Detecting causation on Zooplankton, atherinopsid, and barred splitfin time-series in a shallow tropical lake

We used Multispatial Convergent Cross Mapping analysis to detect causality on monthly differences of zooplankton volume and fish density and biomass time-series of atherinopsids (Chirostoma species) and barred splitfin (Chapalichthys encaustus) from Lake Chapala, Mexico. The dynamics of monthly differences of zooplankton volume were causally influenced by monthly differences in pH. The dynamics of the monthly differences of atherinopsid and barred splitfin density, and atherinopsid biomass, were not causally influenced by monthly differences of any of the measured physicochemical variables. The dynamics of the monthly differences of the barred splitfin biomass were due to monthly differences in water temperature and alkalinity. The dynamics of monthly differences of zooplankton volume did not show any significant causal forcing on the dynamics of monthly differences of density and biomass of atherinopsid and barred splitfin density. The dynamics of monthly differences of atherinopsids showed significant causal influence on the dynamics of the monthly differences of the barred splitfin, but barred splitfin did not show causal influence on the dynamics of the monthly differences of atherinopsids.