Conservation status of Profundulus hildebrandi Miller (Teleostei: profundulidae) in the face of urban growth in Chiapas, Mexico
Profundulus hildebrandi, the San Cristobal pupfish, is a small cyprinodontiform fish, endemic to the closed basin of San Cristobal de Las Casas, a fast-growing city in highland Chiapas, Mexico. In order to gauge its conservation status, its distribution and habitat were described, and its population size was estimated through a capture-recapture technique. As far as possible, the present conditions of its habitat were compared with past records, mainly old city maps and photographs. The introduction of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) coincided with local extirpation of P. hildebrandi. Other risk factors, related to urban growth, include pollution of streams, as well as habitat destruction, fragmentation, and modification; about 62% of the original pupfish habitat is heavily polluted by sewage. Although its population size is apparently large (at least 7745), it's very restricted distribution, its shrinking habitat and the increasing risk factors give elements to consider P. hildebrandi as an endangered fish according to the Mexican Official Norm and the Red Book of the lUCN.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México El Colegio de la Frontera Sur
2001
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| Subjects: | Profundulus hildebrandi, Peces, Zoogeografía, Conservación de la diversidad biológica, Teleósteos, Especies en peligro de extinción, Frosur, |
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| Summary: | Profundulus hildebrandi, the San Cristobal pupfish, is a small cyprinodontiform fish, endemic to the closed basin of San Cristobal de Las Casas, a fast-growing city in highland Chiapas, Mexico. In order to gauge its conservation status, its distribution and habitat were described, and its population size was estimated through a capture-recapture technique. As far as possible, the present conditions of its habitat were compared with past records, mainly old city maps and photographs. The introduction of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) coincided with local extirpation of P. hildebrandi. Other risk factors, related to urban growth, include pollution of streams, as well as habitat destruction, fragmentation, and modification; about 62% of the original pupfish habitat is heavily polluted by sewage. Although its population size is apparently large (at least 7745), it's very restricted distribution, its shrinking habitat and the increasing risk factors give elements to consider P. hildebrandi as an endangered fish according to the Mexican Official Norm and the Red Book of the lUCN. |
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