Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) in the temperate and tropical western Atlantic

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 2567-2597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Peake ◽  
Alex K. Bogdanoff ◽  
Craig A. Layman ◽  
Bernard Castillo ◽  
Kynoch Reale-Munroe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Pterois Miles ◽  
Invasive Lionfish

Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) in the temperate and tropical western Atlantic

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Marine Food Webs ◽  
Pterois Miles ◽  
Prey Mass ◽  
Invasive Lionfish

Numerous location-based diet studies have been published describing different aspects of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) feeding ecology, but there has been no synthesis of their diet composition and feeding patterns across regional gradients. 8125 lionfish stomachs collected from 10 locations were analyzed to provide a generalized description of their feeding ecology at a regional scale and to compare their diet among locations. Our regional data indicate lionfish in the western Atlantic are opportunistic generalist carnivores that consume at least 167 vertebrate and invertebrate prey species across multiple trophic guilds, and carnivorous fish and shrimp prey that are not managed fishery species and not considered at risk of extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature disproportionately dominate their diet. Correlations between lionfish size and their diet composition indicate lionfish in the western Atlantic transition from a shrimp-dominated diet to a fish-dominated diet through ontogeny. Lionfish total length (TL) (mm) was found to predict mean prey mass per stomach (g) by the following equation mean prey mass = 0.0002 × TL^1.6391, which can be used to estimate prey biomass consumption from lionfish length-frequency data. Our locational comparisons indicate lionfish diet varies considerably among locations, even at the group (e.g., crab) and trophic guild levels. The Modified Index of Relative Importance developed specifically for this study, calculated as the frequency of prey a × the number of prey a, can be used in other diet studies to assess prey importance when prey mass data are not available. Researchers and managers can use the diet data presented in this study to make inference about lionfish feeding ecology in areas where their diet has yet to be described. These data can be used to guide research and monitoring efforts, and can be used in modeling exercises to simulate the potential effects of lionfish on marine food webs. Given the large variability in lionfish diet composition among locations, this study highlights the importance of continued location-based diet assessments to better inform local management activities.

scholarly journals Total mercury concentrations in invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) from the Atlantic coast of Florida

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric G. Johnson ◽  
Angelina Dichiera ◽  
Danielle Goldberg ◽  
MaryKate Swenarton ◽  
James Gelsleichter
Keyword(s):  
Total Mercury ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Marine Fishes ◽  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Significant Barrier ◽  
Invasive Lionfish ◽  
Mercury Bioaccumulation

ABSTRACTInvasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems throughout the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The development of a fishery for lionfish has been proposed as a strategy for controlling populations; however, there is concern about consumption of this species by humans due to its high trophic position and potential for bioaccumulation of mercury. We analyzed total mercury (THg) in tissues of lionfish from two locations on the east coast of Florida. THg in lionfish increased with size and differed by location and sex. THg was highest in muscle tissue and was strongly positively correlated among tissues. THg in lionfish was lower than other commonly consumed marine fishes, and falls into Florida’s least restrictive advisory level. Consumption of lionfish poses a low risk and concerns over mercury bioaccumulation should not present a significant barrier to lionfish harvest.

scholarly journals Back to the Source: Lionfish Imported into the United States via the Ornamental Aquarium Trade

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha D. Farquhar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Trade Flow ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Aquarium Trade ◽  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Pterois Miles ◽  
Native Populations

Lionfish (Pterois miles and Pterois volitans) are known for their invasive success in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. With few marine fish invasions of similar magnitude being documented, the introduction of lionfish in this area has been deemed one of the fastest and most ecologically harmful introductions to date. Furthermore, this invasion is thought to be caused by negligent aquarists who released ornamental lionfish off the coast of Florida in 1985. Interestingly, lionfish are rare in abundance throughout their native waters of the Indo-Pacific and factors controlling lionfish’s native populations are little studied and not clearly defined. Through the analysis of the Marine Aquarium Biodiversity and Trade Flow database for the years 2008, 2009, and 2011, it was determined that approximately 137,723 lionfish were exported to the United States with Los Angeles, CA being the most popular point of entry. Of this total, 45.5% originated from the Philippines, 27.7% from Indonesia, and 14.5% from Kenya. Pterois volitans was exported from 15 different countries and on average 19 times more than Pterois miles which was exported only from three countries. This paper questions: 1) if the ornamental aquarium trade is affecting lionfish’s native populations and 2) if the lionfish imports could be leading to more introductions in non-native waters. Ultimately, this paper acts as a short communication identifying a need for further research and attention towards this 

scholarly journals Total mercury concentrations in invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) from the Atlantic coast of Florida

