Baja California Research Articles

(Un)making a conservation landscape: repeat photography and environmental narrative in Mexico’s Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park

This essay uses repeat photography, a method in the natural sci­ences for studying change over time, to re-examine the conservation status of Baja California as a ‘living museum’ of pristine wilderness and relic of California’s ecological past. My focus is the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, a portion of northern Baja’s forest sym­bolizing conservation’s narrative of Baja as the ‘before’ to California’s ‘after’. While this narrative has protected this ecosystem, I argue that it has also been instrumental in expanding U.S. conservation model into Mexico and casting local, land-based people with centuries of land tenure as enemies of conservation. While repeat photography can corroborate conservation’s story, I propose a critical re-photography that turns the lens back onto ourselves as the makers of landscapes. I leverage repeat photography’s implicit reflexivity to reveal the scientific and cultural priorities that have relegated land-based people to the past and threaten to exclude them from the future.

Relationship of season with milk characteristics, yield, and shelf life of cheese in a hot climate

E Objective: the objective of the study was to identify whether there is a relationship between the environmental conditions of high temperature and humidity with the parameters of cheese yield and shelf life of Oaxaca-type cheese, made throughout two different times of the year, delimited by environmental temperature, in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: from January to November, ambient temperature and relative humidity, characteristics of the milk used at the time of reception (temperature, acidity, density, somatic cell count and microorganism count), yield, and shelf life of the cheese were recorded. These variables were related to season (summer and winter) and to different Temperature and Humidity Index– THI intervals. An analysis of variance was performed, also, the relationship among sets of variables by Pearson correlation, and the multiple mean difference with the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05). Results: significant differences were observed in the density, acidity, temperature, somatic cell count and cheese yield of milk due to the effect of the time of year. In addition, an 11% decrease in cheese yield was found as the maximum THI exceeded 77 units. The shelf life showed positive significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) when milk was pasteurized, but it was not affected by the THI. Limitations/ Implications of the study: this study was limited to a single period of analysis; so, it is necessary to monitor, and include additional milk quality variables. Conclusions: heat environmental conditions negatively impact the characteristics of the milk, therefore reducing the yield of Oaxaca-type cheese. The microbiological characteristics are unfavorable during the hot season; the pasteurization of milk is the main factor that increases the shelf life of the cheese.

Evaluation of the Interest and Perception of Tourism Service Providers in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, Regarding the Alternative Use of Biofuels

This study addresses the need to implement sustainable alternatives in marine vessels, particularly in vulnerable environments, highlighting the potential of biofuels as a viable option for the transition towards renewable energy. The objective of the research was to evaluate the interest and perception of tourism service providers in Los Cabos, B.C.S., Mexico, regarding the alternative use of biofuels in their vessels. A total of 56 random surveys were applied and validated, and the results were as follows: 92% consider fuel to be their largest operational cost, 84.6% acknowledge that their activities impact the environment, and 80% are aware of biodiesel biofuel. Notably, more than 94% expressed interest in learning how to produce biodiesel and in using it as an alternative in their operations, while 95% believe that the use of biofuels could be a positive differentiating feature for their businesses, contributing to an eco-friendlier service. This introductory assessment is crucial as it highlights the importance of understanding the willingness of key stakeholders before adopting new technologies. It concludes that there is strong interest in exploring and adopting sustainable alternatives, reinforcing the need for further research to provide viable solutions, promoting a circular economy and fostering sustainable tourism in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Past and future impacts of marine heatwaves on small-scale fisheries in Baja California, Mexico

