[Coral-List] Do goliath grouper eat lionfish?

[Lad Akins]

Hi All,

No evidence that I am aware of that Goliath consume lionfish.  In fact, I
just did a dive two weeks ago on a site in the FL Keys with over a dozen
goliath grouper and 44 small (less than 7") lionfish.  I'm doubting the
grouper are consuming them.  James Morris also has some lab trials along
these lines.

Lad

************************
Lad Akins
Director of Operations
REEF
P O Box 246
Key Largo  FL  33037
www.REEF.org
(305) 852-0030 work
(305) 942-7333 cell
Lad at REEF.org

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Rachel T.
Graham
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 2:31 PM
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: [Coral-List] Do goliath grouper eat lionfish?

Hello Coral Listers and fellow goliath grouper researchers,

 

Do we have any direct evidence yet of lionfish being eaten by goliath
grouper? It would make sense that they would and I have taken out many a
ray/catfish spine or old hook from a GG stomach but I have not yet come
across any lionfish spines - and we have a LOT of lionfish in Belize now. I
can't seem to find any evidence for GG preying on the lionfish aside from
anecdotal reports of lower abundances of lionfish in locations of high GG
abundances.

 

Any confirmations of predation would be greatly appreciated.

 

Best

 

Rachel

 

 

 

Dr. Rachel T. Graham

Ocean Giants Program

Wildlife Conservation Society

PO Box 76

Punta Gorda

Belize

t: +501 722 0063

e: rgraham at wcs.org

 

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