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0234534
Author(s):  
Eric G. Johnson ◽  
Angelina Dichiera ◽  
Danielle Goldberg ◽  
MaryKate Swenarton ◽  
James Gelsleichter
Keyword(s):  
Total Mercury ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Marine Fishes ◽  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Significant Barrier ◽  
Invasive Lionfish ◽  
Mercury Bioaccumulation

Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems throughout the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The development of a fishery for lionfish has been proposed as a strategy for controlling populations; however, there is concern about consumption of this species by humans due to its high trophic position and potential for bioaccumulation of mercury. We analyzed total mercury (THg) in tissues of lionfish from two locations on the east coast of Florida. THg in lionfish increased with size and differed by location and sex. THg was highest in muscle tissue and was strongly positively correlated among tissues. THg in lionfish was lower than other commonly consumed marine fishes, and falls into Florida’s least restrictive advisory level. Consumption of lionfish poses a low risk and concerns over mercury bioaccumulation should not present a significant barrier to lionfish harvest.

First record of the snapper-choking isopod Cymothoa excisa (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) parasitizing invasive lionfish Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 2095-2097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Aguilar-Perera ◽  
Luis Quijano-Puerto ◽  
Evelyn Carrillo-Flota ◽  
Ernest H. Williams ◽  
Lucy Bunkley-Williams
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Buccal Cavity ◽  
First Record ◽  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Invasive Lionfish

Two female snapper-choking isopods Cymothoa excisa (body length 11 and 14 mm) were in the buccal cavity of two invasive lionfish Pterois volitans (total length 294 and 301 mm) collected in Alacranes Reef, southern Gulf of Mexico. This is the first record of C. excisa parasitizing invasive lionfish P. volitans in coral reefs of the Western Atlantic, where these isopods appear to have infected the host through adult prey-predator transfer.

scholarly journals On the relationship between native grouper and invasive lionfish in the Caribbean

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J Mumby ◽  
Daniel R Brumbaugh ◽  
Alastair R Harborne ◽  
George Roff
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Observational Data ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Invasive Lionfish ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Relationship

The Indo-Pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans, has invaded most of the Tropical Western Atlantic in the last few years. The degree to which populations of this invasive species can be controlled by native predatory fish (mostly grouper), is controversial with conflicting reports. Here, we review the evidence of two recent papers and point out some of the difficulties in inferring predator-limitation purely from observational data. A negative relationship has been found between large-bodied grouper and lionfish during early colonisation though the degree to which this is caused by direct predation versus behavioural mechanisms is unclear. Evidence to the contrary from a recent study suffers confounding effects of habitat quality, fishing, and dispersal and therefore remains equivocal.

scholarly journals Oogenesis and spawn formation in the invasive lionfish, Pterois miles and Pterois volitans

2011 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Morris, Jr ◽  
Craig V. Sullivan ◽  
John J. Govoni
Keyword(s):  
Pterois Volitans ◽  
Pterois Miles ◽  
Invasive Lionfish

scholarly journals Restaurant decision-maker perceptions of barriers and opportunities for invasive lionfish consumption

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Burgess ◽  
Nathan Smith ◽  
Jennifer N. Solomon ◽  
Kaylin Clements ◽  
Joanne Burgess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Pterois Miles ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽  
Invasive Lionfish ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities

Lionfish (Pterois volitans, Pterois miles), invasive coral reef fishes in the western Atlantic, cause extensive negative impacts to marine ecosystems. Following their introduction in Florida in the 1980’s, lionfish colonized numerous coral reef ecosystems and have been documented at depths ranging from 1-300m. In addition to depleting native reef fish biomass and threatening macroalgae induced phase shifts on shallow reefs, the invasion of lionfish has caused severe economic damage in the form of reduced native fish yields for local fisher people and high costs of management. While few examples exist of successful management of marine invasive species, studies have shown that lionfish removal can decrease their density and increase prey species biomass. A critical component and challenge for any effective lionfish removal effort is to maintain consistently high levels of lionfish harvesting so as to reduce lionfish abundance to levels that mitigate their negative ecological impacts. One popular market-based option that may achieve this is increasing the demand for the consumption of lionfish. This management solution offers potential benefits to both human livelihoods and marine ecosystems. Our study focuses on Florida’s consumptive lionfish market and fills a gap in understanding the lionfish supply chain for Florida’s restaurant industry. Although lionfish are commercially available in Florida, they are not currently widely consumed with consistency. We conducted interviews with twenty restaurant decision-makers in FL to understand their perceptions of barriers and opportunities for increasing their use of invasive lionfish. The most commonly identified barriers were: price and consistency of supply, while the most prominent opportunities were: improved awareness and culinary potential to increase the demand for lionfish. Conservation managers and policymakers should leverage these findings to facilitate opportunities, address barriers, and promote public education about invasive lionfish and their impacts.

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