preprints.org > biology and life sciences > aquatic science > doi: 10.20944/preprints202305.1089.v1

Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 15 May 2023 / Approved: 16 May 2023 / Online: 16 May 2023 (05:04:45 CEST)

The diet of the lionfish (Pterois miles), an invasive species in the Aegean Sea, was examined by collecting stomach content data from fish collected in three study sites in the Aegean Sea (southern Crete, Kastellorizo and Nysiros islands). Prey composition in terms of numerical abundance and frequency of occurence was used to compare lionfish’s diet between these sites. Lionfish largely preyed upon teleosts (5% to 83% numerical abundance and 16% to 59% frequency of occurrence depending on the site) and crustaceans (12% to 95% numerical abundance and 15% to 91% frequency of occurrence). The most important teleost families in lionfish’s diet were Gobiidae, Labridae, and Scorpaenidae, while decapods and especially the family Scyllaridae and the genus Plesionika were the dominant crustacean prey items. The lionfish was found to be an especially successful generalist across the study sites, an opportunistic, predatory species overall, and at the same time, at a local level, it seems to be an equally successful specialist that could increase the predation mortality of already stressed prey populations, and can be a serious threat to endemic, critically endangered, and/or commercially important species.

Pterois miles; lionfish; diet; Gobiidae; Scorpaenidae; Scyllaridae; invasive species; Aegean Sea

Biology and Life Sciences, Aquatic Science

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