Ma. Eugenia Vega-Cendejas

• PhD
• Researcher at Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute

The study of beta diversity and its turnover and nestedness components allows us to understand the mechanisms that structure biotic communities within an ecosystem, which in turn enables the creation of strategies for their conservation and management. This study analyzed the beta diversity of fish assemblages in a coastal lagoon from two diversity...

We recommend standardized methods for sampling freshwater and brackish-water fishes in cenotes and discuss opportunities and challenges inherent in sampling these diverse environments.

Chichankanab is a small, shallow, ⁓8,000-year-old, tropical lake where the adaptive radiation of seven sympatric Cyprinodon species have been described. Since the variation in size, morphology, and diet play a key role in facilitating niche partitioning, this study aims to determine if the sympatric species can be independently identified by their...

The southern Gulf of Mexico presents a wide diversity of habitats and fish, which makes it important for its natural resources, and the expansion of the fishing, port, and oil industry. In the present study, physicochemical parameters, and the biomass, density, and functional arrangement of the fish community were contrasted over 32 stations and th...

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are natural phenomena that occur when colonies of microalgae grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on the surrounding fauna. In August 2022, an HAB, dominated by the diatom, Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenberg) Reimann et J.C. Lewin, 1964, occurred on the Yucatan coast, southern Gulf of Mexico. In the...

Length–weight relations (LWRs) were estimated for 44 fish species, representing 23 families, collected from an unprotected coastal biological corridor of the Yucatan Peninsula. The following species were studied (in alphabetical order): Acanthostracion quadricornis (Linnaeus, 1758); Albula vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758); Anchoa hepsetus (Linnaeus, 1758);...

Fishes from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico were surveyed during four oceanographic campaigns (February and October 2016, June and September 2017) using a shrimp trawl net and benthic sled net in 20 locations at depths that ranged from 43 to 3608 m. Length–weight relations (LWR) were estimated for 39 fish species (in alphabetical order): Bembrops g...

Length and weight relationships (LWR) were estimated for 39 fish species from 30 families from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Fish specimens were sampled during four oceanographic campaigns (February and October 2016, June and September 2017) using a shrimp trawl net and benthic sled net in 20 locations at depths that ranged from 43 to 3,608 m. N...

Bathomorphi is a diverse lineage, accounting for more than half of the chondrichthyan diversity. Yet, more than 12.3% of the species are in the “deficient data” category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, indicating a gap in the knowledge of this group. In the present study, the diet and morphological variation associated with locomotion (...

We present a preliminary taxonomic survey of the metazoan parasites from meso- and bathypelagic fish hosts from the Perdido region, western Gulf of Mexico. In total, 187 individual fish were collected, belonging to five families and 12 species: Cyclothone acclinidens , Cyclothone alba , Cyclothone braueri , Cyclothone pallida , Cyclothone pseudopal...

Coastal lagoons have been recognized for hosting a great abundance and diversity of biotic components, offer a wide range of services, and are some of the most economically productive; however, they are among the most threatened and stressed ecosystems. The Celestún Biosphere Reserve could be one of the most studied lagoons on the Yucatan coast; ho...

The smallmouth flounder, Etropus microstomus (Gill, 1864), is a species of benthic habits, associated with soft sandy bottoms, and distributed from Canada to the New Orleans coasts, and with specific reports in Corpus Christi, TX, USA. No records have been available from the Mexican coast, however. In the presently reported study, the first finding...

The smallmouth flounder, Etropus microstomus (Gill, 1864), is a species of benthic habits, associated with soft sandy bottoms, and distributed from Canada to the New Orleans coasts, and with specific reports in Corpus Christi, TX, USA. No records have been available from the Mexican coast, however. In the presently reported study, the first finding...

Length (to the nearest 0.01 cm) and weight (to the nearest 0.01 g) relationships (LWR) were estimated for 41 fish species, representing a total of 19 families from the Campeche Bank and the surrounding Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. All specimens were collected during three oceanographic study surveys (November 2015 –together with April 2016, August to...

Campeche Bank located in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico is characterized by particular oceanographic and physiographic conditions that promote great biodiversity, including abundant fishery resources. Systematic sampling through oceanographic campaigns (November 2015, April 2016), produced high-quality data to generate a trophic model balance using...

