This field experiment was conducted on artificial patch reefs to test for presence of density dependence in invasive red lionfish recruitment, immigration, loss, and growth (in mass and length). The experiment used 10 reefs which were manipulated so that 4 reefs had 0 lionfish on them (controls), and 6 each had a unique density of lionfish. Each week, the number of lionfish on each reef was recorded, and new lionfish recruits and immigrants were removed. Every two weeks, lionfish growth in length was re-measured. At the end of the experiment (6 weeks), lionfish growth in mass was re-measured.
Related Manuscript: Benkwitt, C.E. (2013) and Benkwitt, C.E. (2015)