ANNALES ■ Ser. hist. nat. ■ 27 ■ 2017 ■ 1
short scientific article	DOI 10.19233/ASHN.2017.19
received: 2017-10-15
HAS A VIABLE POPULATION OF COMMON LIONFISH, PTEROIS MILES (SCORPAENIDAE), ESTABLISHED OFF THE SYRIAN COAST (EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN)?
Malek ALI
Marine Sciences Laboratory, Basic Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria
Christian REYNAUD
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur la Didactique, l'Education et la Formation, E.A. 3749, Composante «Didactique et Socialisation», Faculté d'Éducation, Université de Montpellier, 2, Place Marcel Godechot, B.P. 4152, 34095 Montpellier
cedex 5, France
Christian CAPAPÉ
Laboratoire d'Ichtyologie, case 104, Université Montpellier 2, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, 34095 Montpellier
cedex 5, France E-mail: capape@univ-montp2.fr
abstract
A new record of a mature common lionfish Pterois miles (Bennet, 1828) from the Syrian coast and captures reported by fishermen in the context of local ecological knowledge suggest that a viable population of the species has successfully established in the area. Monitoring activities need to be implemented to contain the invasion of a species considered, for many reasons, a huge threat not only for this area, but for the entire Mediterranean marine environment.
Key words: Scorpaenidae, Pterois miles, alien species, Eastern Mediterranean Sea
e possibile che una popolazione vitale di pesce scorpione, pterois miles (scorpaenidae), si sia stabilita nelle acque al largo della costa siriana
(mediterraneo orientale)?
SINTESI
Un nuovo ritrovamento di un esemplare maturo di pesce scorpione Pterois miles (Bennet, 1828) lungo la costa siriana e le catture riportate dai pescatori suggeriscono, nel contesto delle conoscenze ecologiche locali, che una popolazione vitale della specie si sia stabilita con successo nella zona. Secondo gli autori, nuove attivita di monito-raggio dovrebbero venir implementate al fine di contenere l'invasione di una specie considerata, per svariate ragioni, un'enorme minaccia non solo per quest'area, ma per l'intero ambiente marino mediterraneo.
Parole chiave: Scorpaenidae, Pterois miles, specie aliena, mare Mediterraneo orientale
157
ANNALES ■ Ser. hist. nat. ■ 27 ■ 2017 ■ 2
Malek ALI at al.: HAS A VIABLE POPULATION OF COMMON LIONFISH, PTEROIS MILES (SCORPAENIDAE), ESTABLISHED ..., 157-162
INTRODUCTION
The common lionfish Pterois miles (Bennet, 1828) is well-known in the eastern Mediterranean, where it entered the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. The first record was in the Levant Basin, off Herzliya (Golani & Sonin, 1992), since then, other records have been reported off the northern coast of Lebanon (Bariche et al., 2013), in Turkish waters (Turan et al., 2014), off the coast of Cyprus (Jimenez et al., 2016), and throughout the Levant Basin (Jimenez et al., 2017). The species has migrated westwards and is presently known in the Aegean Sea (Crocetta et al., 2015), while recently also reaching the Tunisian coast and southern Italy (Azzurro et al., 2017).
The first records of P. miles from the Syrian coast were presented by Ali et al. (2016), who noted that these findings did not represent sufficient data to state that a substantial population had successfully established in the area. Due to the fact that P. miles has drastic effects on native fish species, including the destruction of ecosystems and negative economic impacts on fisheries and tourism, investigations have been regularly conducted in the concerned area and the most recent results are presented in this paper.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Our methodology was mainly based on the information provided by fishermen, referred to as Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), which has been applied in the collection of data about natural systems and the monitoring of recent biodiversity changes in the marine environment (Anadón et al., 2009; Azzurro et al., 2011). The approach from Azzurro & Bariche (2017) was adopted to investigate the status and distribution of alien species, such as the P. miles lionfish, in the Mediterranean.
