Mercury Levels and Risk Implications Through Fish Consumption on the Sinaloa Coasts (Gulf of California, Northwest Mexico)

Bostrichoclerus bicornus Van Dyke is known from southwest United States and northwest Mexico. To date, only two specimens have been captured: the holotype, collected on Isla Angel de la Guarda, in the Gulf of California, Mexico, and a second individual collected in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The original description of B. bicornus is brief and lacks any images. Considering its rarity, we present the redescription of this species based on the examination of the holotype and compare this taxon to similar genera of New World Tillinae. Images of the holotype and the Bostrichoclerus specimen collected in southern California are given. We conclude that B. bicornus is undoubtedly a member of the subfamily Tillinae with unclear intergeneric relations in the group.

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Analysis of crab size structure and the fishing effort applied to a crab fishery in northwest Mexico

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003769 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 225-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

César A. Heredia-Delgadillo ◽

Guillermo Rodríguez-Domínguez ◽

Raúl Pérez-González ◽

Nicolás Castañeda-Lomas ◽

Sergio G. Castillo-Vargasmachuca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of California ◽

Size Structure ◽

Coastal Lagoons ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Fishing Effort ◽

Double Ring ◽

Northwest Mexico ◽

Fishing Gears ◽

Fishery Cooperatives ◽

Ring Net

The fishing effort of a Sinaloa crab fishery in the Gulf of California in 2014 was analysed based on fishermen’s interviews, official catches and permits, and information from a sample of fishing logbooks from five fishery cooperatives operating in four coastal lagoons that contained the daily catch from individual fishing trips. Unauthorized gear, a double-ring net (DR), was used most frequently (>70% of the fishers) for crab fishing, although authorized single-ring nets and Chesapeake traps (CT) were also used with low frequency. The estimated fishing effort was 641 boats/day in the four coastal lagoons, which was 34% more than authorized, and 818 boats/day were employed in all of Sinaloa. A total of 57 479 fishing gears were estimated for the study area, which was 49.9% greater than the maximum authorized number, and 80 822 nominal fishing gears were estimated for the entire Sinaloa crab fishery, 14.15% more than the total gear limit (70 800). The size of the mesh used in the gear was smaller than the authorized limit of 76 mm, and >50% of the catches included crabs of unlawful size. It is argued that the effort must be regulated in terms of the number of vessels, per unit time, and not the number of gears. The information from this study demonstrates a failure to monitor compliance with current regulations and thus means that other strategies for the sustainable management of the fishery, such as co-management, should be tested.

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Life histories predict genetic diversity and population structure within three species of Octopus targeted by small-scale fisheries in Northwest Mexico

10.7287/peerj.preprints.3016 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

José F Domínguez-Contreras ◽

Adrian Munguia-Vega ◽

Bertha P Ceballos-Vázquez ◽

Marcial Arellano-Martínez ◽

Francisco J García-Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Population Size ◽

Effective Population Size ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Life Histories ◽

Local Population ◽

Small Scale ◽

Effective Population ◽

Northwest Mexico

The fishery for octopus in Northwest Mexico has increased to over 2,000 tons annually, but to date the specific composition of the catch has been ignored. With at least three main species with varying life histories targeted by artisanal fisheries in the region, lack of information about the distribution of each species and metapopulation size and structure could impede effective fisheries management to avoid overexploitation. Here we tested if different life histories in three species of octopus help to predict observed patterns of genetic diversity, population dynamics, structure and connectivity that could be relevant to the sustainable management of the fishery. We sequenced two mitochondrial genes and genotyped seven nuclear microsatellite loci to identify the distribution of each species in 20 locations from the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula. We tested four a priori hypothesis derived from population genetic theory based on differences in the fecundity and dispersal potential for each species. We found that the species with low fecundity and without a planktonic larval stage (Octopus bimaculoides) had lower average effective population size and genetic diversity, but higher levels of kinship, population structure, and richness of private alleles, suggesting limited dispersal and high local recruitment. In contrast, two species with higher fecundity and planktonic larvae (O. bimaculatus, O. hubbsorum) showed higher effective population size and genetic diversity, and overall lower kinship and population structure, supporting higher levels of gene flow over a larger geographical scale. Even among the latter, there were differences in the calculated parameters possibly associated with increased connectivity in the species with the longest planktonic larval duration (O. bimaculatus). We consider that O. bimaculoides could be more susceptible to over exploitation of small, isolated populations that could have longer recovery times, and suggest that management should take place within each local population. For the two species with pelagic larvae, management should consider metapopulation structure over larger geographic scales and the directionality and magnitude of larval dispersal between localities driven by ocean currents. The distribution of each species and variations in their reproductive timing should also be considered when establishing marine reserves or seasonal fishing closures.

