Distribution of continental fishes in northern Quintana Roo, Mexico

Composition and distribution of the continental ichthyofauna of northern Quintana Roo (northeastern Yucatan Peninsula), including the islands of Cozumel and Mujeres, was studied on the basis of museum records and 98 sampled localities. Temperature, salinity/conductivity, transparency, dissolved oxygen, and pH were recorded. Fifty-nine species of fish were detected in the region; 30 of them occur also in the northwestern part of Yucatan, and 46 of them are present in southern Quintana Roo and Belize; at least one is endemic. Cluster analysis allowed distinction of two main fish assemblages, which may be labeled brackish and freshwater. The freshwater assemblage can be further divided into a widespread group and three geographically restricted groups. The inverse analysis depicted four main regions: islands and adjacent (northern) coast, southern lakes and cenotes, inland north, and anchialine freshwater cenotes. Contrary to southern Quintana Roo, where fish distribution is explainable in ecological terms, in northern Quintana Roo fish assemblages are largely historical products.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Schmitter Soto, Juan Jacobo Doctor autor/a 2049
Format:	Texto biblioteca
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Peces de agua dulce, Zoogeografía, Artfrosur,
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