This is a story about studies conducted to evaluate the viability of training predators to feed on lionfish. This particular story is about tethering lionfish to the reef and letting the predators come and eat them. Some scientists, as well as myself, believe this is not a very good way to go about the process. One idea of mine, which has been repeatedly rebuffed and ignored by scientists, is to take a predator off the reef altogether and place it in a laboratory environment made to look like a natural reef. The Green Moray Eel seems like a great candidate to obtain proof of concept. Without ever coming into contact with humans while in this lab setting, begin the process by withholding food for a time then introduce a very wounded, or dead, lionfish and observe the morays behavior. Depending on the willingness to attack and consume this wounded lionfish, offer the predator increasingly healthy lionfish until the predator willingly preys on healthy lionfish. Once at this milestone, re-introduce more prey items that would be found on the reef and again observe the willingness of the predator to select lionfish when it has other, easier prey items to choose from. (This portion is mainly for background data and not directly related to this effort.) Once the predator is feeding on live lionfish introduce a second, younger moray and observe its ability to learn from the older moray that has been through the study to judge the effect on the younger moray. Again, the entire process within the lab, is done with absolutely zero contact with humans. If the process works, people from all over the GAC can implement the strategy and there will be an exponential effect as one scientist teaches a group of others to do this and those scientists go back tot heir own countries and repeat the training. If the process is not successful, it will at least give us good data to create modified versions of this process or to create entirely new ideas with the lessons from this study in mind. Scientists are doing ALL kinds of studies and some of them have little actual practical value to the situation and are done simply to get more money from the government. Why not get your money and conduct studies that might actually contribute to a feasible solution in a relatively fast time frame, compared to natures speed. Opinions and Comments are welcome! - Kelly The Lionfish Hunter phys.org/news/2014-04-scientists-tether-lionfish-cayman-reefs.html
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 17:36:14 +0000
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