Distribution and habitat preferences of the introduced mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus (Linneaus) in South-western Spain

The distribution and apparent habitat preference of the common mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) in south-western Spain were examined during summer-autumn 1996. This introduced species was more or less continuously distributed along the Atlantic coast of Spain, being more abundant in sites near the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Estuarine, coastal and shelf science coastal and shelf science, 1998-06, Vol.46 (6), p.827-835
Main Authors: GUTIERREZ-ESTRADA, J. C, PRENDA, J, OLIVA, F, FERNANDEZ-DELGADO, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundulus heteroclitus
Vertebrata
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Summary:The distribution and apparent habitat preference of the common mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) in south-western Spain were examined during summer-autumn 1996. This introduced species was more or less continuously distributed along the Atlantic coast of Spain, being more abundant in sites near the coastline (usually 25. It was the most frequently captured fish species, occurring at 81 of the 272 sites sampled; their frequency of occurrence was almost twice that of the second ranked species (Gambusia holbrooki). However, in over 80% of cases, F. heteroclitus was found alone or with only one sympatric fish species, which usually belonged to a group composed of Gobius niger, mugilids, Anguilla anguilla, Blennius sp., Lebias ibera, Pomatoschistus sp. and Dicentrarchus labrax. Finally, the origin and dispersal of mummichog in the Iberian peninsula and the potential effects of this species on native fish populations is discussed.
ISSN:0272-7714
1096-0015
DOI:10.1006/ecss.1997.0318