Biology
provided by Arkive
The Pecos pupfish is well-adapted to survive in the often harsh conditions found in its habitat; not only can it tolerate a range of salinities and temperatures (6), but it is also omnivorous and will consume a variety of foods such as algae, aquatic plants and insects (7).
The Pecos pupfish's breeding season occurs from May to September, peaking around May and June (2) (6). The breeding males establish territories, which they aggressively defend from rival males as well as from other species. The best territories consist of plants and algae for the male to feed on, as well as an area of bare rock on which the female's eggs can be deposited. These are, however, in short supply and fiercely competed for, hence many of the smaller males do not attempt to establish a territory, and retain their non-breeding colouration. Over the course of the breeding season, the female Pecos pupfish breeds with multiple partners, selecting the largest, most vividly coloured males. After mating, the female deposits a mass of eggs, which are left with the male to defend against predation, while the female searches for another mate (4). Pecos pupfish usually only live for a year, and each year's breeding population is therefore composed of fish born in the previous summer (6).
Conservation
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A conservation agreement between state departments in New Mexico and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has led to a number of conservation initiatives being employed to protect the Pecos pupfish. Artificial barriers have been placed around the Bitter Lake Wildlife Refuge to protect its population from invasion by the hybrid species. The other remaining populations are also being protected through the removal of non-native predators, and protection from groundwater pumping. These measures will help to ensure that, despite its highly restricted range, this Critically Endangered fish is protected from extinction (7).
Description
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Once abundant and relatively widespread, today this Critically Endangered fish persists in small numbers at just a few isolated sites (3). The diminutive Pecos pupfish has a stout body with rounded fins, with the male larger than the female. Throughout most of the year, both sexes are a dull brownish-green and marked with a series of dark spots and blotches (2). However, during the summer breeding season the male undergoes a striking colour change (2) (4), becoming an iridescent greyish-blue with creamy gill covers and a dark bar along the rear border of the tail fin (2).
Habitat
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Within its current limited range, the Pecos pupfish occupies a wide range of habitats, from freshwater lakes to the extremely salty water found in desert sinkholes, where only a small number of species can survive (3) (6).
Range
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Prior to the early 1980s, the Pecos pupfish was found throughout a 400 kilometre stretch of the Pecos River, which runs south from south-eastern New Mexico to Texas (2) (3). Today, because of interbreeding, the only remaining pure populations of the Pecos pupfish are found within Bitter Lake Wildlife Refuge in south-east New Mexico, in sinkholes, small lakes, tributaries and other water sources surrounding the main channel of the Pecos River (3) (5).
Status
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Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Threats
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During the early 1980s, the non-native sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegates) was introduced to the Pecos River, and being closely related to the Pecos pupfish, the two species interbred to produce a hybrid species. Possessing greater swimming endurance than the Pecos pupfish, the hybrid species was able to outcompete breeding males for territories (5). This competitive advantage has allowed the hybrid to spread throughout the Pecos River, interbreeding with the Pecos pupfish, so that today significant pure Pecos pupfish populations only occur in sinkholes, tributaries and lakes in the Bitter Lake Wildlife Refuge in south-east New Mexico (3) (5). These small, isolated populations are highly vulnerable to disturbance, such as the pumping of groundwater for human use (7), and are also continually threatened by the introduction of the hybrid species from the Pecos River's main channel (5).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Occurs in springs, sinkholes and pools of streams. 6 cm max TL (Ref. 5723). Not a seasonal killifish. Difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
aquarium: commercial
Pecos pupfish
provided by wikipedia EN
The Pecos pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis) is a species of pupfish in the family Cyprinodontidae. It is endemic to the Pecos River watershed in eastern New Mexico and western Texas in the United States.
Distribution and Habitat
Despite once existing throughout the Pecos River, C. pecosensis populations have become increasingly isolated due to significant portions of their native habitat being removed. [2][3] Following the introduction of Cyprinodon variegatus (sheepshead minnow), pure Pecos pupfish populations have been further isolated and largely exist in scattered sinkholes, man-made impoundments, and marshes.[3][4] Its natural habitat includes springs, sinkholes, and pools of streams.[5]
Introduction of Cyprinodon variegatus
Cyprinodon variegatus is thought to have been introduced during the early 1980s, presumably via bait-bucket dumping. Shortly after the introduction of C. variegatus, C. variegatus X C. pecosensis hybrids quickly became widespread, occupying an estimated 50% of the native Pecos pupfish range by 1985. [6][7] The widespread success of hybrids, and quick range expansion throughout native Pecos pupfish waters, has been hypothesized to be the result of selection mechanisms for hybrids during a period when the native C. pecosensis population had experienced a reduction.[8]
Additionally, hybrid populations have been reported to have increased growth-rates and vigor (Heterosis), resulting in Pecos pupfish females to actively choose to mate with hybrids over pure male Pecos pupfish.[9][10] Given this, conservation efforts have been difficult and efforts are being made to prevent C. variegatus from entering into isolated C. pecosensis populations.
References
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^ NatureServe (2013). "Cyprinodon pecosensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T6163A15361876. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T6163A15361876.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
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^ R. R. Miller (1961). "Man and the Changing Fish Fauna of the American Southwest" (PDF). Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters.
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^ a b C. Hoagstrom; J. Brooks (1999). "Distribution, Status, and Concervation of the Pecos pupfish, Cyprinodon pecosensis". Technical Report No. 2, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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^ M. L. Collyer; M. E. Hall; M. D. Smith; C. W. Hoagstrom (1999). "Habitat- morphotype associations of Pecos pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis) in isolated habitat complexes". Copeia. 2015: 181–199.
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^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Cyprinodon pecosensis" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
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^ A. A. Echelle; P. J. Connor (1989). "Rapid, geographically extensive genetic introgression after secondary contact between two pupfish species (Cyprinodon, Cyprinodontidae)". Evolution. 43 (4): 717–727. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1989.tb05171.x. PMID 28564193.
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^ A. A. Echelle; C. W. Hoagstrom; A. F. Echelle; E. James (1997). "Expanded occurrence of genetically introgressed pupfish ( Cyprinodontidae : Cyprinodon pecosensis X variegatus ) in New Mexico". Southwestern Naturalist. 42 (3): 336–339. JSTOR 30055287.
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^ M. R. Childs; A. A. Echelle; T. E. Dowling (1996). "Development of hybrid swarm between Pecos pupfish (Cyprinodontidae: Cyprinodon pecosensis) and sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus): a perspective from allozymes and mtDNA". Evolution. 50 (5): 2014–2022. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1996.tb03588.x. PMID 28565604.
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^ J. A. Rosenfield; A. Kodric-Brown (2003). "Sexual selection promotes hybridization between Pecos pupfish, Cyprinodon pecosensis and sheepshead minnow, C. variegatus". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 16 (4): 595–606. doi:10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00557.x. PMID 14632223. S2CID 13302325.
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^ J. A. Rosenfield; S. Nolasco; C. Sandoval; A. Kodric-Brown (2004). "The Role of Hybrid Vigor in the Replacement of Pecos Pupfish by Its Hybrids with Sheepshead Minnow". Conservation Biology. 18 (6): 1589–1598. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2004.00356.x. S2CID 39553092.
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Pecos pupfish: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The Pecos pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis) is a species of pupfish in the family Cyprinodontidae. It is endemic to the Pecos River watershed in eastern New Mexico and western Texas in the United States.
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