Abstract

This study characterized the community structure of reef fish in the national parks Guanahacabibes (PNG) in Cuba and Arrecifes de Xcalak (PNAX) in Mexico after the establishment of the lionfish. Visual censuses were carried out to deter-mine the structure and composition of the main prey, competitor and predator species, based on the distribution and abun-dance of the lionfish. The diet of the lionfish was analyzed through studies of stomach contents. The PNG presented higher abundances and sizes of all the prey species, competitors and potential predators of the lionfish than the PNAX. The lion-fish population increased significantly in the PNG, being higher than that established in the PNAX. It was found that the fish of the families Gobiidae, Pomacentridae and Labridae dominated the diet of the lionfish. The diversity, abundance and biomass of the PNG fish communities did not show differences with respect to the season. The abundance was higher in the dry season in the PNAX. The time did not influence the abundance and size of the lionfish in both MPAs. In general, the abundance and size of the prey species decreased with the increase of lionfish, especially in the PNG. Potential predators were not related to the lionfish in both MPAs. The differences in richness, diversity and equity in the fish communities in both MPAs were not associated with the lionfish. The lionfish is not the only impact factor on the reef fish of the western Caribbean and the hypothesis of biotic resistance to invasions does not apply in these areas.

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