Search

Invasive species often severely impact ecosystems and human activities in the areas that they invade. The lionfishes Pterois miles and P. volitans are regarded as the most successful invasive fishes in marine ecosystems. In the last 40 years, these Indo-Pacific predators have established in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, with well-documented detrimental effects on the local fish communities. Around 10 years ago, a second invasion began in the Mediterranean Sea, which is being colonised by P. miles. Given the invasive potential of P. miles and the fact that the ecology and biodiversity of the temperate/sub-tropical Mediterranean Sea offer a different setting from the tropical western Atlantic, specific knowledge on this second invasion is needed. Here, we: (i) review the scientific knowledge available on the ecology of invasive lionfishes, (ii) discuss such knowledge in the context of invasion ecology and (iii) suggest future research avenues on the P. miles invasion in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, we offer an update on the spread of P. miles in the Mediterranean Sea. While the history and development of the Mediterranean invasion are resolved and some mitigation plans have been implemented locally, the study of the interactions of P. miles with Mediterranean species and their impact on the local biodiversity is in its infancy. Closing this gap will lead to important fundamental insights in invasion ecology and will result in predictions on the impact of P. miles on the ecology and ecosystem services of the Mediterranean Sea. Such information will have practical implications for policy-makers aiming to devise sound and efficient mitigation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the catch composition and compare the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of indigenous and non-indigenous species in longline and trammel net fisheries in the Mediterranean coasts of Türkiye. The data were collected weekly from May 2020 to September 2021 by commercial fishing vessels (n = 62 days for trammel nets, n = 75 days for longlines). The results of the study indicated that more than 90% of the catch composition consisted of non-indigenous species in trammel net fishery and Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828), Siganus rivulatus Forsskål et Niebuhr, 1775, Siganus luridus (Rüppell, 1829), and Scarus ghobban Forsskål, 1775 were the most commonly caught species. Although indigenous species were more common in longlines compared with trammel nets, non-indigenous species Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789) and Lagocephalus suezensis Clark et Gohar, 1953 were represented by relatively high catch ratios. The results also revealed that the CPUE of non-indigenous species exhibited seasonal differences. Although some non-indigenous species caught within this study have a market value, some other highly invasive species do not. Therefore, it is critically important to develop effective management tools to control bio-invasion. This study provides the first comprehensive research by utilizing basic data with relatively long-term surveys in the small-scale fishery on the Mediterranean coasts of Türkiye. The outcomes of this study can provide guidance to decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single specimen of Pterois cf. miles has been recorded in the eastern middle Adriatic Sea. It was observed near the island of Vis at a depth of 15 m. The location of the record is further north than previous Adriatic records and it constitutes the northernmost record of this species in the Mediterranean Sea to date. The record is based solely on photographs and video footage provided by a professional underwater photographer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The ‘Lessepsian migration’ is a unidirectional phenomenon of successful biotic colonisation from the Red Sea into the eastern Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. In this study, 45 Lessepsian marine fish species were screened for their potential invasiveness in the south-western coasts of Anatolia (Muğla region, Turkey), with the aim to inform policy makers on proper management and control measures. Materials and methods. Species were screened with the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) for their potential invasiveness in the south- western coasts of Anatolia—the Risk Assessment (RA) area. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the predictive ability of AS-ISK to discriminate between the Lessepsian fish species posing a high risk and those posing a medium risk of being invasive for the RA area. The following species were studied: Alepes djedaba, Apogonichthyoides pharaonis, Atherinomorus forskalii, Bregmaceros nectabanus, Callionymus filamentosus, Champsodon nudivittis, Champsodon vorax, Cynoglossus sinusarabici, Dussumieria elopsoides, Equulites klunzingeri, Etrumeus golanii, Fistularia commersonii, Hemiramphus far, Herklotsichthys punctatus, Jaydia queketti, Jaydia smithi, Lagocephalus guentheri, Lagocephalus sceleratus, Lagocephalus spadiceus, Lagocephalus suezensis, Liza carinata, Nemipterus randalli, Ostorhinchus fasciatus, Oxyurichthys petersii, Parupeneus forsskali, Pelates quadrilineatus, Pempheris rhomboidea, Pomadasys stridens, Pteragogus pelycus, Pterois miles, Rachycentron canadum, Sargocentron rubrum, Saurida lessepsianus, Scomberomorus commerson, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Sillago suezensis, Sphyraena chrysotaenia, Sphyraena flavicauda, Stephanolepis diaspros, Torquigener flavimaculosus, Trachurus indicus, Upeneus moluccensis, Upeneus pori, Vanderhorstia mertensi. Results. BRA and BRA + CCA thresholds of 18.5 and 29.5, respectively, were identified that reliably distinguished between potentially invasive (high risk) and potentially non-invasive (medium or low risk) species. Based on both thresholds, 14 species were categorised as high risk (amongst which devil firefish, Pterois miles, was the highest-scoring one), 28 as medium risk, and one as low risk. The CCA resulted in an increase from the BRA score for 42 (93.3%) of the screened species, and 12 of these achieved the highest possible (positive) change in BRA + CCA score of 12 points. Conclusion. The thresholds set in the presently reported study for risk of invasiveness of the Lessepsian fishes under study in the south- western coasts of Anatolia can be transferred to other AS-ISK based applications in other RA areas in case of small sample sizes. The outcomes of this study will be of use to fish biologists, fisheries scientists and environmental managers/stakeholders in a joint effort to ensure better conservation and management actions with regard to the role of Lessepsian fishes in the RA area.

