CRECIMIENTO Y ASPECTOS TROFICOS DEL PEZ LEON ROJO PTEROIS VOLITANS (SCORPAENIFORMES: SCORPAENIDAE) EN EL PARQUE NACIONAL SISTEMA ARRECIFAL VERACRUZANO (PNSAV), VERACRUZ, MÉXICO

The lionfish Pterois volitans, is an predator in coral system, whose diet is composed of small fish and crustaceans, impacting species of ecological and commercial importance. P. volitans is an exotic species in the Gulf of Mexico with high colonization capacity. The present study describes its population structure, type of growth and trophic dynamics. 97 organisms of the PNSAV were obtained, 64 females (185±6,7 mm LP; 257,6±27,8 g) and 22 males (183±15,8 mm of LP; 273,5±62,6 g). Whit the Battacharya model, four size classes were obtained for females (15,3; 25,3; 28,2, and 31,8 cm) and six for males (9,87; 17,95; 22,95; 26,95; 30,95 and 33,95), being the size class 1 for both sexes the most abundant. The length-weight relationship was of the potential type (r2=0,9643, b=3,1574 females, and r2=0,9843 and b=3,1089 males), and growth of allometric type for both sexes. The growth model that best adjusted to the data was that of Gompertz, (L∞=324 mm, k=0,99, t0=0,694 females and L00=379,4, k=0,468, t0=0,719 males). The families of fish identified in the stomach contents were Ophididae, Serranidae, Haemulidae, Pomacentridae, Beloniidae, Achiridae, and crustaceans Portunidae, Penaeidae, Squillidae and Diogenidae. Being Haemulon aurolineatum (Haemulidae) and Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Penaeidae) the most important prey. The presence of lionfish in the PNSAV is recent, so the information presented in this research will allow us to understand its population dynamics and its adaptation to the PNSAV, contributing to its management and control.