Abstract
Studies on the biological aspects of fish typically focus on species that currently have commercial value, causing species that lack such market value to be ignored. This is the case of several freshwater fish, specifically of several members of the Goodeidae family. In the State of Querétaro there are several species of this family characterized for being viviparous and having distinctive sexual dimorphism that may have commercial potential. The subject of this study is Girardinichthys multiradiatus, a viviparous fish endemic to the upper-half of the Lerma River basin. The lack of knowledge regarding its biology and ecology has prevented the development of guidelines to manage its habitat and to preserve its population. The objective was to determine the ecophysiological responses of G. multiradiatus to its environmental management. From the sampling (24 hours every two months) population structure and dynamics were analyzed throughout a hydrological cycle using meristic data (standard length). Trophic and ecophysiological responses to fluctuations in environmental factors were also identified. Although the mexcalpique is a polytrophic species, results show that it prefers feeding on Diptera or Cladocera, while detritus is the third substance frequently found in their stomachs. Environmentally, the water regime is responsible for fluctuations in the population dynamics of the species, while temperature changes are the most influence its energy balance. These results can guide efforts to conserve this species and its habitat.
Highlights
Mexico is considered the fourth most diverse country in the world, due to diverse and numerous animal and plant species
Due to seasonal differences in water usage, the water level of the dam was low from April to August and high from October to March (Fig. 3)
Relative density in activity, obtained by the catch per unit effort method (CPUE), reaches its maximum values during night, and minimum values were observed during the day (Fig. 4)
Summary
Mexico is considered the fourth most diverse country in the world, due to diverse and numerous animal and plant species. It is among the top five countries in terms of fish species diversity, with 506 species (many endemic) grouped into 47 strictly freshwater families, representing 6% of the global ichthyofauna (De la Vega-Salazar, 2003). Girardinichthys multiradiatus has no commercial value, but its importance lies in being and endemic freshwater fish with a distinctive sexual dimorphism, peculiar courtship rituals, and viviparity (Macias, 1994). Scientific knowledge about it focuses on taxanomic aspects (Álvarez del Villar, 1970; Miller & Fitzsimmons, 1971), ethology (Uyeno et al, 1983), biology (Macias-Garcia & Burt de Perea, 2002), and trophic ecology (Trujillo-Jiménez & Viveros, 2006). The aim of this study is to determine the ecophysiological responses of G. multiradiatus to its environmental management
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