A Note of a Unique Inland, Saline Water Fishery: Brine Flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) of Lake Cuitzeo, Mexico

Fisheries in Cuitzeo, the second largest Mexican lake, used to take place on permanent freshwater East and Central Basins as opposed temporal, saline, initially thought barren West Basin. The 1980 fisheries collapse forced fishers look for non-conventional fishing products elsewhere lake. Basin’s saline-alkaline, shallow water provides exceptional habitat ephydrids flourish. Locally known “pupa”, are collected large numbers. Although consumed since pre-Hispanic times, no other commercial of worldwide. This study records species composition abundance “pupa” throughout an annual cycle Basin, where occur. Two were found: Ephydra hians Lamproscatella muria. Ephydrids co-occurred June July at end dry season when salinity was highest. L. muria more abundant (954 ± 2385 ind m−2) than E. (94 38 m−2). relatively low Basin favoured over hians, which prefers higher salinities. fishery is still unpredictable due astatic nature hence limited economic importance local fishers.