Marine heatwaves are globally occurring events that can negatively impact fisheries, but their impacts on small-scale operations remain understudied. We investigate the historical and future impacts of marine heatwaves on small-scale fisheries operating along a biogeographic transition zone in the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. We estimate the impacts of the most intense marine heatwave regime on record on fisheries production of 43 economic units operating in a system of 55 Territorial Use-Rights for Fisheries. During this regime, aggregate landings in the lobster, sea urchin, and sea cucumber fisheries decreased between 15 and 58%. Most operations (56%) presented large reductions in landings, whose losses more than outweigh the small increase detected for the other 44%. Notably, impacts were larger for fisheries operating near an equatorward biogeographic break, and for operations in areas of high historical environmental variation and low historical variation in fisheries production. Climate models predict an increase in the frequency and intensity of exposure to marine heatwaves for all fisheries, but the change in frequency and intensity will be greater for those in the north. In the face of extreme environmental shocks such as marine heatwaves, small-scale fisheries operating near biogeographic transition zones are among the most vulnerable.

Citizen science enhances understanding of sea turtle distribution in the Gulf of California.

Citizen science is a valuable tool for addressing spatial distribution gaps in endangered species, especially in data-limited regions. Given the logistical and financial challenges of studying migratory species, this cost-effective approach contributes to strategic conservation planning. The Bay of La Paz, located in Baja California Sur, México, is considered an ecologically important region within the larger Gulf of California. Due to its rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources, the region serves as a hub for ecotourism and fishing, affording diverse opportunities for community-based scientific initiatives. This paper examines the value of citizen science contributions from three diverse community groups (i.e., coastal residents, SCUBA divers, and artisanal fishers) to help scientists obtain information on sea turtle distribution in the Bay of La Paz. Our findings represent the first records of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the bay based on ten citizen science reports that include live and dead turtles (either observed swimming, as bycatch, or stranded), providing new information on an endangered pelagic species identified in a coastal bay. Although the sample size is small, our diversity of sources and sighting types highlight the value of collaborative citizen science initiatives in complementing traditional research methods.

Brushes with History

Against a backdrop of other murals marking national territories and Manifest Destiny—notably, William Leutze’s stereochrome Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way completed for the U.S. Capitol during the Civil War, with its iconic depiction of a mostly monochrome van of westward migrants on their way over mountains to California’s Golden Gate—this article focuses on the way artists Judy Baca and Ana Teresa Fernández have both deconstructed physical and symbolic walls to open up a view of migrations across the U.S.–Mexico border as natural. The essay examines how each artist’s work gets to the same end vision but through different starting points in relation to history. Baca—in her ongoing History of California (a.k.a., the Great Wall of Los Angeles), and in her mural La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra, California—has brought repressed or erased history and people to light, and she explicitly envisions the border wall as unnatural. By contrast, Fernández optically erases the border wall at Tijuana / San Ysidro / the Pacific and other places along la frontera, employing Martha Stewart paint to create chinks and gashes in the wall’s ideological veneer, brushing blue onto corroding iron to, she says, pull “down the sky to kiss the ground again.” Baca represents what has been erased while Fernández erases what has been represented, but both do so to reconnect a California landscape that has been bifurcated by the border wall. Considered in relation to the history and historiography of the U.S.–Mexico borderlands—and in particular to work on the physical manifestation of the border through markers, monuments, fences and walls designed to split lands and peoples—this article considers these artists’ work as powerful demurrals, defiant visual protests and imaginaries that affirm inclusion, empathy, and human and ecological connections across the border between Alta and Baja California.

Present and Future Actions of CETYS University to Mitigate Climate Action

The strategic location of CETYS University, in Baja California state in the northwest of Mexico, gives it exceptional conditions for the use of renewable energies. With an installed photovoltaic solar energy capacity of 1.37 MW, it is the academic institution with the greatest generation potential in Latin America. The importance that CETYS University gives to the subject has stimulated the institution since 2015 to offer a degree and master's degree in renewable energy to have greater and better collaboration with solar and wind energy technology companies located in the state. With a vision of the future, in 2023 the CETYS Institute for Sustainability Studies (ISS) was created to promote and coordinate, among other actions, those related to energy and climate change. With a planning horizon until 2036, the ISS, looking forward, has proposed the following actions: a) an internal audit to increase the energy efficiency of their buildings and classrooms; b) support for research projects to build on-campus operational small-scale wind energy systems; c) the deployment of the 300 x 500 program, which seeks to plant at least 300 native trees in the region with low water consumption each year, to offset the atmospheric emissions of 500 vehicles; d) a policy to achieve 80% carbon neutrality, and e) the incorporation of CETYS to the network of Mexican universities for climate action. Among many others, these actions position CETYS as a leading institution in sustainable development at the regional level.