On 29 May 2017, a specimen of P. miles was captured together with 2 specimens of striped eel catfish Plotosus ¡'meatus (Thunberg, 1787) 12 km north of Lattakia City, 2 km offshore (35° 46' E, 35° 39'N) (Fig. 1), on rocky bottom, at a depth of 25 m, using a bottom cage net made of metal wire. Prior to the dissection, the fresh specimen was measured to the nearest 0.1 millimetre using a digital caliper, and weighed to the nearest 0.1 gram. After the dissection, the ovaries and the digestive tract were reinserted into the abdominal cavity, and subsequently, the entire specimen was preserved in 10% buffered formalin and deposited in the Ichthyological Collection of the Marine Science Laboratory, Agriculture Faculty of the University of Tishreen, under the catalogue number 2290 M.S.L (Fig. 2 A).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The captured specimen was 226.1 mm in total length, its total body weight was 194.2 g (Tab. 1). It was identified as a Pterois miles based on a combination of morpholo-
Fig. 1: Map of the Mediterranean showing Syria, and map of the coast of Syria indicating the capture site of
Pterois miles (black star).
Sl. 1: Zemljevid Sirije in širšega Sredozemskega morja z označeno lokaliteto, kjer je bila ujeta plamenka (črna zvezdica).
gical characters, morphometric measurements, meristic counts and colour, which were in total agreement with previous descriptions of the species by Golani & Sonin (1992), Carpenter & Niem (1999), Golani et al. (2002), Turan et al. (2014) and Ali et al. (2016). The stomach content was removed and four small, undetermined fish weighing 0.6 g were found. The dissected specimen exhibited large and developed ovaries, allowing the conclusion it was mature and able to reproduce, thus corroborating the presence of a viable population in this or the neighbouring areas, most likely Turkish waters, where new records confirm that the species is successfully established there (Ozbek et al., 2017).
A single mature specimen does not constitute sufficient evidence of a definitive establishment, however, experienced local fishermen aware of the fishing grounds report that the species has lately been a common bycatch in their nets. They are worried about a progressive invasion of this species, about increased competitive pressure for food exerted on native species with a high commercial interest or endangered species, about the destruction of local ecosystems, but also about human envenomation during handling (Frazer et al., 2012). According to Jimenez et al. (2016), some divers
158
ANNALES ■ Ser. hist. nat. ■ 27 ■ 2017 ■ 2
Malek ALI at al.: HAS A VIABLE POPULATION OF COMMON LIONFISH, PTEROIS MILES (SCORPAENIDAE), ESTABLISHED ..., 157-162
Fig. 2: A. Pterois miles captured off the Syrian coast (Ref. 2290 M.S.L.), scale bar = 20 mm. B. 1. Sexual gland. 2. Fat surrounding the stomach, scale bar = 20 mm. C. Sexual glands, scale bar = 10 mm.
Sl. 2: A. Primerek plamenke (kataloška številka 2290 M.S.L.), ujet ob sirski obali, merilo = 20 mm. B. 1. Spolna žleza. 2. Plast maščobe, ki obdaja želodec, merilo = 20 mm. C. spolne žleze, merilo = 10 mm.
consider P. miles a beautiful fish and are reluctant to cull this species, although it impoverishes local biodiversity and thus profoundly affects the seascape. Still, a specific monitoring of this fish is required, and the capture of
this mature specimen off the Syrian coast is a signal of a huge threat, which should not be dismissed, but rather taken into consideration, as the observations made by local fishermen also confirm.
159
ANNALES ■ Ser. hist. nat. ■ 27 ■ 2017 ■ 2
Malek ALI at al.: HAS A VIABLE POPULATION OF COMMON LIONFISH, PTEROIS MILES (SCORPAENIDAE), ESTABLISHED ..., 157-162
Tab. 1: Morphometric measurements in mm and in percentages of total length (% TL), and meristic counts recorded in the specimen of Pterois miles (ref. 2290 M.S.L.).