A central objective of ecological research is to understand the causes and links of diversity. Trophic and morphological variation has been recognized as the baseline to determine communities’ functional arrangement; however, few morphological structures have been explored. In the present study, the fish assemblage of two contrasting localities wit...

The Campeche Bank and Yucatan Peninsula coastal-wetland ecosystem (CYCWE) comprises marine, brackish, and freshwater communities. Two biogeographic regions converge on its coast, the subtropical and the Caribbean. Coastal environments are experiencing degradation by local and global factors, a first approach for their protection is to know their in...

La estructura de los ensamblajes de peces fluviales se ha relacionado con los factores abióticos y la recolonización dinámica, en lugar de considerar las interacciones bióticas como las de mayor importancia. Este trabajo se propuso determinar patrones de coexistencia entre las especies ictiológicas dulceacuícolas en los ríos del municipio Gibara, H...

The structure of stream fish assemblage has been related to abiotic factors and the recolonization dynamics, instead of considering biotic interactions as the most important. This work proposed determining patterns of coexistence between the freshwater fish species in the rivers of the Gibara municipality, Holguín, Cuba. The observed index for test...

This study is aimed to determine the diversity and structure of the ichthyologic communities in the coral reefs of Holguín, Cuba. A total of 85 fish species were recorded, including in 32 families and 53 genera. Low species richness and equitability were estimated at different sampling sites throughout the reef system. Cadena de Vita and Canto Chiq...

Studies have demonstrated that environmental conditions affect the richness, diversity, and abundance of fish communities. Depth is an important variable with many species showing preferences for specific depth ranges. Here, we present a functional analysis of the fish community in the Perdido Fold Belt (PFB), Gulf of Mexico. The sampling design wa...

Mexican freshwater fishes in the IUCN Red List

The Yucatan Wetland (YTW), located in the southeastern portion of the Gulf of Mexico is an extensive, heterogeneous, seasonally flooded area with a high diversity and richness, but urbanization is changing the ecosystem and, therefore, could change the functions it provides. Two important functions of the wetlands have been highlighted, its functio...

The invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans has produced detrimental impacts on the regional biodiversity and fisheries of invaded ranges. To understand the effect this lionfish may have on the native fish communities, it is necessary to understand its feeding habits. The objectives of this study were to report new distribution recor...

The establishment of protected areas is one of the few management tools available to combat the deleterious effect of anthropogenic impacts, however, studies of the fish community in both protected and disturbed environments are needed as evidence of the effectiveness of those protected areas. This study aims to characterize, evaluate, and compare...

The Campeche Bank is a key ecosystem in terms of connectivity between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and an important center of marine and estuarine biodiversity; however, it is being targeted by fisheries, oil companies, and invasive species. Thus, it is important to develop analyses that allow us to have a deeper understanding of its functi...

The lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a reef species that has established itself vertiginously throughout the Western Atlantic. It was recorded for the first time in Cuba in 2007, an invasive species causing great damage to indigenous ichthyological communities in different regions of the world. For this reason the present book was made, which deals w...

Spatial variation in demersal fish assemblages (86°- 92 ∘ W)and depth (<100 m, 101–200 m)on the Yucatan Shelf were determined using data from eighteen sampling stations collected during two periods (November 2015; August 2016). Estimates of ecological parameters and dominant species were made, and any spatial and causal associations between fish sp...

The Laguna Madre Tamaulipas (LMT) is the largest hyperhaline coastal lagoon of Mexico, is diverse and provides a wide range of services, besides its economic importance for local and national fisheries. However, due to global and local pressures, the fish community is under stress. Here we study the LMT fish community to determine its biogeographic...

El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar la distribución y la preferencia alimenticia del pez sapo Opsanus phobetron en la Laguna de Chelem, Yucatán, México. Se recolectaron los peces de marzo 2002-enero 2003 en ocho estaciones distribuidas aleatoriamente. Los componentes del espectro trófico fueron analizados por medio del porcentaje de la abun...

Background. This study of feeding provides biological information on the species and its ecosystem function. Species of the family Bothidae are characterized by their demersal habits and are part of the accompanying fauna of shrimp. Goals. This study quantified and described the diet and trophic ontogenetic variation of Trichopsetta ventralis (Pleu...

The red snapper Lutjanus campechanus (Poey, 1860) has a high commercial value that sustains an important fishery in Mexico. In this study, the patterns in morphological variations from early juvenile to adult stages were assessed by geometric methods (GM) in 194 organisms. Changes in shape were more evident and rapid in the early juvenile stage and...

