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Habitat segregation among trophic morphs of the Cuatro Ciénegas cichlid (Herichthys minckleyi)

Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: "Herichthys minckleyi is an endangered, trophically polymorphic cichlid endemic to the Cuatro Ciénegas basin ofCoahuila, Mexico. A molariform morph has stout pharyngeal teeth whereas a papilliform morph has numerous finepharyngeal teeth. Individuals with intermediate pharyngeal dentition also exist, as does yet another morph, calledpiscivore. Previous studies indicated that morphs utilize different food sources, thus suggesting morph-specific spatialsegregation, since food resource availability is spatially heterogeneous. We present data from an observationalstudy of all morphs (but focusing on the three most common, normal-bodied ones – molariform, papilliform andintermediate) in a single spring pool, Poza Mojarral Oeste. We analyzed morph distribution in relation to habitattypes, and document morph-specific differences in feeding behavior. Spatio-temporal habitat partitioning wasalso investigated. Habitat use by molariform, papilliform, and intermediate morphs was found to be non-random.Morphs differed in habitat use, albeit with considerable overlap. Strong segregation among morphs was notdetected in any season or time of day, but habitat use patterns varied seasonally within each morph and wereconsistently different among morphs. All morphs behave basically as feeding generalists. This endangeredspecies may prove more difficult to manage than other, non-polymorphic species. It is clearly important tomanage not only for the maintenance of the species, but also for maintenance of its different morphs, which ourstudy indicates may each require different mixes of habitat types. We thus hypothesize that any changes inhabitat heterogeneity will lead to altered proportions of the different morphs of the species."
Language: Spanish
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W1598233156
FWCI: 0.846
Cites: 42
Cited by: 10
Related to: 10