Tab. 1: Morfometrične meritve v mm in delež glede na celotno dolžino (% TL) ter meristična štetja, ki se nanašajo na primerek plamenke (kataloška številka 2290 M.S.L.).
Reference of specimen Morphometric measurements	M.S.L. mm	2290 %TL
Total length	226.1	100.0
Standard length	177.1	78.3
Head length	69.4	30.7
Body depth	68.4	30.3
Inter-orbital space	8.6	3.8
Eye diameter	8.7	3.8
Pre-orbital length	28.1	12.4
Dorsal fin length	139.0	61.5
Pectoral fin length	129.3	57.2
Ventral fin length	83.2	36.8
Anal fin length	69.4	30.7
Dorsal fin base	104.5	46.2
Pectoral fin base	25.3	11.2
Ventral fin base	11.5	5.1
Anal fin base	30.4	13.4
Dorsal fin height	64.8	28.7
Pre-dorsal length	55.2	24.4
Pre-pectoral length	56.0	24.8
Pre-ventral length	61.7	27.3
Pre-anal length	125.5	55.5
Counts		
First dorsal fin rays	XIII +11	
Pelvic fin rays	I + 6	
Anal fin rays	III +7	
Pectoral fin rays	XIV	
Total weight (g)	194.2	
body Weight without viscera (g)	173.3	
Sexual glands weight (g)	1.9	
Preys weight (g)	0.6	
160
ANNALES ■ Ser. hist. nat. ■ 27 ■ 2017 ■ 2
Malek ALI at al.: HAS A VIABLE POPULATION OF COMMON LIONFISH, PTEROIS MILES (SCORPAENIDAE), ESTABLISHED ..., 157-162
se je viabilna populacija plamenke, pterois miles (scorpaenidae), že uveljavila v vodah ob sirski obali (vzhodno sredozemsko morje)?
Malek ALI
Marine Sciences Laboratory, Basic Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria
Christian REYNAUD
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur la Didactique, l'Education et la Formation, E.A. 3749, Composante «Didactique et Socialisation», Faculté d'Éducation, Université de Montpellier, 2, Place Marcel Godechot, B.P. 4152, 34095 Montpellier
cedex 5, France
Christian CAPAPÉ
Laboratoire d'Ichtyologie, case 104, Université Montpellier 2, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, 34095 Montpellier
cedex 5, France E-mail: capape@univ-montp2.fr
POVZETEK
Na podlagi novega ulova plamenke Pterois miles (Bennet, 1828) in ulovov, o katerih poročajo ribiči vzdolž sirske obale v okviru lokalnega ekološkega znanja avtorji domnevajo, da se je viabilna populacija te vrste uspešno uveljavila v tem okolju. Obenem priporočajo vzpostavitev rednega monitoringa, ki bi nadzoroval invazijo te vrste, saj ta predstavlja veliko nevarnost ne samo za ožje območje, ampak tudi za celotno Sredozemsko morje.
Ključne besede: Scorpaenidae, Pterois miles, tujerodna vrsta, vzhodno Sredozemsko morje
161
ANNALES ■ Ser. hist. nat. ■ 27 ■ 2017 ■ 2
Malek ALI at al.: HAS A VIABLE POPULATION OF COMMON LIONFISH, PTEROIS MILES (SCORPAENIDAE), ESTABLISHED ..., 157-162
REFERENCES
Ali M., H. Alkusairy, A. Saad, C. Reynaud & C. Ca-papé (2016): First record of Pterois miles (Osteichthyes: Scorpaenidae) in Syrian marine waters: confirmation of its accordance in the eastern Mediterranean. Tishreen Univ. J. Res. Scient. Stud. -Biol. Sci., 38(4), 307-313.
Anadón, J.D., A. Gimenez, R. Ballestar & I. Perez. (2009): Evaluation of local ecological knowledge as a method for collecting extensive data on animal abundance. Conserv. Biol., 23 (3), 617-625.
Azzurro, E. & M. Bariche (2017): Local knowledge and awareness on the incipient lionfish invasion in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Freshwater Res.. https.// doi.org/10.1071/MF16358.