Potential Distribution and Carbon Sequestration of Rhizophora mangle L. in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Mangroves are a type of vegetation distributed in warm areas of the planet. Despite their importance, this flora is seriously threatened by both human activities and climate change. One of the main benefits provided by mangroves is carbon capture and storage, which is key for climate change mitigation. The main objective of this study was to identify the potential distribution and carbon sequestration potential of Rhizophora mangle L. in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. Potential distribution models were obtained for Baja California Sur, Mexico, using the MaxLike algorithm. For each projection, we used bioclimatic variables from the WorldClim project for current and future conditions (2050 and 2070), two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) and three General Circulation Models (ACCESS-CM2, EC-Earth3-Veg and MPI-ESM1-2-HR). The potential distribution models were developed within the perimeter of El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve as a case study to establish the potential for carbon sequestration under different climate change scenarios. Our results show a possible future carbon sequestration from 10,177,174 Mg of CO2 and up to 14,022,367 Mg of CO2 for the ACCESS-CM2 SSP5-8.5 to 2070 and MPI-ESM1-2-HR SSP2-4.5 to 2070 projections, respectively. Mangrove species such as Rhizophora mangle can be an important part of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Ovarian and testicular ripening process, reproductive season and size at maturity in Octopus hubbsorum (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae)

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the knowledge of the reproductive biology of Octopus hubbsorum Berry 1953. Its reproductive season in Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur ranges from May to October. The increase of gonadosomatic index in females coupled with the decline in Guerra’s index and the increase in oocyte diameter in May and September were indicative of spawning. The total sex ratio was 1:1; males were larger than females. Females reach sexual maturity at 119.7 mm of dorsal mantle length and 628.6 g of total weight. This paper also addressed different aspects on reproductive studies, allowing the identification of the type of gonadal development as a group-synchronous type and the transition from physiological to functional maturity, in both qualitative and quantitative terms (proportion of oocyte stages). Detailed descriptions of the oogenesis/folliculogenesis stages of O. hubbsorum are presented with detailed photographs (in Supplemental online material).

Shell Beads and Ornaments in Prehistoric Baja California

ABSTRACT The prehistoric archaeological record for marine shell beads and ornaments in Baja California sites is not at present as extensive as for some other regions, including portions of Alta California. Nonetheless, it offers insights into the interpretation of several issues relevant to the peninsula’s prehistory, including procurement practices, social organization, intercommunity exchange, and extra-peninsular links. Ethnohistoric and ethnographic accounts of the aboriginal use of shell for ornamentation also provide suggestions for interpreting the region’s emerging archaeological record.

Voices and Perspectives from Our Online Press on the State of English Language Teaching in Mexico

This documentary research on the discourse in electronic media surrounding the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language on the Mexico’s border describes the social framework and analyses various linguistic contexts to make provisional recommendations regarding foreign language policy in Mexico. The digital journalism selected issues an opinion on (1) the teaching of English as a language additional to Spanish in Mexico (English Language Teaching, ELT), and (2) Mexico’s position (at Federal and State level) implicit in their regional implementation of ELT. Thirteen articles from 12 regional, national, and international media sources were analysed using Guespin and Marcellesi’s (1986) and Arnoux and Bein’s (2015) theories, alongside Bardin’s (1996) content analysis method for linguistic contexts in border regions. Qualitative analysis techniques were employed to identify and categorize the positions on foreign language policy presented in the Mexican media. The authors conclude with recommendations for ELT policy, proposing actions for foreign language policy planning. We argue for raised teacher-training standards to improve foreign language learning in mainstream education and Private language schools, thus positioning the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California to take more agency in our regional support role to the Mexican Secretariate of Education

