Abstract

Widely regarded as a generalist predator with a voracious appetite, lionfish are principally piscivorous but have been known to feed on invertebrates. Prey species in the Atlantic region are naïve to lionfish predation strategies, resulting in lionfish having higher predation efficiencies than either local predators or lionfish in their native range. Lionfish management is considered a regional issue across the Atlantic and Caribbean region, but if lionfish feeding ecology varies between regions (especially amongst islands within the invaded regions), the consequent ecological impacts are likely to vary, and control or eradication strategies will need to be tailored to each regional area. To determine the magnitude of ecological impacts of lionfish, and to assess for local-scale variation in feeding ecology, a total of 11,161 lionfish ranging between 21 to 455 mm TL were collected and analysed between October 2009 and November 2013. Lionfish were sampled from Bonaire (6,288), Klein Bonaire (2,743) and Curacao (2,130). Stomach contents were identified and feeding ecology analysed to assess whether lionfish exhibited density-dependent feeding and whether trait-based selection was occurring whereby factors such as prey colour, shape, or behaviour affected dietary preferences. Finally, lionfish feeding ecology from the southern edge of the invaded rage was compared to that reported previously from the United States and Bahamas to determine whether feeding ecology and preferences differed geographically and over the invasion timeline.

PDF Preview