridae: Hr =  Holocentrus rufus (n = 32); Ha =  Holocentrus adscensionis (n = 20); Scorpaenidae: Sp =  Scorpaena plumieri (n = 7); Pterois volitans (n = 30). Dashed line  =  mean, solid line  =  median, outliers are shown as single points.

Katherine Cure - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Parasite-mediated enemy release and low biotic resistance may facilitate invasion of Atlantic coral reefs by Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans)
    Biological Invasions, 2017
    Co-Authors: Lillian J. Tuttle, Katherine Cure, Paul C. Sikkel, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Successful invasions are largely explained by some combination of enemy release, where the invader escapes its natural enemies from its native range, and low biotic resistance, where native species in the introduced range fail to control the invader. We examined the extent to which parasites may mediate both release and resistance in the introduction of Pacific red lionfish ( Pterois volitans ) to Atlantic coral reefs. We found that fewer lionfish were parasitized at two regions in their introduced Atlantic range (The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands) than at two regions in their native Pacific range (the Northern Marianas Islands and the Philippines). This pattern was largely driven by relatively high infection rates of lionfish by didymozoan fluke worms and parasitic copepods (which may be host-specific to Pterois lionfishes) in the Marianas and the Philippines, respectively. When compared with sympatric, native fishes in the Atlantic, invasive lionfish were at least 18 times less likely to host a parasite in The Bahamas and at least 40 times less likely to host a parasite in the Cayman Islands. We found no indication that lionfish introduced Pacific parasites into the Atlantic. In conjunction with demographic signs of enemy release such as increased density, fish size, and growth of invasive lionfish, it is possible that escape from parasites may have contributed to the success of lionfish. This is especially true if future studies reveal that such a loss of parasites has led to more energy available for lionfish growth, reproduction, and/or immunity.

  • invasive red lionfish Pterois volitans grow faster in the atlantic ocean than in their native pacific range
    Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2016
    Co-Authors: Katherine Cure, Cassandra E Benkwitt, Timothy J Pusack, Tye L Kindinger
    Abstract:

    Invasive Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) continue to spread along tropical and subtropical coasts of the Western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. They may have escaped natural controls present in their native Pacific, thus facilitating their immense success as predators in the Atlantic. We hypothesized that such ecological release would translate into faster individual growth and larger average body lengths in the invaded range relative to the native range. We used mark-release-recapture methods to monitor lionfish growth in two island systems in both the Pacific and the Atlantic. We compared the average individual lionfish growth rates among all four islands and between the two oceans, and compared population-level von Bertalanffy growth functions between oceans. While our study was limited to two sites in each ocean basin, we found consistent growth patterns within oceans and a significant difference between oceans, with lionfish in the Atlantic growing 1.25 to 2.25 times faster than lionfish in the Pacific. The von Bertalanffy model predicted larger average asymptotic lengths for the Atlantic population (322 vs. 225 mm). Given that lionfish consume prey up to half their body length, and that larger lionfish may be less vulnerable to predation, these findings, if broadly representative, suggest that invasive lionfish may consume larger native fish and may have higher survival than lionfish in their native range.

  • Prey naivete to invasive lionfish Pterois volitans on Caribbean coral reefs
    Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2016
    Co-Authors: Andrea Anton, Katherine Cure, Craig A. Layman, Riikka Puntila, Michael S. Simpson, John F. Bruno
    Abstract:

    Native prey can be particularly vulnerable to consumption by exotic predators. Prey naivete, the failure to recognize a novel predator due to lack of recent co-evolutionary history, likely facilitates the disproportionate impact that some exotic predators exert on prey populations. Lionfish Pterois volitans, exotic predators from the Pacific, have invaded coral reefs and other coastal habitats along the western Atlantic. Prey naivete towards novel lionfish was tested in field experiments and with observations using closest approach distance as the anti-predator response. We quantified the distance of prey fishes to exotic lionfish in both the Atlantic and Pacific (invasive and native ranges of lionfish) as well as to native predators in the Atlantic. In the Atlantic, exper- iments indicated that Haemulon plumierii, prey of lionfish, generally display a closer approach distance to exotic than to native predators, and field observations of free-ranging fish revealed that at least 5 other species of small fishes (Halichoeres bivitattus, Halichoeres garnoti, Scarus tae- niopterus, Stegastes leucostictus and Thalassoma bifasciatum) also might exhibit limited predator- avoidance behaviour towards invasive lionfish. We also found that 3 families of small fish (Labri- dae, Pomacentridae and Scaridae) maintained greater distances from lionfish in the Pacific compared with the Atlantic in both experimental and field observations. These results suggest prey naivete to exotic lionfish by at least 8 species of fish (Abudefduf saxatilis, H. plumierii, H. bivitattus, H. garnoti, S. taeniopterus, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, S. leucostictus and T. bifasciatum) in the Atlantic, which could be contributing to the rapid expansion of this invasive species by enhancing its fitness and reproductive output through high predation efficiency.

