Fish Community and Physiological Responses to Phosphorus Availability in Chihuahan Desert Aquatic Ecosystems (Cuatro Cienegas Basin Coahuila Mexico)

Fish Community and Physiological Responses to Phosphorus Availability in Chihuahan Desert Aquatic Ecosystems (Cuatro Cienegas Basin Coahuila Mexico) Fish Community and Physiological Responses to Phosphorus Availability in Chihuahan Desert Aquatic Ecosystems (Moody, Corman and Ramos) We propose to examine how fish communities and physiological responses differ across a gradient in chemical conditions. We will measure wa,ter chemistry and physical characteristics of 16 water bodies across the Cuatro Cienegas basin and compare these variables to fish distributions. We will also measure the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus of a widespread species across this gradient to determine how changing chemical conditions affect fish physiology. We will present these results in the peer-reviewed literature and to relevant managers in Coahuila. These results will further our understanding of what factors shape desert fish communities in a highly-threatened region.