Your Earth is Blue: On the Hunt for Lionfish
Channel: NOAA Sanctuaries
Date: 04/12/2014

Researcher Michelle Johnston dissects lionfish removed from Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. Known for their voracious appetites, venomous spines and rapid reproduction, these invasive species (Pterois volitans, P. miles) can deplete native fish populations at alarming rates from coral reef habitats and pose a direct threat to the sanctuary. 

By removing lionfish from the sanctuary under research permit, scientists like Dr. Johnston can analyze stomach contents and tissue samples to better understand what the invaders are eating and how they are impacting the other fish on the reef. Learn more at http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/invasivelionfish.html