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The 1985 starting date for the map was a lionfish sighting near Dania, Florida reported in 1985 (see Morris and Akins, 2009; also Schofield, 2009). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) points out this 1985 sighting in their Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 99.
The North Atlantic Gyre does. The Gulf Stream is but a part of that Gyre.
I think you will find that the flow patterns of the North Atlantic Gyre are contrary to the patterns suggested by the lionfish spread in Post #1.The North Atlantic Gyre does. The Gulf Stream is but a part of that Gyre.
North Atlantic Gyre - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Primary flows, yes. There are plenty of eddies and backflows to move larvae in the opposite direction tho. Most of them are pulled north until they reach water too cold for their survival which spares Europe from eventual migrants, but some ride the opposite flowing waters caused by the Antilles.
They're pretty and hardy, never had one die on me when I sold them years ago, and attentive hunters. Many customers enjoyed feeding them live goldish (I used to order those in 5,000 shipments), while I enjoyed teaching them to eat fish food tablets I'd release by hand, but they grow too large for many aquariums. Large public aquariums often get them donated along with many other fish that grow too big for home tanks, but I've wondered what happened to most of them I sold in the Texas panhandle far from such facilities. Hobbyists who live near oceans sometimes think that setting them free is ok. Florida's game wardens have removed many foreign fish species found living in local waters. They've also invaded the eastern Mediterranean after migrating from the Red Sea thru the Suez.
