One-Minute Science: What Does the Invasive Lionfish Eat?

North Carolina Sea Grant’s popular Hook, Line & Science is a featured video exhibit at the Jennette’s Pier, part of the North Carolina Aquariums, in Nags Head. In the exhibit, three videos highlight some of our most popular topics.

Now you can watch these videos from the comfort of your home this holiday season.

First up: What does the invasive lionfish eat?

The invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish has been living for several years now on reefs throughout the Southeast. They are voracious predators. Researchers used two existing datasets from North Carolina reefs to assess the diets of the invasive lionfish and to determine whether the species has a preferred food. Watch the video to find out what they discovered.

Sara Mirabilio and Scott Baker, North Carolina Sea Grant’s fisheries specialists, curate Hook, Line & Science. Over the last two years, 32 authors have contributed over 100 posts.

NC State’s DELTA office assisted with video production.