Functional groups of lagoon fish species in Languedoc Roussillon, southern France

• Published in: Journal of fish biology Vol. 64; no. 4; pp. 970 - 983
• Main Authors: Dumay, O., Tari, P. S., Tomasini, J. A., Mouillot, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK; Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Ltd/Inc 01.04.2004; Blackwell
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; allometry; Anguilla anguilla; Atherina; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Callionymus pusillus; exotic species; functional traits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gambusia affinis; Marine; multivariate analysis; Pomatoschistus; Syngnathus; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; France; Europe; Languedoc Roussillon; MED, France, Languedoc-Roussillon; Vertebrata; Biology; Pisces; Functional group
• ISSN: 0022-1112; 1095-8649
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2004.00365.x

Ten functional traits of fish species were related to habitat, diet or food acquisition, to propose a classification of 21 lagoon fishes into 10 functional groups. The selection of traits was based on their functional interest and the ease of measurement. Some groups were taxonomically related containing species belonging to the same genus, e.g. Syngnathus, Atherina or Pomatochistus. Species with a flat body shape constituted another group and three species (Anguilla anguilla, Gambusia affinis and Callionymus pusillus) formed individual groups. These results could be used to constitute functional units and to simplify such complex ecosystems and their interactions.