Length–weight relations (LWR) were estimated for 45 fish species (27 families) from a tropical hyperhaline coastal lagoon and a protected biosphere reserve located in Yucatan Peninsula. The following species were studied: Elops saurus Linnaeus, 1766; Anchoa mitchilli (Valenciennes, 1848); Harengula jaguana Poey, 1865; Ariopsis felis (Linnaeus, 1766...

The high salinity of hyperhaline lagoons makes them extreme habitats for aquatic organisms, putting demands on their special physiological adaptations. The Gerreidae are a family of widely distributed and abundant fish in coastal lagoons, which are very important for ecosistem functions and fisheries. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compa...

El presente estudio contribuye al conocimiento del patrón de la abundancia, distribución y ecología de la alimentación del botete, Sphoeroides testudineus (Tetraodontidae) en el sistema lagunar de Ría Lagartos. Esta especie es reconocida por su amplia distribución y abundancia en los sistemas lagunares, que al ser de hábitos bentónicos, la hace sus...

Isla Contoy, conocida como Isla Pájaros, fue decretada Parque Nacional en 1998, por constituir una zona de refugio, alimentación y anidación de aves marinas y otroscomponentes bióticos. Aunque existen estudios sobre la flora y fauna, las poblacionesícticas han sido poco estudiadas. El presente trabajo contribuye al conocimiento taxonómico y ecológi...

Contoy Island, known as Bird Island, was declared a National Park in 1998 because it provides shelter, food and a nesting zone for seabirds and other biological components. Although there are studies about the flora and fauna, fish populations have not been well studied. This paper aims to contribute to the taxonomic and ecological fish populations...

The karstic nature of the Yucatan Peninsula increases substantially the biodiversity of this tropical region. Freshwater inputs that reach the coast result in heterogeneous and highly hydrologic variable ecosystems, where native fauna and high species richness are observed. An extensive (350 km) and wide temporal research (1985-2012) was realized i...

A estrutura da assembleia de peixes foi avaliada e comparada entre 36 poços cársticos localizados dentro de áreas protegidas da Reserva da Biosfera Calakmul (sul do México) e nas áreas desprotegidas adjacentes à Reserva. A análise multidimensional não-métrica (MDS), a análise da espécies indicadora (ISA) e a análise de correspondência canônica (CCA...

Sphoeroides testudineus is a dominant species in the coastal systems of Yucatán. Because of its wide distribution, occurrence and abundance performs an important functional role in coastal ecosystems. We assessed the trophic preferences and trophic-level variation in space and time for this species in Ria Lagartos lagoon, an hyperhaline ecosystem l...

Seasonal changes in spatial structure of biomass of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and environmental variables were evaluated in Celestun Lagoon, an estuarine habitat in Mexico. Geostatistical techniques were used to evaluate spatial autocorrelation and to predict the spatial distribution by kriging. The relative contribution of 11 environmenta...

Sphoeroides testudineus , es una especie dominante en los sistemas costeros de Yucatan. Debido a su amplia distribucion, ocurrencia y abundancia realiza un importante papel funcional en los ecosistemas costeros. Evaluamos para esta especie las preferencias troficas y su variacion a nivel espacial y temporal en la laguna de Ria Lagartos, un ecosiste...

The aim of this study was to determine the trophic structure and nycthemeral variations in the diet of dominant fish species (Ariopsis felis, Bairdiella chrysoura, Micropogonias undulatus, Eucinostomus gula, Eucinostomus argenteus, Lagodon rhomboides and Sphoeroides testudineus) in Celestun Lagoon, a biosphere reserve located in the southern Gulf o...

Development of ecosystem-based fisheries management models depends, to a large extent, on the availability of trophic interaction data. These models could address ecological questions, examine ecosystem trophic structure, and be used in placement analysis for marine protected areas, among other uses. Many studies on fish trophic interactions have b...

The present study reports estimates of alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) diversity for the fish community of Chacmochuch Lagoon (SE Mexico), a natural protected area located in the northern portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Fish specimens were sampled in 2004 and 2006. Field work was carried out at three climatic peaks: at 13 station...

The present work analyzes the relationship between length and weight for 28 fish species belonging to 16 families in Celestun lagoon, a natural marine reserve located in southeast Mexico that is influenced by freshwater seeps. With interrupted periods, a total of 14 846 specimens were collected from 1990 to 2006. The most abundant species were Euci...

