Low Pufferfish and Lionfish Predation in Their Native and Invaded Ranges Suggests Human Control Mechanisms May Be Necessary to Control Their Mediterranean Abundances

The silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus, from the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae) and the Pacific red lionfish (Pterois miles, family Scorpaenidae) have recently invaded the Mediterranean Sea. Lagocephalus sceleratus has spread throughout this entire sea with the highest concentrations in the eastern basin, while more recently, Pterois miles has spread from the Eastern to the Central Mediterranean Sea. Their effects on local biodiversity and fisheries are cause for management concern. Here, a comprehensive review of predators of these two species from their native Indo-Pacific and invaded Mediterranean and Western Atlantic ranges is presented. Predators of Tetraodontidae in general were reviewed for their native Indo-Pacific and Western Atlantic ranges, as no records were found specifically for L. sceleratus in its native range. Tetraodontidae predators in their native ranges included mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda), lizardfish (Synodus spp.), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), sea snakes (Enhydrina spp.), catfish (Arius spp.), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), and common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). The only reported predator of adult L. sceleratus in the Mediterranean was loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), whereas juvenile L. sceleratus were preyed by common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and garfish (Belone belone). Conspecific cannibalism of L. sceleratus juveniles was also confirmed in the Mediterranean. Pufferfish predators in the Western Atlantic included common octopus, frogfish (Antennaridae), and several marine birds. Predators of all lionfish species in their native Indo-Pacific range included humpback scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis spp.), bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois), moray eels (Muraenidae), and bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii). Lionfish predators in the Mediterranean included dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus), common octopus, and L. sceleratus, whereas in the Western Atlantic included the spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa), multiple grouper species (tiger Mycteroperca tigris, Nassau Epinephelus striatus, black Mycteroperca bonaci, red Epinephelus morio, and gag Mycteroperca microleps; Epinephelidae), northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), greater amberjack (Seriola dumerilli), and nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum). The sparse data found on natural predation for these species suggest that population control via predation may be limited. Their population control may require proactive, targeted human removals, as is currently practiced with lionfish in the Western Atlantic.

Download Full-text

Protect the Natives to Combat the Aliens: Could Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 Be a Natural Agent for the Control of the Lionfish Invasion in the Mediterranean Sea?

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9030308 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 308 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Fabio Crocetta ◽

Maria Shokouros-Oskarsson ◽

Nikolaos Doumpas ◽

Ioannis Giovos ◽

Stefanos Kalogirou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Invasions ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Octopus Vulgaris ◽

Major Threat ◽

Global Biodiversity ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Natural Agent

Biological invasions constitute a major threat to native ecosystems and to global biodiversity [...]

Download Full-text

Pots as alternative and sustainable fishing gears in the Mediterranean Sea: an overview

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries ◽

10.1007/s11160-021-09676-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Petetta ◽

Massimo Virgili ◽

Stefano Guicciardi ◽

Alessandro Lucchetti

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Early Stage ◽

Spiny Lobster ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Octopus Vulgaris ◽

Target Species ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Fishing Gears ◽

Pros And Cons ◽

The Mediterranean

AbstractStock overexploitation, bycatch, discards and gear impacts on the environment are outstanding issues for Mediterranean fisheries. The adoption of alternative fishing gears is an appealing solution to ensure a more sustainable exploitation of resources. We discuss the pros and cons of pots as alternative gears by reviewing their main designs, spatial distribution and target species in the Mediterranean basin. We assessed the technical factors affecting the catch efficiency of the different pot designs for four target species: spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas; Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus; common octopus, Octopus vulgaris and pandalid shrimps, Plesionika spp. We found that pot volume is important to catch Octopus; mesh size to catch Nephrops and Plesionika; entrance surface to catch Octopus, Nephrops and Plesionika; pot shape/colour and entrance shape/position to catch Octopus and Plesionika; and bait type to catch Octopus and Nephrops. The literature review shows that pot fisheries have several considerable advantages over conventional gears, especially in terms of discards, bycatch, seabed impacts (particularly compared with bottom trawls and passive set nets), size and species selectivity, gear depredation, catch quality and gear cost, besides saving time and labour. Disadvantages hampering their wider diffusion include ghost fishing, a low catch of finfish species, the narrow range of species targeted by each pot design and the current early stage of research. These data make a clear case for using pots as alternative gears to traditional ones in the Mediterranean Sea in some areas and seasons to catch certain target species.