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Sediments and Sedimentary Environments in Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, Northwest Mexico: ABSTRACT

AAPG Bulletin ◽

10.1306/2f919b2f-16ce-11d7-8645000102c1865d ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 65 ◽

Author(s):

C. J. Eduardo Aguayo

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of California ◽

Guaymas Basin ◽

Sedimentary Environments ◽

Northwest Mexico

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A permanent seismograph array around the Gulf of California

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America ◽

10.1785/bssa0660030969 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 969-978

Author(s):

James N. Brune ◽

Cinna Lomnitz ◽

Clarence Allen ◽

Federico Mooser ◽

Francis Lehner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Los Angeles ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Low Power Design ◽

Noise Sources ◽

La Paz ◽

Northwest Mexico ◽

Aftershock Sequences ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Solar Powered ◽

Sea Floor Spreading

abstract A permanent seismographic array has been established around the Gulf of California. Solar-powered stations are operating at Caborca, Bahia de los Angeles, Guaymas, Topolobampo and La Paz. Trailer stations using local 60-cycle power are operating at San Felipe, Rio Hardy, Rancho Meling, and Ensenada. The array is unique in the following aspects: (1) It is the only array operating in close proximity to an active region of sea-floor spreading; (2) its sophisticated low-power design and use of solar energy made siting choices simpler so that local noise sources could be minimized; (3) it is the first accurately timed array to operate in northwest Mexico. The array has already provided important information on seismicity in the Gulf of California and has aided in several sonobuoy studies of swarms and aftershock sequences. As more data accumulate, many of the important questions concerning the seismicity, tectonics, and structure of the Gulf of California will be answered.

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Prevalence and genotypic diversity of ostreid herpesvirus type 1 in Crassostrea gigas cultured in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03462 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 138 ◽

pp. 185-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MF Martínez-García ◽

JM Grijalva-Chon ◽

R Castro-Longoria ◽

A Varela-Romero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crassostrea Gigas ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Disease Outbreaks ◽

Genotypic Diversity ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Herpesvirus Type ◽

Northwest Mexico ◽

Herpesvirus 1 ◽

Ostreid Herpesvirus 1

In bivalve mollusk aquaculture, massive disease outbreaks with high mortality and large economic losses can occur, as in northwest Mexico in the 1990s. A range of pathogens can affect bivalves; one of great concern is ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1), of which there are several strains. This virus has been detected in the Gulf of California in occasional or sporadic samplings, but to date, there have been few systematic studies. Monthly samples of Crassostrea gigas, water, and sediment were taken in the La Cruz coastal lagoon and analyzed by PCR. The native mollusk, Dosinia ponderosa, which lives outside the lagoon, was sampled as a control. The virus was found throughout the year only in C. gigas, with prevalence up to 60%. In total, 9 genotype variants were detected, and genetic analysis suggests that linear genotypic evolution has occurred from strain JF894308, present in La Cruz in 2011. There has been no evidence of the entry of new viral genotypes in the recent past, thus confinement of the virus within the lagoons of the Gulf of California could promote a native genotypic diversity in the short term.