  • habitat plasticity in native pacific red lionfish Pterois volitans facilitates successful invasion of the atlantic
    Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2014
    Co-Authors: Katherine Cure, Jennifer L Mcilwain, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Red lionfish were transported outside their native Pacific range to supply aquaria, subsequently escaped or were released, and have established breeding populations in Atlantic reefs. This invasion has negatively affected coral reef fishes, reducing recruitment success through predation. To provide insight into the factors explaining invasion success, we examined the distribution and abundance of native lionfish in 2 regions of the Western Pacific (Marianas and Philippines). Densities of lionfish and other predatory coral reef fishes were evaluated via strati- fied surveys targeting habitat preferred by lionfish. There were considerable regional differences in species composition of lionfishes in general and density of Pterois volitans in particular. Red lionfish were uncommon on Guam (3.5 fish ha �1 ) but 6 times more abundant in the Philippines (21.9 fish ha �1 ). Densities in both regions were an order of magnitude less than reported in the invaded Atlantic. There was no relationship between density of lionfish and that of other reef predators, including groupers. Both native populations of P. volitans were more common on reef- associated habitats (sandy slopes, reef channels, and artificial reefs) than on coral reefs. On Guam, P. volitans was more abundant in areas of low water visibility (reef channels and river mouths) compared to reefs with high water clarity. Lionfish in their native range are habitat generalists that occupy various environments, including areas with low salinity and high sediment loads. This plasticity in habitat use helps explain invasive success, given that ecological generalization is recognized as a major factor accounting for the successful establishment of invasive species.

  • low susceptibility of invasive red lionfish Pterois volitans to a generalist ectoparasite in both its introduced and native ranges
    PLOS ONE, 2014
    Co-Authors: Paul C. Sikkel, Katherine Cure, Lillian J. Tuttle, Ann Marie Coile, Mark A. Hixon
    Abstract:

    Escape from parasites in their native range is one of many mechanisms that can contribute to the success of an invasive species. Gnathiid isopods are blood-feeding ectoparasites that infest a wide range of fish hosts, mostly in coral reef habitats. They are ecologically similar to terrestrial ticks, with the ability to transmit blood-borne parasites and cause damage or even death to heavily infected hosts. Therefore, being highly resistant or highly susceptible to gnathiids can have significant fitness consequences for reef-associated fishes. Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) have invaded coastal habitats of the western tropical and subtropical Atlantic and Caribbean regions. We assessed the susceptibility of red lionfish to parasitic gnathiid isopods in both their native Pacific and introduced Atlantic ranges via experimental field studies during which lionfish and other, ecologically-similar reef fishes were caged and exposed to gnathiid infestation on shallow coral reefs. Lionfish in both ranges had very few gnathiids when compared with other species, suggesting that lionfish are not highly susceptible to infestation by generalist ectoparasitic gnathiids. While this pattern implies that release from gnathiid infestation is unlikely to contribute to the success of lionfish as invaders, it does suggest that in environments with high gnathiid densities, lionfish may have an advantage over species that are more susceptible to gnathiids. Also, because lionfish are not completely resistant to gnathiids, our results suggest that lionfish could possibly have transported blood parasites between their native Pacific and invaded Atlantic ranges.

David R Bryan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • regional differences in an established population of invasive indo pacific lionfish Pterois volitans and p miles in south florida
    PeerJ, 2018
    Co-Authors: David R Bryan, Jeremiah Blondeau, Ashley Siana, Jerald S Ault
    Abstract:

    About nine years ago (circa 2009), Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) invaded the south Florida coral reef ecosystem. During the intervening period of time, there has been substantial research on their biology, life history, demography, and habitat preferences; however, little is known concerning their regional population status and trends in the region. Here, we use a large-scale fisheries independent reef fish visual survey to investigate lionfish population status among three south Florida regions: Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys, and southeast Florida. Density estimates (ind ha-1) have been relatively stable since 2012, and are lower than other areas reported in the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Low, stable population densities in south Florida suggest there may be a natural mechanism for lionfish population control. In the Dry Tortugas, lionfish density in 2016 was significantly lower (0.6 ind ha-1 ± 0.15 SE) than the two other south Florida regions. The Dry Tortugas region has the highest percentage of marine protected areas, the lowest level of exploitation, and thus the highest densities of potential lionfish predators and competitors. In the Florida Keys and southeast Florida in 2016, lionfish densities were greater (5.4 ind ha-1 ± 1.0 SE and 9.0 ± 2.7 SE, respectively) than the Dry Tortugas. Fishing pressure on lionfish was higher in these two regions, but densities of several potential predators and competitors were substantially lower. Despite relatively low regional lionfish densities that can be attributed to some combination of fishing mortality and natural biocontrol, lionfish are still well established in the south Florida coral reef ecosystem, warranting continued concern.