The diet composition of devil lionfish, Pterois miles (Bennet, 1828), from the Aegean Sea was investigated. The stomach contents of 42 samples (10 of which were empty) collected between May 2016 and November 2017 from Rhodes Island, Greece, were studied. The diet was composed predominantly of bony fish (78.5% in number, approximately 94.7% in biomass) belonging to a large variety of families, and invertebrates (15.4% in number, 5.1% in biomass), thus indicating an opportunistic feeding behaviour of the species in the study area. The length-length and length-weight relations were also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The 'Lessepsian migration' is a unidirectional phenomenon of successful biotic colonisation from the Red Sea into the eastern Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. In this study, 45 Lessepsian marine fish species were screened for their potential invasiveness in the south-western coasts of Anatolia (Muğla region, Turkey), with the aim to inform policy makers on proper management and control measures. Materials and methods. Species were screened with the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) for their potential invasiveness in the south-western coasts of Anatolia--the Risk Assessment (RA) area. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the predictive ability of AS-ISK to discriminate between the Lessepsian fish species posing a high risk and those posing a medium risk of being invasive for the RA area. The following species were studied: Alepes djedaba, Apogonichthyoides pharaonis, Atherinomorus forskalii, Bregmaceros nectabanus, Callionymus filamentosus, Champsodon nudivittis, Champsodon vorax, Cynoglossus sinusarabici, Dussumieria elopsoides, Equulites klunzingeri, Etrumeus golanii, Fistularia commersonii, Hemiramphus far, Herklotsichthys punctatus, Jaydia queketti, Jaydia smithi, Lagocephalus guentheri, Lagocephalus sceleratus, Lagocephalus spadiceus, Lagocephalus suezensis, Liza carinata, Nemipterus randalli, Ostorhinchus fasciatus, Oxyurichthys petersii, Parupeneus forsskali, Pelates quadrilineatus, Pempheris rhomboidea, Pomadasys stridens, Pteragogus pelycus, Pterois miles, Rachycentron canadum, Sargocentron rubrum, Saurida lessepsianus, Scomberomorus commerson, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Sillago suezensis, Sphyraena chrysotaenia, Sphyraena flavicauda, Stephanolepis diaspros, Torquigener flavimaculosus, Trachurus indicus, Upeneus moluccensis, Upeneus pori, Vanderhorstia mertensi. Results. BRA and BRA + CCA thresholds of 18.5 and 29.5, respectively, were identified that reliably distinguished between potentially invasive (high risk) and potentially non-invasive (medium or low risk) species. Based on both thresholds, 14 species were categorised as high risk (amongst which devil firefish, Pterois miles, was the highestscoring one), 28 as medium risk, and one as low risk. The CCA resulted in an increase from the BRA score for 42 (93.3%) of the screened species, and 12 of these achieved the highest possible (positive) change in BRA + CCA score of 12 points. Conclusion. The thresholds set in the presently reported study for risk of invasiveness of the Lessepsian fishes under study in the south-western coasts of Anatolia can be transferred to other AS-ISK based applications in other RA areas in case of small sample sizes. The outcomes of this study will be of use to fish biologists, fisheries scientists and environmental managers/stakeholders in a joint effort to ensure better conservation and management actions with regard to the role of Lessepsian fishes in the RA area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Biological invasions represent a threat to the ecological stability of the ecosystem. Two lionfish species, the red lionfish and the devil fi refish--both tropical marine predators native to the Indo-Pacific--were introduced to the Atlantic Ocean. However, only one--the red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)--has reached the level of an invasive species so far. It is crucial to learn its biology and ecology to understand trends of its invasion and impacts on native fauna, and to determine ecological changes as the invasion progresses. This study reports the growth and mortality of P. volitans in coral reefs of the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, off the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, in Southern Gulf of Mexico. Materials and methods. Lobster diver fi shers participated in voluntary captures of lionfish during the lobster fi shing seasons of 2010-2012. In the laboratory, lionfish were taxonomically identified, measured, and weighed. Their length-weight relation was determined according to the commonly used equation: W = aTLb. Fish total lengths were used to calculate the parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) of lionfish based on the size-frequency analysis routine ELEFAN in the FiSAT II software. Results. A total of 776 lionfish (9.0 to 38.9 cm in total length, 7 to 874 g in total wet weight) were collected. The VBGF parameters estimated were L8 = 42 cm, K = 0.88-1, t0 = -0.107 years. The total mortality instantaneous rate (Z) calculated by the total length converted catch curve was 2.06 year-1. Conclusion. This study provides fi rst calculation of growth parameters and mortality of P. volitans in Southern Gulf of Mexico as determined by size-frequency analysis. Results contribute to the knowledge on the biology of P. volitans and to a better understanding of aspects of its biological invasion in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]