Android Lionfish Tracker App

You may already know about the problem with Lionfish. If so, feel free to skip to the bottom. For everyone else, a bit of background info.

What's the problem with Lionfish?
A few Lionfish Quickfacts (provided by NOAA, REEF, Simon Fraser University and USGS):

• In the Caribbean a single female Lionfish can spawn over ~2 million eggs/year
• Reproduction occurs throughout the year about every 4 days
• Lionfish eggs are held together in a gelatinous mass and are dispersed at the ocean’s surface by currents, where their larval duration is ~26 days
• Lionfish are generalist carnivores that consume >56 species of fish and many invertebrate species, with prey up to half the Lionfish’s body size
• On heavily invaded sites, Lionfish have reduced their fish prey by up to 90% and continue to consume native fishes at unsustainable rates
• Native predators exhibit avoidance for Lionfish
• Lionfish have very few parasites compared to native species

In summary: They were introduced by mankind, wipe out local fish populations, have no natural predators, and reproduce like crazy. The result, if unchecked, likely looks like this:

Image provided by REEF from a dive site in the Bahamas

Perhaps an image from the USGS Lionfish sightings database can help people visualize the problem. In 2007, Lionfish were first sighted off the Bahamas. The current distribution map from the USGS database is as follows:

What can you currently do about it?

• Report lionfish sightings at http://www.reef.org/programs/exotic/report or http://nas.er.usgs.gov/sightingreport.asp
• Attend a lionfish derby: http://www.reef.org/lionfish/derbies
• Attend a lionfish workshop to learn more about the problem and what you can do about it: http://www.reef.org/lionfish/workshops

Perhaps one of the most potentially effective solutions is to eat them!

Check out some Lionfish Recipes or get your own cookbook:

The cookbook from REEF has a lot of info about Lionfish
including how to capture, clean and prepare them.

Why an Android App?

A lot of divers come to the Florida Keys. Many of them have heard of the Lionfish problem. Many of them want to do something about it. Yet, I hear many ask, "Where are the lionfish?"

In contrast, local divers who dive lesser-known dive sites frequently are overwhelmed by how many Lionfish there are. I believe that in the areas we dive a lot, commercial dive operators are better trained in removing the Lionfish and do this regularly. So, the most frequently dived sites are probably the most free of Lionfish.

I'm thinking it would be great to connect these folks. With smartphones and social apps available today, this seems like a problem that technology can help. Having previously run a software development company and worked on many mobile applications, I feel like I am in a position to help.

When I looked at the USGS invasive species database, I was disappointed at how few Lionfish sightings and/or collections were reported recently. I believe that many people initially report Lionfish sightings and then report them much less frequently. So, adding information to this database would seem beneficial to the research community as well. Others may also release a Lionfish App. If we are all pulling information from the USGS database and putting it back into that same database, that would just result in more data.

So, I started working on an Android Lionfish Tracker App. Here are a couple of screen captures. The app displays an icon representing Lionfish sightings. I also added a diver icon to represent dive sites. The icons are ones that were freely available that I've modified slightly for this app. When you click on either, more information is presented. If you press and hold, even more information will be presented. I'm building the app up incrementally, testing it and getting feedback along the way. I will likely also publish the source code under a GPL licenses (Open Source Software).

How can you help this project?

Think this project is worthwhile? Want to help? First, start by doing one of the items in the "What can you currently do about it?" section above. Then, the following would also be appreciated:

• Feedback! Comments, concerns, questions, or suggestions are all welcome. Please let me know what you think I'm doing either right or wrong. Words of encouragement are certainly welcome!
• If you are in South Florida, please consider becoming an alpha/beta tester.
• If you think you can offer help, please contact me via Twitter, Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, Email, etc. My username is "jasonnocks" on all of them.
• Monitor this project. Share it with your immediate friends/associates. If you know someone that you think could help, please put us in touch. If you know someone that you think would be able to benefit, let them know about it. 

I really need to start putting together some alpha/beta testers. I'll be contacting dive professionals in the Key Largo area soon to see who wants to be an alpha/beta tester. If you are excited about that idea, please let me know. If not, feel free to say so.

