Fish functional groups in a tropical wetland of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Research at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve reveals distinct functional group structures in fish communities, varying between permanent and temporary pools as well as dry and wet seasons. Six functional groups were identified based on food acquisition and locomotion traits, with two showing high redundancy and three represented by unique species. During the dry season, permanent pools exhibited lower functional richness and diversity but higher evenness, suggesting environmental filtering. Conversely, the wet season demonstrated niche complementarity across habitats, indicating dynamic shifts in ecological functioning driven by seasonal changes.

Córdova-Tapia, F., & Zambrano, L. (2016). Fish functional groups in a tropical wetland of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Neotropical Ichthyology, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20150162