Lionfish Invasion

Chris and Angie make a comeback after a brief break, energized by their first physical meetup in six years. They discuss their recent experiences, including Chris's visit to Florida and their plans for future travels to New Zealand and Australia. The episode focuses on the invasive lionfish species, highlighting the significant threats they pose to the Caribbean and Atlantic ecosystems. They delve into lionfish biology, feeding habits, rapid reproduction, and their impact on native species. Chris and Angie also explore various strategies for combating the lionfish invasion, such as spearfishing tournaments, promoting lionfish consumption, and biological controls. They emphasize the importance of science and funding in these conservation efforts. Additionally, the episode touches on fish intelligence and behavior, providing fascinating insights into their cognitive abilities. They wrap up by mentioning key organizations like the Reef Environmental Education Foundation and Lionfish University, which are actively working to mitigate the lionfish problem. Podcast Timeline 00:00 Welcome Back to the Art Creatures Podcast 00:18 Reunion in Florida 01:00 Future Travel Plans 02:42 Reflecting on COVID Times 03:29 Exciting Announcements 06:04 Introducing the Lionfish 07:30 Lionfish: Beauty and Danger 08:12 Invasive Species Impact 25:12 Conservation Efforts and Challenges 30:31 Lionfish Evolution and Characteristics 35:58 Planning the Next Fishing Adventure 37:13 Amazing Facts About Fish Physiology 40:25 The Venomous Spines of the Red Lionfish 46:00 Lionfish Diet and Hunting Strategies 01:02:32 Reproduction and Rapid Growth of Lionfish 01:06:37 Conservation Efforts and Eating Lionfish =========================================================== Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at [e-mail] if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices