Ramos-Trabal, Zullaylee

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    Parasitism in Pterois volitans (scorpaenidae) from coastal waters of Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands and Bahamas
    (2013) Ramos-Trabal, Zullaylee; Williams, Ernest H. Jr.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; García Saís, Jorge; Bunkley-Williams, Lucy; Kubaryk, John M.; Department of Marine Sciences; Alfaro-Lozano, Monica
    Recently, Pterois volitans, one of the species known as lionfish, invaded the Atlantic Ocean. Individuals of P. volitans from Puerto Rico (N=188), Cayman Islands (N=91) and Bahamas (N=47) were examined for parasites. A total of 26 parasitic species, including the digenean Lecithochirium floridense, the leech, Trachelobdella lubrica, other digeneans, monogeneans, cestodes, nematodes, isopods a copepod and an acanthocephalan were recovered. Twenty-four new species infecting P. volitans, 5 new locality records from Puerto Rico, 10 from Cayman Islands, 6 from the Bahamas, 6 from the Caribbean and 4 from the subtropical western Atlantic region. Also, 2 first fish-association records are reported. Results from samples from Puerto Rico collected between 2009-2012 indicate there was no significant difference between yearly community compositions, although there was an incremental increase of parasitic species with time. Results suggest that lionfish communities were similar in composition, due to high abundances of L. floridense in the samples. Some of the observed species infecting lionfish are known to kill native fish species; however lower prevalences were recorded. Monitoring the development of parasite infestations in this host should continue throughout its range. Also, monitoring the impact of parasites on the fitness of this fish in its invasive range should be considered.