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) contains a diverse array of coastal habitats that are critical for the survival of the early stages of reef fish; however, the knowledge on the abundance and distribution of the early stages of coastal fishes is still limited in this region. This study investigated the species richness of larval and juven...

Background/Question/Methods Preservation of historical data is essential toward an understanding of the cumulative effects of anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems, such as the shifting baselines syndrome or trophic cascades. Historic data on marine organisms are very scattered (much in hard copy only) and in many cases highly susceptible to...

The spatial and temporal fish species assemblages were analyzed throughout two annual cycles (2004-2005 and 2007-2008) in the Ría Lagartos Lagoon system, Mexico, via non-parametric multivariate analyses. We compared density and biomass of fish species among five habitat types defined by combinations of structure and environmental characteristics (h...

Feeding changes for three Sphoeroides species (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) after Isidore hurricane impact in Carbonera Inlet, Southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The coexistence of ecologically similar species may occur because of resources distribution, such as prey and habitat type and segregation time, that minimizes the interspecific competitio...

The abundance and turnover of fish species inhabiting Celestún lagoon were evaluated according to day–night cycles, as well as habitat type. Bimonthly sampling was done at 4 sites of the lagoon, 2 at the mouth and 2 at the inner zone. The sites for each zone include bottoms with and without submerged aquatic vegetation (VAS, FSV). At each site hydr...

The abundance and turnover of fish species inhabiting Celestún lagoon were evaluated according to daynight cycles, as well as habitat type. Bimonthly sampling was done at 4 sites of the lagoon, 2 at the mouth and 2 at the inner zone. The sites for each zone include bottoms with and without submerged aquatic vegetation (VAS, FSV). At each site hydro...

The coexistence of ecologically similar species may occur because of resources distribution, such as prey and habitat type and segregation time, that minimizes the interspecific competition. The changes brought about by Hurricane Isidore in the distribution of food resources by three coexisting fish species of the family Tetraodontidae (Sphoeroides...

Los petenes son pequeños manantiales y arroyos asociados que drenan a sistemas palustres en áreas cársticas costeras. Se estudió la composición, distribución y abundancia de la ictiofauna en dos petenes del noroeste de Campeche, en el manantial principal, el arroyo asociado, y pequeños ojos de agua secundarios (temporales), en dos épocas del año. S...

Coastal lagoons are important systems for freshwater, estuarine and marine organisms; they are considered important zones of reproduction, nursery and feeding for many fish species. The present study investigates the fish assemblages of the natural reserve of Dzilam and their relationship with the hydrologic variables. A total of 6 474 individuals...

We evaluated spatio-temporal effects of fishing gear selectivity on the ichthyofauna discarded by the artisanal shrimp fishery in Celestun Lagoon (Mexico). Selectivity experiments, based on the covered codend method, were carried out in different zones (seaward, middle, inner) and climatic seasons (Nortes, Dry, Rainy) using two bottom nets with dif...

Length–weight relationships were estimated for 24 species belonging to 16 families of fishes, representing a total of 15 312 measured fish, from the Carretas-Pereyra lagoon, Chiapas, Mexico. Significant length–weight relationships were found for all species. For 13 species, length–weight relationships are published for the first time.

Ichthyofauna of karstic wetlands under anthropic impact: the "petenes" of Campeche, Mexico. "Petenes" are small springs and associated streams that (train into wetlands near the coast in karstic areas. We studied composition, distribution, and abundance of the ichthyofauna in Los Petenes region (northwest Campeche). Two petenes displaying different...

"Petenes" are small springs and associated streams that drain into wetlands near the coast in karstic areas. We studied composition, distribution, and abundance of the ichthyofauna in Los Petenes region (northwest Campeche). Two petenes displaying different degrees and types of anthropic impact were selected, Hampolol and El Remate. Hampolol has a...

Stomach contents of Lagodon rhomboides, the most abundant fish species from seagrass beds in Chelem Lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico, were analyzed. The specimens were collected using a beach seine at eight stations distributed randomly in the lagoon during July, September and November 2002. The trophic components were analyzed by means of the relative abun...

