Conservation And Conflicts Between Endangered Desert Fishes

Antagonistic interactions between naturally occurring endangered species pose unique problems for conservation biology.


Herein, we report a seven year decline in breeding males of the endangered Leon Springs pupfish, Cyprinodon bovinus. We also examine a direct conflict between endangered species, demonstrating that endangered Pecos gambusia, Gambusia nobilis, cluster around C. bovinus spawning events.


As a known egg predator, our results suggest that G. nobilis presence at spawnings may further decrease pupfish numbers while also leading males to alter their breeding behavior.


Finally, we discuss management options that may result in viable population sizes for both critically endangered fishes.


Royal Society journal Biology Letters


Biology Letters publishes short, innovative and cutting-edge research articles and opinion pieces accessible to scientists from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of succinct high-quality research communications.


Biology Letters