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Life histories predict genetic diversity and population structure within three species of Octopus targeted by small-scale fisheries in Northwest Mexico

10.7287/peerj.preprints.3016v2 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

José F Domínguez-Contreras ◽

Adrian Munguia-Vega ◽

Bertha P Ceballos-Vázquez ◽

Marcial Arellano-Martínez ◽

Francisco J García-Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Population Size ◽

Effective Population Size ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Life Histories ◽

Local Population ◽

Small Scale ◽

Effective Population ◽

Northwest Mexico

The fishery for octopus in Northwest Mexico has increased to over 2,000 tons annually, but to date the specific composition of the catch has been ignored. With at least three main species with varying life histories targeted by artisanal fisheries in the region, lack of information about the distribution of each species and metapopulation size and structure could impede effective fisheries management to avoid overexploitation. Here we tested if different life histories in three species of octopus help to predict observed patterns of genetic diversity, population dynamics, structure and connectivity that could be relevant to the sustainable management of the fishery. We sequenced two mitochondrial genes and genotyped seven nuclear microsatellite loci to identify the distribution of each species in 20 locations from the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula. We tested four a priori hypothesis derived from population genetic theory based on differences in the fecundity and dispersal potential for each species. We found that the species with low fecundity and without a planktonic larval stage (Octopus bimaculoides) had lower average effective population size and genetic diversity, but higher levels of kinship, population structure, and richness of private alleles, suggesting limited dispersal and high local recruitment. In contrast, two species with higher fecundity and planktonic larvae (O. bimaculatus, O. hubbsorum) showed higher effective population size and genetic diversity, and overall lower kinship and population structure, supporting higher levels of gene flow over a larger geographical scale. Even among the latter, there were differences in the calculated parameters possibly associated with increased connectivity in the species with the longest planktonic larval duration (O. bimaculatus). We consider that O. bimaculoides could be more susceptible to over exploitation of small, isolated populations that could have longer recovery times, and suggest that management should take place within each local population. For the two species with pelagic larvae, management should consider metapopulation structure over larger geographic scales and the directionality and magnitude of larval dispersal between localities driven by ocean currents. The distribution of each species and variations in their reproductive timing should also be considered when establishing marine reserves or seasonal fishing closures.

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Simulation of a North American Monsoon Gulf Surge Event and Comparison to Observations

Monthly Weather Review ◽

10.1175/mwr-d-11-00223.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 140 (8) ◽

pp. 2534-2554 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Andrew J. Newman ◽

Richard H. Johnson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

North American ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Moisture Flux ◽

North American Monsoon ◽

Southwest United States ◽

Northwest Mexico ◽

The North ◽

The Pacific ◽

Gulf Surges

Abstract Gulf surges are transient disturbances that propagate along the Gulf of California (GoC) from south to north, transporting cool moist air toward the deserts of northwest Mexico and the southwest United States during the North American monsoon. They have been shown to modulate precipitation and have been linked to severe weather and flooding in northern Mexico and the southwest United States. The general features and progression of surge events are well studied, but their detailed evolution is still unclear. To address this, several convection-permitting simulations are performed over the core monsoon region for the 12–14 July 2004 gulf surge event. This surge event occurred during the North American Monsoon Experiment, which allows for extensive comparison to field observations. A 60-h reference simulation is able to reproduce the surge event, capturing its main characteristics: speed and direction of motion, thermodynamic changes during its passage, and strong northward moisture flux. While the timing of the simulated surge is accurate to within 1–3 h, it is weaker and shallower than observed. This deficiency is likely due to a combination of weaker convection and lack of stratiform precipitation along the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental than observed, hence, weaker precipitation evaporation to aid the surge. Sensitivity simulations show that convective outflow does modulate the intensity of the simulated surge, in agreement with past studies. The removal of gap flows from the Pacific Ocean across the Baja Peninsula into the GoC shows they also impact surge intensity.

