Broad-scale acoustic telemetry reveals long-distance movements and large home ranges for invasive lionfish on Atlantic coral reefs

Tracking studies for invasive lionfish ( Pterois volitans and P. miles ) in the Western Atlantic can provide key information on habitat use to inform population control, but date have likely underestimated home range size movement due constrained spatial temporal scales. We tracked 35 acoustically tagged >1 yr (March 2018-May 2019) within a km 2 acoustic array Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (an area 10× larger than previous studies). at this scale revealed that is 3-20 times previously estimated varies more 8-fold across individuals (~48000-379000 m ; average: 101000 ), with estimates insensitive assumptions about potential mortality low-movement individuals. Lionfish move far greater distances reported, 37% of fish traveling from initial tagging site toward deeper habitats, 1 individual moving ~10 during 10 d period. Movement rates, size, maximum distance traveled were not related (18-35 cm total length) or lunar phase. was lowest night greatest crepuscular periods, acceleration (m s -2 increasing water temperature these times. Our results help reconcile observed patterns rapid recolonization following removal, suggest complex drivers result highly variable similarly sized occupying same habitat. Culling areas ≥ average identified here (i.e. ha) patches isolated by ~180 (radius range) may minimize subsequent recolonization. If shallow-deep long-distance movements are unidirectional, mesophotic habitats require culling relatively frequencies counteract ongoing migration.