Feeding habits of the fish Lagodon rhomboides (Perciformes: Sparidae) at the coastal lagoon of Chelem, Yucatán, México. Stomach contents of Lagodon rhomboides, the most abundant fish species from seagrass beds in Chelem Lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico, were analyzed. The specimens were collected using a beach seine at eight stations distributed randomly in...

Composition and abundance of the ichthyofauna in estuarine and coastal lagoon systems of the South Pacific in Mexico have been scarcely studied. In particular, there is a lack of information on how environmental variables determine the spatio-temporal structure of fish assemblages in those habitats. In this study, fishes were sampled by drop net du...

Distribution, abundance and alimentary preferences of the fish Opsanus phobetron (Batrachoididae) at the Chelem coastal lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico. Fish are important ecological components in tropical coastal lagoons. In order to evaluate the distribution and feeding preferences of the toadfish Opsanus phobetron in the Chelem Lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico,...

Fish are important ecological components in tropical coastal lagoons. In order to evaluate the distribution and feeding preferences of the toadfish Opsanus phobetron in the Chelem Lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico, fish samples were collected using a beach seine in eight stations distributed randomly, from March 2002 to January 2003. The components were anal...

The main trophic interrelations were analysed in 12 species which represent 93% of the total catch from a beach seine fishery developed in Celestún, Yucatán. The diet was determined based on monthly samples over 4 yr. Five different trophic guilds were found on the basis of feeding preferences: microcrustacean and polychaete feeders, piscivores, om...

The feeding habits of Floridichthys polyommus (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae) were determined and compared spatially and seasonally between two coastal lagoon systems in Yucatan Peninsula. A total of 445 and 561 stomach contents were analyzed from the lagoons of Puerto Viejo (Quintana Roo) and Chelem (Yucatan), respectively. This specie presents a wide t...

Rio Lagartos, a tropical coastal lagoon in northern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, is characterized by high salinity during most of the year (55 psu annual average). Even though the area has been designated as a wetland of international importance because of its great biodiversity, fish species composition and distribution are unknown. To determine w...

A total of 157 fish species representing 17 orders in 55 teleosts fami- lies and one order including six elasmobranch families, have been recorded in Celestún Biosphere Reserve, as a result of several fields annual campaigns (1984, 1985, 1991 to 1994, 1998, 2000-2001) conducted in different habitats (conti- nental shelf, coastal zone, seagrasses an...

El índice de integridad biótica (IBI por sus siglas en inglés) es una herramienta metodológica que integra diferentes atributos de las comunidades de peces y provee además una herramienta rápida y de bajo costo relativo para evaluar la salud general de un ecosistema acuático determinado. No obstante que desde principios del siglo pasado las caracte...

Energy fluxes in a mangrove ecosystem were evaluated with Ecopath model through a predator/prey matrix with 19 functional groups including primary producers and three levels of carnivores. Some input data (biomass of the fish groups, zooplankton and benthic communities) were obtained from the field and by stomach content analysis of dominant fish s...

Influence of atmospheric variables and water temperature, winds, cloudiness, depth, salinity, grass and algal abundance, and group structure on the spatial distribution of Trichechus manatus manatus was studied in Chetumal Bay, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Boat surveys were done from November 1994 through June 1995. There was little association with cloud...

Influence of atmospheric variables and water temperature, winds, cloudiness, depth, salinity, grass and algal abundance, and group structure on the spatial distribution of Trichechus manatus manatus was studied in Chetumal Bay, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Boat surveys were done from November 1994 through June 1995. There was little association with cloud...

Opisthonema oglinum is one of the most important fish species from an artisanal beach seine fishery that operates on the Campeche Bank. Growth parameters, age structure, seasonal variation of reproduction and diet were studied from October 1986 to December 1987. Estimates of von Bertalanffy growth parameters were: L~ = 177.5 mm, K = 0.249 year-1 an...

Celestun Lagoon, a coastal tropical ecosystem of the Yucatan Peninsula is fringed by mangrove forests. Rotenone-drop net technique was applied in one site dominated by Avicennia germinans mixed with Rizophora mangle. Results show daylight highest availability of food resources for juvenile stages of fishes, while at night adult may forage out into...

ABSTRACT Atrophic,model ,of an estuarine ,mangrove ecosystem in Celestun Lagoon, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, was constructed using the Ecopath,approach ,and ,software. The objective was to evaluate the,importance of vascular plant detritus to ,the heterotrophic community and ,to determine holistic ecosystem properties, as required,to evaluate ,mangr...