REEF has done a great job making people aware of the problem. I hope this helps with the effort.

Thank you in advance.

Cheers,

Jason Nocks

Top 5 Most Unlikely State Animals

A more lighthearted post today. You've seen the state birds, state flowers, etc. Well, here's a list of the Top 5 Most Unlikely State Animals. Now, before you run out and get one of each of these for a pet, you might want to read further.

5. State Rodent

The word "Rat" immediately evokes images of the all-too-prevalent Black and Brown rats known for carrying diseases and/or living in sewers. Well, in Florida the Key Largo Woodrat is actually on the endangered species list (Florida Nature). This little guy is actually kinda cute and probably the least irritating of all the animals on this list. It's just odd to think of a "Rat" being "protected". A "State Rat" would be even more interesting.

Key Largo Woodrat (photo from Florida Nature)

4. Sate Blood-Sucking Parasite/Insect

No, I'm not talking about your annoying coworker, neighbor or politician that you love to hate. Think more along the lines of garden variety disease-carrying, stinging mosquitoes. Only, ones that you can't easily see, commonly called No-see-ums. After all, if you could easily see them, you might be able to avoid them.

Technically they are called biting midges, which like mosquitoes thrive in standing water, such as the floodwater habitats found across the state of Florida. They "can be a nuisance to campers, fishermen, hunters, hikers, gardeners, and others who spend time outdoors" (University of Florida - IAFS) What, you came to Florida and want to stay outside? Oh, and to avoid being "bitten", wear clothing that covers you as fully as possible. Sure, just what you came to Florida for. So, the winner here is:

No-see-um (aka Biting Midge - photo from University of Florida - IAFS)

3. State Predatory Marine Life
The description, "Predatory Marine Life" is probably enough of an explanation. But, it's hard to choose between a Bull Shark or a Tiger Shark. The description at National Geographic is "Bull sharks are aggressive, common, and usually live near high-population areas like tropical shorelines." Aggressive and common? Near high-population areas? What better combination could you ask for when it comes to predatory marine life? Tiger Sharks just aren't common enough. So, the clear winner in this category is:

Bull Shark (photo from National Geographic)

2. State Venomous Snake

When you think of venomous snakes in Florida, it's common to picture the Eastern Coral Snake. However, while it has a dangerous neurotoxin, "they must literally chew on their victim to inject their venom fully, so most bites to humans don't result in death." (National Geographic) I think we can do better than a snake that has to lay there chewing on you to be dangerous for this list.

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, is "the largest venomous snake in North America." (National Geographic) Now that's more like it. And. it's "[often] considered the most venomous species in North America. Surprisingly, juveniles are considered more dangerous than adults, due to their inability to control the amount of venom injected." (Listverse - most venomous snakes) Enough said. The clear winner in this category is:

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (photo from Listverse - most venomous snakes))

1. State Invasive Species
Many would nominate the Iguana that can be found all over parts of Florida. The ecological impact of the Iguana is still being determined. These guys are everywhere. A couple of years ago, they were literally falling out of the trees during a cold spell. But, are they such a problem that people are recommending eating them? I don't think so.

Now Lionfish are becoming such a problem that people really are recommending eating them. Despite the fact that they have venomous spines! REEF even released a The Lionfish Cookbook. Don't worry, it comes with instructions for safely removing the spines. Also, "the Key Largo Conch House now serves lionfish tacos for lunch and plans to introduce them as daily dinner special. Key Largo’s Fish House Encore serves fried whole lionfish as an appetizer, preparing the filets in a variety of ways." (Florida Rambler) So, go eat some Lionfish. Seriously. Clearly, the winner here is:

Lionfish (photo from REEF)

So, that's my list of the Top 5 Most Unlikely State Animals. Hope you enjoyed it. Again, this post was meant to be a bit more lighthearted. But, seriously, go eat some Lionfish. I'll admit I also have a more Keys-oriented view of Florida. As always, feedback welcome.

Cheers,
Jason Nocks