Status of Lionfish (Pterois Volitans) along the Venezuelan Coast: 10 years after the first report of invasion.

Invasive species like lionfish (Pterois volitans) represents a serious threat to biodiversity. Lionfish is believed to be a pest as it has invaded multiple habitats in the Caribbean region. This clearly illustrates its ability to occupy different niches successfully. Hence, predicting the distribution of this species in the future is a milestone tool for the proper design of management and control actions. In this regard, niche models might help us to foreseen new places where this species could be established and then effectively target sites where these measures must be undertaken.    

This investigation aims to apply niche modeling in order to predict potential habitats for lionfish, to produce distribution maps for this species and to compare these two with its actual distribution using the Coast of Venezuela as a case study.