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Natural history and trophic ecology of three populations of the Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus

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Abstract

The Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus (Characidae), has become an important model in evolutionary physiology and developmental biology, providing insights into the evolution of sensory systems, pigmentation, and metabolism. In contrast, comparatively little is known about the natural history and trophic ecology of this elusive cave inhabitant. We investigated cavefish from three independently colonized cave systems (Pachón, Tinaja, and Sabinos), which are located in the Sierra de El Abra of northeastern Mexico. Samples were collected multiple times throughout the year to investigate variation in body size, sex ratios, proportions of individuals with empty guts, and diet composition. We found consistent differences in body size among caves, and sex ratios were generally female biased, although to varying degrees. Gut content analyses indicated that cavefish consume food throughout the year, and diets are dominated by detritus, plant materials, and aquatic invertebrates. Especially in the Pachón cave, where we had the densest sampling, there was evidence for seasonal changes in diet composition that coincided with the rainy and dry seasons. Our findings potentially suggest that the cave environments in this system are characterized by continual nutrient limitation, rather than intermittent periods of starvation.

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All data associated with this manuscript will be made available in a public repository (Dryad) upon acceptance of the manuscript or can be obtained directly from the corresponding authors.

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Acknowledgements

Collection permits provided by the Mexican government (DGOPA.05003.181010-5003; DGOPA.00570.288108-0291; DAPA/2/130409/0961, 230401-613-03). FJGdL thanks the Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria and its students who enthusiastically participated in the field collections.

Funding

The field collections were financed by FJGdL. The study was also supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (IOS-1931657 to MT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 1717 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS, USA

    E. J. Wilson & M. Tobler

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK

    R. Riesch

  3. Laboratorio de Genética Para La Conservación, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S. C. (CIBNOR), Calle IPN #195, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México

    L. Martínez-García & F. J. García-De León

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  1. E. J. Wilson
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  2. M. Tobler
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  3. R. Riesch
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  4. L. Martínez-García
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  5. F. J. García-De León
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Correspondence to E. J. Wilson or F. J. García-De León.

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Our study was conducted at the Technological Institute of Ciudad Victoria (ITCV) in Tamaulipas, México, where despite the lack of any animal care protocol, the animals were all collected under standard care procedures. Authors are responsible for correctness of the statements provided in the manuscript.

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Wilson, E.J., Tobler, M., Riesch, R. et al. Natural history and trophic ecology of three populations of the Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus. Environ Biol Fish 104, 1461–1474 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01163-y

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