Download Full-text

The Chemical Composition of the Lionfish (Pterois miles, Bennett 1828), the New Invasive Species of the Mediterranean Sea

Natural and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.28978/nesciences.424554 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 103-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Deniz Ayas ◽

Gulsemin Sen Agılkaya ◽

Ali Rıza Kosker ◽

Mustafa Durmus ◽

Yılmaz Ucar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Pterois Miles ◽

The Mediterranean

Download Full-text

The Presence of the invasive Lionfish Pterois miles in the Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Marine Science ◽

10.12681/mms.470 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

M. BARICHE ◽

M. TORRES ◽

E. AZZURRO

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

New Records ◽

Pterois Miles ◽

Invasive Lionfish ◽

Future Potential ◽

The Mediterranean

Here we report the occurrence of Pterois miles in the Mediterranean Sea, based on the capture of two specimens along the coast of Lebanon. Previously, only one record of the species from the Mediterranean Sea had been documented. The new records highlight the arrival of new propagules of P. miles, more than two decades later, hinting to a future potential invasion of the Mediterranean Sea.

Download Full-text

Genetic Data Suggest Multiple Introductions of the Lionfish (Pterois miles) into the Mediterranean Sea

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d11090149 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 149 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Andreas C. Dimitriou ◽

Niki Chartosia ◽

Jason M. Hall-Spencer ◽

Periklis Kleitou ◽

Carlos Jimenez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Red Sea ◽

Native Species ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Economic Effects ◽

Western Atlantic ◽

Multiple Introductions ◽

Pterois Miles ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Successful Invader ◽

Northern Red Sea

Widespread reports over the last six years confirm the establishment of lionfish (Pterois miles) populations in the eastern Mediterranean. Accumulated knowledge on lionfish invasions in the western Atlantic Ocean has shown that it is a successful invader and can have negative impacts on native species, indirect ecological repercussions and economic effects on local human societies. Here we analysed genetic sequences of lionfish from Cyprus as well as data from the whole distribution of the species, targeting the mtDNA markers cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the control region (CR). Our results reflect a pattern of repeated introductions into the Mediterranean from the northern Red Sea and a secondary spread of this species west to Rhodes and Sicily. Presented results agree with previously published studies highlighting the genetic similarity with individuals from the northern Red Sea. Nevertheless, some individuals from Cyprus, in addition to those coming via the Suez Canal, were genetically similar to fish from the Indian Ocean, indicating genetic homogeneity among populations of P. miles across its current distribution, possibly facilitated by the ornamental fish trade and/or transport through ballast water.

Download Full-text

First record of Acanthosiphonia echinata (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) in the Mediterranean Sea, molecular and morphological characterization

Botanica Marina ◽

10.1515/bot-2019-0072 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 241-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marion A. Wolf ◽

Alessandro Buosi ◽

Adriano Sfriso

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

South Carolina ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

First Record ◽

Morphological Characterization ◽

Western Atlantic ◽

Seaweed Farming ◽

Mitochondrial Coi ◽

Ship Route ◽

The Mediterranean

AbstractIn this study we report the first finding of the red alga Acanthosiphonia echinata in the Mediterranean Sea. Specimens were identified using the DNA barcoding method and, in particular, the plastidial rbcL and the mitochondrial COI-5P markers. This species has been considered to be restricted to the western Atlantic and was reported in blooms from North Carolina to South Carolina. In 2015 the introduction of this species in Southeast Asia (Indonesia) was reported. Probably this taxon was introduced in the Mediterranean Sea from Indonesian populations associated with seaweed farming activities or hull fouling, via the western Atlantic-Mediterranean-Indonesia ship route.

Download Full-text