Azzurro, E., P. Moschelle. & F. Maynou (2011): Tracking signals of change in Mediterranean fish diversity based on local ecological knowledge. Plos One, 6, e24885.
Azzurro, E., B. Stancanelli, V. Di Martino & M. Bariche (2017): Range expansion of the common lionfish Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) in the Mediterranean Sea: an unwanted new guest for Italian waters. Bio. Inv. Rec., 6 (2), 95-98.
Bariche, M., M. Torres & E. Azzurro (2013): The
presence of the invasive Lionfish Pterois miles in the Mediterranean Sea. Medit. Mar. Sci., 14(2), 292-294.
Carpenter, K. E. & V.H. Niem (1999): FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes the living marine resources of the western central pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2. 724 pp.
Crocetta, F., D. Agius, P. Balistreri, M. Bariche, Y. K. Bayhan, M. ^akir, S. Ciriaco, M. Corsini-Foka, A. Deidun, R. El Zrelli, D. Ergüden, J. Evans, M. Ghelia, M. Giavasi, P. Kleitou, G. Kondylatos, L. Lipej, C. Mifsud, Y. Ozvarol, A. Pagano, A., P. Portelli,., D. Poursanidis, L. Rabaoui, P.J. Schembri, E. Taskin,, F. Tiralongo & A. Ze-netos (2015): New Mediterranean biodiversity records (October 2015). Medit. Mar. Sci., 16(3), 682-702.
Dailianis, T., O. Akyol, N. Babali, M. Bariche, F. Crocetta, V. Gerovasileiou, R. Chanem, M. Gokoglu, T. Hasiotis, A. Izquierdo-Muñoz, D. Julian, S. Katsanevakis, L. Lipej, E. Mancini, C. Mytilineou, K. Ounifi Ben Amor, A. Ozgül, M. Ragkousis, E. Rubio-Portillo, G. Servello, K. Sini, C. Stamouli, C., A. Sterioti., S. Teker., F. Tiralongo, D. Trkov (2016): New Mediterranean biodiversity records (July 2016). Medit. Mar. Sci., 17(2), 608-626.
Frazer, T. K., C. A. Jacoby,. M. A. Edwards, S. C. Barry & C. M. Manfrino (2012): Coping with the lionfish invasion: can targeted removals yield beneficial effects? Rev. Fish. Sci., 20(4), 185-191.
Golani, D. & O. Sonin (1992): New records of the Red Sea fishes, Pterois miles (Scorpaenidae) and Ptera-gogus pelycus (Labridae) from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Jap. J. Ichthyol., 39(2), 167-169.
Golani, D., L. Orsi-Relini., E. Massuti & J. P. Qui-gnard (2002): CIESM Atlas of exotic species in the Mediterranean. Vol. 1. Fishes. (F. Briand editor). CIESM Publications, Monaco, 256 pp.
Jimenez, C., A. Petrou, V. Andreou, L. Hadjioannou, W. Wolf, N. Koutsoloukas & R. Abu Alhaija (2016): Veni, vedi, vici:The successful establishment of the lionfish Pterois miles in Cyprus (Levantine Sea). Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 41, 417.
Jimenez, C., V. Andreou, L. Hadjioannou, A. Petrou, R. Abu Alhaija & P. Patsalou (2017): Not everyone's cup of tea: Public perception of culling invasive lionfish in Cyprus. J. Black Sea/ Medit. Environ., 23(1), 38-47.
Ozbek, E.O., S. Mavruk, I. Saygu & B. Oztürk (2017): Lionfish distribution in the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. J. Black Sea/ Medit. Environ., 23(1), 1-16.
Turan, C., D. Ergüden , M. Gülek, D. Yaghoglu, A.Uyan & N. Uygur (2014): First record of the Indo--Pacific Pterois miles (Bennet, 1828) (Osteichthyes: Scorpaenidae) for the Turkish marine waters. J. Black Sea/ Medit. Environ., 20(2), 158-163.
162