Spatial distribution and suitable core habitat of Herichthys labridens in the Media Luna Spring, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

The wetland formed by the Media Luna Spring is used for tourism, generating landscape modifications to the habitat of fish populations. Given this, the present study focused on quantifying these changes and correlating them to the spatial distribution and habitat affinity of the endemic cichlid fish Herichthys labridens, over 2 decades. Its spatial distribution was modeled and its suitable core habitat was estimated, considering their adult and juvenile life stages during 3 summer events (1999, 2009, and 2019). Based on occurrence records and the variables of water depth and underwater coverage, the variation in the spatial distribution of this fish species was evaluated in each summer event using the DOMAIN Model. A suitable core habitat was also identified from habitat resistance analysis. The highest probability of distribution (DP > 0.70) of both stages always occurred in areas with a high density of underwater vegetation, with a maximum depth of 1.5 m. On a spatial-temporal scale, the core habitat with medium and high suitability (HR ≤ 0.01) for adults and juveniles was to the extent that maintained its underwater coverage characteristics. This information is important for delimiting a conservation area of H. labridens in the Media Luna Spring.