291 14 2117 3 5744 document 2117 Confirmed_data.xlsx application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet ab4e5eb33354f4c82a9455a11f4f8b1f MD5 62653 2026-11-02 19:10:37 https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/291/2/Confirmed_data.xlsx 291 2 2 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet en public cc_by_4

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data Dataset 2139 2 5803 document 2139 Lionfish_README .txt text/plain ea33d45d4c16bd31157bfe1795bf9251 MD5 4375 2026-11-06 11:01:42 https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/291/3/Lionfish_README%20.txt 291 3 3 text/plain text en public cc_by_4

Lionfish_README .txt

readme Text 2140 1 5806 document 2140 indexcodes.txt text/plain 92fd389a1e65214f67d37fdab1457ca3 MD5 2136 2026-11-06 11:11:53 https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/291/4/indexcodes.txt 291 4 4 text/plain Generate index codes conversion from text to indexcodes en public

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http://eprints.org/relation/isVersionOf https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/document/2139 http://eprints.org/relation/isVolatileVersionOf https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/document/2139 http://eprints.org/relation/isIndexCodesVersionOf https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/document/2139 archive 7 disk0/00/00/02/91 2026-11-06 11:02:44 2026-11-06 11:02:44 2026-11-06 11:02:44 data_collection show researchonline@ljmu.ac.uk 7 McCard Monica 0000-0003-1067-882X Crawford Skye Operation Wallacea biological public Pterois volitans; mass bleaching events; Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System; 310302 Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology); 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology); 410401 Conservation and biodiversity; 3702 Climate change science Depositing user's licence comment: This study evaluates whether lionfish (Pterois volitans) population dynamics vary across reef systems and time periods associated with environmental disturbance at Banco Capiro and La Ensenada. Specifically, we assess temporal variation in aggregation size, relative abundance, and sex-based population structure across three periods (2014-2016, 2017-2019, and 2023-2024), encompassing coral bleaching events including Tela’s 2023 mass mortality event. At La Ensenada, median aggregation size remained consistent, although variability declined. Banco Capiro showed stable aggregation patterns, though significant temporal shifts were detected (p < 0.001), indicating aggregation changes. Relative abundance (lionfish per dive) differed between reefs: Banco Capiro exhibited a significant increase in 2023-2024 relative to earlier periods (p < 0.001), La Ensenada showed no significant change (p = 0.40). Sex-based analysis showed males were significantly more abundant than females at both sites. At La Ensenada, sex was a strong predicator of lionfish type (p < 0.001), while year had no effect. At Banco Capiro, both year and sex were significant predicators (p < 0.001), indicating temporal shifts in population structure. These findings demonstrate site-specific variation in lionfish dynamics and suggest that environmental disturbance, including coral bleaching and mass mortality may influence invasive predator behaviour and abundance through site-dependant ecological processes. 2026-11-02 published 10.24377/LJMU.d.00000291 Monica McCard Skye Crawford 310302 310305 3702 410401 Study Area The data were collected by researchers from Operation Wallacea in Honduras, a country with coastlines along both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The research sites are located along the northern coast of Honduras, across the bay of Tela, and categorised into the two reef systems: Banco Capiro and La Ensenada. Within each of these areas, multiple dive sites were surveyed (see Table 1). Banco Capiro is situated approximately 8km from the shore in the centre of the bay, while La Ensenada is towards the East of the bay, approximately 0.4km from the shoreline (see Figure 1). Sampling and Survey Design Sampling spanned June to August across the years 2014 to 2024. The study included a total of 2,373 lionfish, all of which were culled during surveys, identified as P. volitans through subsequent dissections, and collected from eleven dive sites within Banco Capiro and La Ensenada. A total of 327 unique lionfish aggregations were recorded during the surveys included in this study. This study follows a repeated seasonal survey design, with lionfish observations collected annually during a consistent sampling window (June–August) across the two reef systems. Surveys were conducted using comparable methods across years, with a single SCUBA diver conducting the lionfish extractions on each dive to provide a consistent effort, enabling interannual comparison of population dynamics. Roving diver surveys were conducted, with lionfish culled using a Hawaiian sling pole spear and transferred to a Zookeeper container (Searle et al. 2012; Lionfish Hunting 2017). For the purposes of this study, an aggregation was defined as the occurrence of two or more lionfish observed within 1 m proximity of another lionfish, with both being non-moving, indicating local clustering within a survey unit rather than general co-occurrence on the reef. While lionfish are known to aggregate on coral reefs, this study focuses on temporal variation in aggregation size and structure across sites and sampling periods. Interannual comparisons confirm consistency in survey timing (June–August), sampling approach, and site coverage across years, allowing relative differences in lionfish abundance and aggregation patterns to be assessed over time. On return, lionfish were dissected immediately or refrigerated and dissected within 12 hours. Dissections followed Green et al. (2012). Sex was determined visually from gonad morphology using the lionfish sex determination and gonad staging key, based on gonad size, presence of gonadal masses, length:width ratio, and colour. English English Ethical approval for work with lionfish was granted by Liverpool John Moore’s University. All spearing was conducted with permits issued by the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA). Research permits were granted by the Honduran government’s Instituto de Conservación Forestal (ICF). 2015-06-01 2024-08-15 2026-11-02