TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in the fish assemblages in the upper río ameca, Mexico
AU - López-López, Eugenia
AU - Paulo-Maya, Joel
PY - 2001/6
Y1 - 2001/6
N2 - We surveyed the fish fauna of the upper Ameca River basin, a watercourse of the Pacific slope of western Mexico. Many endemic species and the dominance of goodeid species characterize the basin. We sampled 17 sites during the dry and rainy seasons in 1996 and 1997. The basin has a historic record of 20 native and six exotic species, most of which were described or encountered in the last decade. We found a dramatic reduction in fish diversity; currently the upper portion of the basin holds only six native species and four exotics. There has been a reduction of 70% in the native fish fauna diversity in recent years. The Ameca River has biological symptoms of ecosystem stress, including reduced species diversity, increased dominance by exotic species, and reduced population stability. We attribute this stress to reservoir construction, water extraction, and municipal and industrial pollution in the basin.
AB - We surveyed the fish fauna of the upper Ameca River basin, a watercourse of the Pacific slope of western Mexico. Many endemic species and the dominance of goodeid species characterize the basin. We sampled 17 sites during the dry and rainy seasons in 1996 and 1997. The basin has a historic record of 20 native and six exotic species, most of which were described or encountered in the last decade. We found a dramatic reduction in fish diversity; currently the upper portion of the basin holds only six native species and four exotics. There has been a reduction of 70% in the native fish fauna diversity in recent years. The Ameca River has biological symptoms of ecosystem stress, including reduced species diversity, increased dominance by exotic species, and reduced population stability. We attribute this stress to reservoir construction, water extraction, and municipal and industrial pollution in the basin.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034987768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/02705060.2001.9663803
DO - 10.1080/02705060.2001.9663803
M3 - Artículo
SN - 0270-5060
VL - 16
SP - 179
EP - 187
JO - Journal of Freshwater Ecology
JF - Journal of Freshwater Ecology
IS - 2
ER -