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Dynamics of a Simulated North American Monsoon Gulf Surge Event

Monthly Weather Review ◽

10.1175/mwr-d-12-00294.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 141 (9) ◽

pp. 3238-3253 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Andrew J. Newman ◽

Richard H. Johnson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

North American ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Dynamical Evolution ◽

North American Monsoon ◽

The Core ◽

Southwest United States ◽

Northwest Mexico ◽

The North ◽

Internal Bores

Abstract Gulf surges are transient disturbances that propagate along the Gulf of California (GoC) from south to north, transporting cool moist air toward the deserts of northwest Mexico and the southwest United States during the North American monsoon. They have been shown to modulate precipitation and have been linked to severe weather and flooding in northern Mexico and the southwest United States. The general features and progression of surge events are well documented but their detailed dynamical evolution is still unclear. In this study, a convection-permitting simulation is performed over the core monsoon region for the 12–14 July 2004 gulf surge event and the dynamics of the simulated surge are examined. Initially, convection associated with the tropical easterly wave precursor to Tropical Cyclone Blas creates a disturbance in the southern GoC on early 12 July. This disturbance is a precursor to the gulf surge on 13 July and is a Kelvin shock (internal bore under the influence of rotation) that dissipates in the central GoC. The surge initiates from inflow from the mouth of the GoC along with convective outflow impinging on the southern GoC. Continued convective outflow along the GoC generates multiple gravity currents and internal bores while intensifying the simulated surge as it propagates up the GoC. As the core of the surge reaches the northern GoC, a Kelvin shock is again the best dynamical fit to the phenomenon. Substantial low-level cooling and moistening are associated with the modeled surge along the northern GoC as is observed.

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Life histories predict genetic diversity and population structure within three species of Octopus targeted by small-scale fisheries in Northwest Mexico

10.7287/peerj.preprints.3016v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

José F Domínguez-Contreras ◽

Adrian Munguia-Vega ◽

Bertha P Ceballos-Vázquez ◽

Marcial Arellano-Martínez ◽

Francisco J García-Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Population Size ◽

Effective Population Size ◽

Gulf Of California ◽

Life Histories ◽

Local Population ◽

Small Scale ◽

Effective Population ◽

Northwest Mexico

The fishery for octopus in Northwest Mexico has increased to over 2,000 tons annually, but to date the specific composition of the catch has been ignored. With at least three main species with varying life histories targeted by artisanal fisheries in the region, lack of information about the distribution of each species and metapopulation size and structure could impede effective fisheries management to avoid overexploitation. Here we tested if different life histories in three species of octopus help to predict observed patterns of genetic diversity, population dynamics, structure and connectivity that could be relevant to the sustainable management of the fishery. We sequenced two mitochondrial genes and genotyped seven nuclear microsatellite loci to identify the distribution of each species in 20 locations from the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula. We tested four a priori hypothesis derived from population genetic theory based on differences in the fecundity and dispersal potential for each species. We found that the species with low fecundity and without a planktonic larval stage (Octopus bimaculoides) had lower average effective population size and genetic diversity, but higher levels of kinship, population structure, and richness of private alleles, suggesting limited dispersal and high local recruitment. In contrast, two species with higher fecundity and planktonic larvae (O. bimaculatus, O. hubbsorum) showed higher effective population size and genetic diversity, and overall lower kinship and population structure, supporting higher levels of gene flow over a larger geographical scale. Even among the latter, there were differences in the calculated parameters possibly associated with increased connectivity in the species with the longest planktonic larval duration (O. bimaculatus). We consider that O. bimaculatus could be more susceptible to over exploitation of small, isolated populations that could have longer recovery times, and suggest that management should take place within each local population. For the two species with pelagic larvae, management should consider metapopulation structure over larger geographic scales and the directionality and magnitude of larval dispersal between localities driven by ocean currents. The distribution of each species and variations in their reproductive timing should also be considered when establishing marine reserves or seasonal fishing closures.

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