The role of environmental filtering in the functional structure of fish communities in tropical wetlands

Environmental filtering plays a significant role in structuring fish communities in tropical wetlands, particularly under severe conditions. A study conducted in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve (SKBR), Mexico, revealed that as the dry season progresses, environmental filters increasingly dominate community structure, leading to a dominance of three key species by the end of the season. Researchers analyzed fish communities using a functional dispersion index weighted by relative abundance against null models across five permanent pools during three stages of the dry season. They found significant reductions in functional dispersion for locomotion but not for food acquisition, with overall functional variation becoming more distinct from random models as the season advanced. This suggests that environmental conditions, such as depth and temperature gradients, act as strong filters shaping community composition under harsh environmental pressures.

Córdova‐Tapia, F., Hernández‐Marroquín, V., & Zambrano, L. (2017). The role of environmental filtering in the functional structure of fish communities in tropical wetlands. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 27(2), 522–532. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/eff.12366