Abstract

Lionfish native to the Indo-Pacific have recently been damaging ecosystems and reef wildlife as invasive species in the southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean. Because of differing fish community structures and environmental factors across geo-graphic locations, it is essential to know which groups of fishes are being preferentially eaten in order to effectively manage these invasive fish. Using lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) speared by divers from multiple dive sites around St. Kitts, lionfish stomachs were removed to identify prey items to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Some prey items could be identified morphologically using dichotomous keys, while others were semi-digested and required DNA barcoding. The lionfish and any items in the stomachs were measured: Total Length (TL) for whole fish, or maximum measurable length for digested items. For each collection site, lionfish length and ecological factors were assessed in relation to the size, num-ber, and diversity of prey items identified. Stomach contents varied from zero to fifteen fish per stomach. Seven families of fish, ranging in length from 0.9 to 9.9 centimeters, and multiple invertebrate taxa, were found. This suggests an opportunistic or generalist feeding strategy, which agrees with previous studies of lionfish diet. Assessing the damage that these inva-sive species may have on the ecosystem, whether by depleting juvenile fish populations or competition with native preda-tors, may encourage the public and governments to take action to ameliorate the effects. Therefore, this study has the poten-tial to be useful for fisheries and conservation management planning.

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