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

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 Pomcaochistus. 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. (C) 2004 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.