Supervisors info:
Μεγαλοφώνου Περσεφόνη, Καθηγήτρια Ιχθυολογίας, Τμήμα Βιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Λευκαδίτου Ευγενία, Ερευνήτρια ΕΛΚΕΘΕ
Δαμαλάς Δημήτριος, Ερευνητής ΕΛΚΕΘΕ
Summary:
Until now, few sightings of the alien lionfish Pterois miles have been reported in the Mediterranean Sea, and its invasion success rate was questionable compared to its occurrence in native waters of the western Atlantic. Although a recorded species of the marine fauna of Rhodes for almost a decade, there is a lack of data regarding distribution, and somatometric and meristic characteristics of Pterois miles. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate 21 aquatic areas of Rhodes in order to provide information about the abundance and growth of the species. To conduct it, free or SCUBA diving was carried out for either estimation of the population size through lionfish observation, or recording of both external and biological features through sample collection.
In total, 101 individuals were detected (sampling: 54, observations: 47) confirming its rapid and successful establishment on the Greek coast. In the data analysis, 19 male and 35 female lionfish with a length of 23.96 ± 5.54 cm, height of 6.99 ± 1.99 cm and weight of 232.27 ± 157.58 gr participated. The sexes were found to differ concerning the eye diameter, the gonads weight and the value of the gonadosomatic index, all three characteristics being significantly greater in female individuals. However, the living of Pterois miles sp. in rocky habitats with a bottom depth greater than 10 meters and its opportunistic diet consisting mainly of small fish and shrimps were sex-independent.
Keywords:
Lessepsian, lionfish, Rhodes, distribution, abundance