  • Regional differences in an established population of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in south Florida
    'PeerJ', 2018
    Co-Authors: David R Bryan, Jeremiah Blondeau, Ashley Siana, Jerald S Ault
    Abstract:

    About nine years ago (circa 2009), Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) invaded the south Florida coral reef ecosystem. During the intervening period of time, there has been substantial research on their biology, life history, demography, and habitat preferences; however, little is known concerning their regional population status and trends in the region. Here, we use a large-scale fisheries independent reef fish visual survey to investigate lionfish population status among three south Florida regions: Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys, and southeast Florida. Density estimates (ind ha−1) have been relatively stable since 2012, and are lower than other areas reported in the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Low, stable population densities in south Florida suggest there may be a natural mechanism for lionfish population control. In the Dry Tortugas, lionfish density in 2016 was significantly lower (0.6 ind ha−1 ± 0.15 SE) than the two other south Florida regions. The Dry Tortugas region has the highest percentage of marine protected areas, the lowest level of exploitation, and thus the highest densities of potential lionfish predators and competitors. In the Florida Keys and southeast Florida in 2016, lionfish densities were greater (5.4 ind ha−1 ± 1.0 SE and 9.0 ± 2.7 SE, respectively) than the Dry Tortugas. Fishing pressure on lionfish was higher in these two regions, but densities of several potential predators and competitors were substantially lower. Despite relatively low regional lionfish densities that can be attributed to some combination of fishing mortality and natural biocontrol, lionfish are still well established in the south Florida coral reef ecosystem, warranting continued concern

Jerald S Ault - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • regional differences in an established population of invasive indo pacific lionfish Pterois volitans and p miles in south florida
    PeerJ, 2018
    Co-Authors: David R Bryan, Jeremiah Blondeau, Ashley Siana, Jerald S Ault
    Abstract:

    About nine years ago (circa 2009), Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) invaded the south Florida coral reef ecosystem. During the intervening period of time, there has been substantial research on their biology, life history, demography, and habitat preferences; however, little is known concerning their regional population status and trends in the region. Here, we use a large-scale fisheries independent reef fish visual survey to investigate lionfish population status among three south Florida regions: Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys, and southeast Florida. Density estimates (ind ha-1) have been relatively stable since 2012, and are lower than other areas reported in the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Low, stable population densities in south Florida suggest there may be a natural mechanism for lionfish population control. In the Dry Tortugas, lionfish density in 2016 was significantly lower (0.6 ind ha-1 ± 0.15 SE) than the two other south Florida regions. The Dry Tortugas region has the highest percentage of marine protected areas, the lowest level of exploitation, and thus the highest densities of potential lionfish predators and competitors. In the Florida Keys and southeast Florida in 2016, lionfish densities were greater (5.4 ind ha-1 ± 1.0 SE and 9.0 ± 2.7 SE, respectively) than the Dry Tortugas. Fishing pressure on lionfish was higher in these two regions, but densities of several potential predators and competitors were substantially lower. Despite relatively low regional lionfish densities that can be attributed to some combination of fishing mortality and natural biocontrol, lionfish are still well established in the south Florida coral reef ecosystem, warranting continued concern.

  • Regional differences in an established population of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in south Florida
    'PeerJ', 2018
    Co-Authors: David R Bryan, Jeremiah Blondeau, Ashley Siana, Jerald S Ault
    Abstract:

