Investigation of stomach contents of lion fish (Pterois miles ve Pterois volitans) in İskenderun Bay

Lionfish samples were obtained by spearfishing, commercial fishermen engaged in trawling and diving in this study carried out in the Iskenderun Bay between 2019-2020. P. miles specimens (96) were between 14.5-32.0 cm total lengths (average 23.37 cm), P.volitans specimens (118) were between 13.0-31.5 cm total lengths (average 20.56 cm ). The main prey groups found in the stomachs of P. volitans and P. miles were determined as fish and crustaceans. Species and groups identified in the stomach contents of P. miles were Chloropthalmus agassizi, Uranoscopus scaber, Helicolenus dactylopterius and members of Serranidae, Sparidae, Scorpaenidae. Pterois sp. Similarly, Chloroptalmus agassizi was detected in the stomach contents of P. miles. In addition, in the study, juvenile lionfish (about 4 cm total length) and lionfish body parts (dorsal fin and spines) were found in the stomach of four P. miles individuals. However, rarely reef fragments, aquatic plant remains, mollusc shell fragments and crab fragments were found in the contents of stomachs for both species. Prey Similarity Index, which is an indicator of nutrient overlap, was found to be 83.2%. In addition, the dietary breadth of P. volitans (2.36) was lower than P. miles (2.56).