Abstract
The silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus, from the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae) and the Pacific red lionfish (Pterois miles, family Scorpaenidae) have recently invaded the Mediterranean Sea. Lagocephalus sceleratus has spread throughout this entire sea with the highest concentrations in the eastern basin, while more recently, Pterois miles has spread from the Eastern to the Central Mediterranean Sea. Their effects on local biodiversity and fisheries are cause for management concern. Here, a comprehensive review of predators of these two species from their native Indo-Pacific and invaded Mediterranean and Western Atlantic ranges is presented. Predators of Tetraodontidae in general were reviewed for their native Indo-Pacific and Western Atlantic ranges, as no records were found specifically for L. sceleratus in its native range. Tetraodontidae predators in their native ranges included mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda), lizardfish (Synodus spp.), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), sea snakes (Enhydrina spp.), catfish (Arius spp.), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), and common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). The only reported predator of adult L. sceleratus in the Mediterranean was loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), whereas juvenile L. sceleratus were preyed by common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and garfish (Belone belone). Conspecific cannibalism of L. sceleratus juveniles was also confirmed in the Mediterranean. Pufferfish predators in the Western Atlantic included common octopus, frogfish (Antennaridae), and several marine birds. Predators of all lionfish species in their native Indo-Pacific range included humpback scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis spp.), bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois), moray eels (Muraenidae), and bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii). Lionfish predators in the Mediterranean included dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus), common octopus, and L. sceleratus, whereas in the Western Atlantic included the spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa), multiple grouper species (tiger Mycteroperca tigris, Nassau Epinephelus striatus, black Mycteroperca bonaci, red Epinephelus morio, and gag Mycteroperca microleps; Epinephelidae), northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), greater amberjack (Seriola dumerilli), and nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum). The sparse data found on natural predation for these species suggest that population control via predation may be limited. Their population control may require proactive, targeted human removals, as is currently practiced with lionfish in the Western Atlantic.
Highlights
To date, approximately 500 of the 800 non-native or alien species detected in the Mediterranean arrived through the Suez Canal (Galil et al, 2016, 2018; Zenetos et al, 2017; Zenetos and Galanidi, 2020)
Mediterranean Records A photograph of C. caretta biting an adult L. sceleratus was taken from Antalya, Turkey in 2019 (Table 2A and Figure 2A)
We found strong evidence of L. sceleratus cannibalism in the Mediterranean with 16 total records of L. sceleratus juveniles found in adults, with six juveniles found inside one specimen from Tunisia
Summary
Approximately 500 of the 800 non-native or alien species detected in the Mediterranean arrived through the Suez Canal (Galil et al, 2016, 2018; Zenetos et al, 2017; Zenetos and Galanidi, 2020). Knowledge of a system’s predators for an invasive species can help understand the potential direct and indirect impacts of the new species in the food web and evaluate the potential resiliency of the native community to this disturbance (Grüss et al, 2017; Chagaris et al, 2020) Such knowledge should be kept current and consider contemporary co-evolutionary and ecological processes of the ecosystem (Lee, 2002; Lambrinos, 2004). Separate reports from Turkey and Greece have recorded areas with densities as high as 30–40 P. miles individuals per 10 m2 (Dimitriadis et al, 2020; Ulman et al, 2020; Kleitou et al, 2021) Both species are highly invasive due to their potential for health impacts to humans and ecological effects in invaded communities. We discuss whether natural predation may offer biological control over these invasive species and present recommendations for their Mediterranean region management
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