    About nine years ago (circa 2009), Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) invaded the south Florida coral reef ecosystem. During the intervening period of time, there has been substantial research on their biology, life history, demography, and habitat preferences; however, little is known concerning their regional population status and trends in the region. Here, we use a large-scale fisheries independent reef fish visual survey to investigate lionfish population status among three south Florida regions: Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys, and southeast Florida. Density estimates (ind ha−1) have been relatively stable since 2012, and are lower than other areas reported in the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Low, stable population densities in south Florida suggest there may be a natural mechanism for lionfish population control. In the Dry Tortugas, lionfish density in 2016 was significantly lower (0.6 ind ha−1 ± 0.15 SE) than the two other south Florida regions. The Dry Tortugas region has the highest percentage of marine protected areas, the lowest level of exploitation, and thus the highest densities of potential lionfish predators and competitors. In the Florida Keys and southeast Florida in 2016, lionfish densities were greater (5.4 ind ha−1 ± 1.0 SE and 9.0 ± 2.7 SE, respectively) than the Dry Tortugas. Fishing pressure on lionfish was higher in these two regions, but densities of several potential predators and competitors were substantially lower. Despite relatively low regional lionfish densities that can be attributed to some combination of fishing mortality and natural biocontrol, lionfish are still well established in the south Florida coral reef ecosystem, warranting continued concern

Pedro Cruz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • distribucion y abundancia del pez leon Pterois volitans en la zona costera de uso turistico de holguin cuba
    Novitates Caribaea, 2018
    Co-Authors: Enrique Reynaldo, Antonio Vega, Alejandro Fernandez, Jose Maria Saugar Cruz, Elier Cordova, Pedro Cruz
    Abstract:

    In Cuba, as of 2007, the invasion of Pterois volitans was detected, commonly called lionfish, an invasive species that causes great damage to indigenous ichthyological communities in different regions of the world. This work was proposed to determine the distribution and abundance of lionfish in different sampling sites in the coastal zone of tourist use of Holguin. The study was conducted in eight sampling campaigns during the period from April to November 2016. A total of seven monitoring sites were selected distributed in two municipalities of Holguin province (Rafael Freyre and Banes). The abundance was determined by averaging the values of each linear travel (individual per 100 m2).  Size and weight were determined by sampling station with a measuring tape and digital balance.  The multiple means comparison was performed by PERMANOVA with 10 000 permutations using the Euclidean distance. Were registered 365 individuals, including all sampling sites. The site with the highest density was Playa Blanca, with 12.42 ind/100 m2 and the lowest abundance Don Lino beach, with 3.66 ind/100 m2, detecting only statistical difference between this site and the rest of the monitored sites. The month with the highest density in the year of study was April with 13.14 ind/100 m2, registering significant statistical differences in terms of abundance between this and the months of May (6.42 ind/100 m2), July (7.28 ind/100 m2) and August (6.71 ind/100 m2). The comparison of the population abundance among years of the lionfish recorded in 2016 with previous years shows statistical differences between the years 2013 (p <0.001) and 2012 (p <0.01).

  • Distribución y abundancia del pez león Pterois volitans en la zona costera de uso turístico de Holguín, Cuba
    'Museo Nacional de Historia Natural Prof. Eugenio de Jesus Marcano', 2018
    Co-Authors: Enrique Reynaldo, Antonio Vega, Alejandro Fernandez, Elier Cordova, José Cruz, Pedro Cruz
    Abstract:

    En Cuba, a partir del 2007, se detectó la presencia de Pterois volitans, comúnmente llamado Pez León, especie invasora causante de grandes daños a comunidades ictiológicas autóctonas en diferentes regiones del mundo. Este trabajo se propuso determinar la distribución y abundancia del Pez León en diferentes sitios de muestreo en la zona costera de uso turístico de Holguín. El estudio se realizó en ocho campañas de muestreo durante el período abril-noviembre de 2016. Se seleccionó un total de siete sitios de monitoreo distribuidos en dos municipios de la provincia Holguín (Rafael Freyre y Banes). Se determinó la abundancia promediando los valores de cada recorrido lineal (individuo por cada 100 m2). Se determinó la talla y el peso por estación de muestreo con una cinta métrica y una balanza digital. La comparación múltiple de medias se realizó por PERMANOVA con 10 000 permutaciones empleando la distancia euclidiana. Se registró un total de 365 individuos. El sitio con mayor densidad fue Playa Blanca,  con 12.42 ind/100 m2 y el de menor abundancia playa Don Lino, con 3.66 ind/100 m2, detectando solamente diferencia estadística entre este sitio con el resto de los sitios monitoreados.  El mes con mayor densidad en el año de estudio fue abril, con 13.14 ind/100 m2, registrándose diferencias estadísticas significativas en cuanto a la abundancia entre este y los meses de  mayo (6.42 ind/100 m2), julio (7.28 ind/100 m2) y agosto (6.71 ind/100 m2). La comparación de la abundancia poblacional entre años del Pez León, registrada en el 2016 con años anteriores demuestra diferencia estadística entre los años 2013 (p