Distribución y abundancia del pez león Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) y especies nativas asociadas en el Parque Marino Cayos de San Felipe, Cuba

Abstract

Distribution and abundance of the lionfish Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) and associated native species in Parque Marino Cayos de San Felipe, Cuba. The first lionfish sighting at the National Park "Cayos de San Felipe" was in 2009 and could be a threat to its marine ecosystem diversity and their capacity to generate services. To analyze the incidence of the lionfish invasion in the area, an annual sampling was conducted between 2013 and 2015. Lionfish abundance and size was investigated on mangroves through visual census on ten transects of 30x2 m/station, and on coral reefs (15 and 25 m deep) with stereo video on six transects of 50x2 m/station. Additionally, incidence of potential native competitors and predators on coral reefs were also estimated. Over the three years, the average density of lionfish varied between 0.0-1.3 indiv./100 m 2 per sample stations and it was not significantly different among habitats (mangroves with 0.6 indiv./100 m 2 , reefs at 15 m -0.4 indiv./100 m 2 and reef at 25 m with 0.3 indiv./100 m 2 ). Lionfish's density was equal to or lower than competitors' density, and was equal to or higher than predator's density in both depths. While lionfish density on mangroves and on reefs at 25 m remained temporally stable, it decreased on reefs at 15 m. Temporary increase in the competitor's density was observed and the predator´s density did not change during the monitored time. Lionfish size varied between 5 and 39 cm; the average fish size from mangroves (12.6 cm) was consistently lower than from reefs (25.2 cm) and showed no variations among years. Lionfish size in reefs was higher than competitor's size and lower than that of predator. Results showed that in the park: 1) mangroves represent lionfish nursery areas; 2) incidence of reef lionfish was not as high as in other areas of Cuba and the Caribbean; and 3) lionfish abundance in reefs tended to decrease over the years, without the intervention of extractive activities or high abundance of large size native groupers. In this sense, recommendations are made to continue monitoring and to investigate lionfish effects and factors that are regulating its incidence in the park. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (1): 117-125. Epub 2017 March 01.

Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish in the Punta Frances MPA, Cuba: insight into morphological features, diet and management

“…Lionfish are usually scarce in the seagrass bed and mangroves, probably the mangrove roots are not a habitat they prefer; while in the seagrass bed they can be found in patch reefs shelters and in artificial shelters used in the lobster fishery ( Rodríguez-Viera et al, 2017 ; and observations made by the authors in the Cuban shelf). However, in the Cayos de San Felipe National Park smaller lionfish have been found in mangrove, suggesting they are using that habitat as nursery ( de la Guardia et al, 2017 ), while in the Jardines de la Reina National Park this species has been reported abundant in coral reefs and mangrove areas ( Pina-Amargós, Salvat-Torres & López-Fernández, 2012 ), both of which are Cuban MPAs. Indeed, it would be very interesting to carry out a study that includes differences in depth and substrate complexity in all of these formations within and close to coral reefs, and particularly the contribution of typical “nursery” areas and deep reefs to the maintenance of lionfish populations.…”

“…Lionfish diet composition study allows knowing which are the most sensitive organisms affected by predation or competition; and concentrating efforts on the evaluation of lionfish impact on marine communities. The morphometric variables such as total length is an important parameter to take into account, and it has been the subject of several studies in the region ( Frazer et al, 2012 ; Claydon, Calosso & Traiger, 2012 ; de la Guardia et al, 2017 ; Barbour et al, 2011 ; Darling et al, 2011 ). For instance, the comparison of lionfish length between different ecosystems provide information about habitat changes during their ontogenetic development ( Claydon, Calosso & Traiger, 2012 ; Pimiento et al, 2015 ; de la Guardia et al, 2017 ).…”

“…The morphometric variables such as total length is an important parameter to take into account, and it has been the subject of several studies in the region ( Frazer et al, 2012 ; Claydon, Calosso & Traiger, 2012 ; de la Guardia et al, 2017 ; Barbour et al, 2011 ; Darling et al, 2011 ). For instance, the comparison of lionfish length between different ecosystems provide information about habitat changes during their ontogenetic development ( Claydon, Calosso & Traiger, 2012 ; Pimiento et al, 2015 ; de la Guardia et al, 2017 ). On the other hand, the analysis of the total length temporal variation in sites where lionfish extractions are carried out can show if these extractions are efficient in their control ( Akins, 2013 ; Frazer et al, 2012 ).…”