Written by Ethan Degner.

The Mexican highlands are located in central Mexico west of Mexico City. Throughout this region there are numerous lakes, many of which have no outlet to other bodies of water (WWF 2009). Because of this isolation, approximately 70% of the fish found in these lakes are endemic (Domínguez-Domínguez et al. 2007), which means they can only be found in a particular region (Van Dyke 2008). These lakes are especially known for their many species of goodeines. Goodeines are a subfamily of fish that, unlike most species of fish, do not lay eggs. Instead, female goodeines give birth to live fish. Most of the forty-one species in this subfamily are endemic to the Mexican highlands (Domínguez-Domínguez et al. 2006, 2007), although some of these species are now extinct in the wild and only exist in captivity (Domínguez-Domínguez et al. 2006).

Populations of goodeines and other native fish in the Mexican highlands have been declining greatly, and extinctions of local populations of some species are becoming more common. Exotic species, which compete with native species for needed resources, have been introduced into many lakes. In order to feed an increasing population in this region, more water has been drawn from lakes for irrigation, lowering many lake levels. Agricultural pollution has led to a great decrease in water quality, and overfishing has made it difficult for fish populations to recover (Soto-Galera et al. 1999; Berlanga-Robles et al. 2002; Domínguez-Domínguez et al. 2006, 2007).

The importance of this region’s diversity of fishes had been overlooked for a long time due to the low commercial value of the fish it contains (Domínguez-Domínguez et al. 2006). However, several groups are now attempting to protect the lakes and fishes of the Mexican highlands. The Mexican government has imposed laws to protect these lakes (Domínguez-Domínguez et al. 2006). The lakes have also gained the attention of global conservation organizations, such as the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (Domínguez-Domínguez et al. 2006, 2007) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF 2009). With the help of these organizations, it is possible that the Mexican highland lakes’ water quality can be restored, and their endemic fish species can be preserved.




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Berlanga-Robles, C. A., J. Madrid-Vera, and A. Ruiz-Luna. 2002. Fish abundance and trophic structure from the commercial catch in Lake Patzcuaro, Mexico. Hydrobiologia 467:117-122.

Domínguez-Domínguez, O., E. Martínez-Meyer, L. Zambrano, and G. Pérez-Ponce de León. 2006. Using ecological-niche modeling as a conservation tool for freshwater species: live-bearing fishes in central Mexico. Conservation Biology 20:1730-1739.

Domínguez-Domínguez, O., L. Boto, F. Alda, G. Pérez-Ponce de León, and I. Doadrio. 2007. Human impacts on drainages of the Mesa Central, Mexico, and its genetic effects on an endangered fish, Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis. Conservation Biology 21:168-180.

Soto-Galera, E., J. Paulo-Maya, E. López-López, and J. A. Serna-Hernández. 1999. Change in fish fauna as indication of aquatic ecosystem condition in Río Grande de Morelia-Lago de Cuitzeo Basin, Mexico. Environmental Management 24:133-140.

Van Dyke, F. 2008. Conservation Biology. 2nd edition. Springer, New York.

WWF (World Wildlife Fund). 2009. Mexican Highland Lakes. WWF, Washington, D.C. Available from http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/mexican_highland_lakes.cfm (accessed October 2009).

Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World

Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

Marine Ecoregions of the World







This page was created from an environmental education writing project generated in the Fall 2009 Bio245 Conservation Biology class. Content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Gustavus Adolphus College.

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