Seismic site conditions of RESNOM network

The Northwest Seismic Network of Mexico (RESNOM) is operated by personnel from the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE), which supervises station installation, improvement, and maintenance. We employed seismic noise and the Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) method to determine, for each station, the following site condition parameters: the depth of the rock layer (Heng_bed), and the geotechnical parameter VS30, obtained from 1D shear wave velocity models. Other parameters as the fundamental frequency (f0) and the average amplitude at the fundamental frequency (A0) were also estimated. Our results show clear differences between the values obtained for the Mexicali Valley and the Peninsular ranges regions. The VS30 obtained for stations of the Mexicali Valley region falls in the range from 173 m/s to 535 m/s, while for the Peninsular Ranges region is between 213 m/s and 958 m/s. Regarding the Heng_bed parameter, the values are similar between both regions, from 23 m to 850 m for the Peninsular and from 42 m to 926 m for the Mexicali Valley. Additionally, from the VS30 values, we propose the site classification according to the U.S. National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).

Expansión y planeación urbana en contextos de políticas turísticas. El caso de Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, México, 1980-2012

In the last decade of the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st century, Mexico’s fastest growing cities were sun and beach tourist sites, including Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, were public policies in tourism since 1974 enhanced growth both physically and in terms of population, as consequence of immigration attracted by the jobs associated with leisure activities. This article aims to study the urban planning instruments that were employed to shape the growth of the city and their effectiveness. It concludes that such urban development plans were not sufficient for an accelerated population growth, with great demand for urban land, which caused the disordered growth of the city; a large part of it was built illegally as a result of invasions of public lands.

Differences in the impact of intense ENSO+ in Bahia Magdalena (SW of Baja California, Mexico) in the context of climate change

The Bahia Magdalena-Bahia Almejas (BM-BA) complex is the largest coastal lagoon system in the Mexican Pacific; it is in a transitional zone between temperate and tropical regions. BM-BA has a high biodiversity and is an important source of fishing resources; however, its productivity diminishes during ENSO+ events. This work aimed to compare the impact of the three most intense ENSOs (1982–1983, 1997–1998, and 2015–2016) on their environmental and biological characteristics in the context of global warming. Since 1970, this region has been warming, and the chlorophyll-a is diminishing; however, short-term environmental variations associated with basin-scale processes have modified these trends. The comparison showed that the equatorial influence on the 1997–1998 ENSO was more evident, while the North Pacific conditions and other large-scale environmental processes influenced the other ENSOs: in 1982–1983, the warm signal continued after the ENSO+ ended, and in 2015–2016, it was present before the ENSO+ onset due to the MWH The Blob and probably global warming. High temperatures at the basin scale altered large-scale wind patterns, weakening local upwelling and diminishing the nutrient input. The Equatorial and North Pacific influence on BM varies over time (as expected in a transition zone like BM); however, in recent years, North Pacific warming associated with climate change has probably gained relevance and modulated the effect of ENSO+.

Hildenbrandia ardreae sp. nov. (Rhodophyta), recorded before as Hildenbrandia dawsonii (nom. inval.)

Four species of the red algal genus Hildenbrandia have been recorded from Pacific Mexico: H. dawsonii reported on the west coast of Baja California and Jalisco; H. occidentalis with one record from the west coast of Baja California; H. prototypus occurring all along the coast, including the Gulf of California; and the most common and abundant species, H. rubra from Pacific Baja California to Oaxaca, in tropical Pacific Mexico. All four species have been studied morphologically and molecularly using representative specimens. The molecular status regarding the phylogenetic position of H. dawsonii in relation to other species is unclear. H. dawsonii nomenclatural status was analyzed, and additional material from the University Herbaria at UC-Berkekley (UC) was reviewed. Hildenbrandia dawsonii is an invalid name because its alleged basionym (Hildenbrandia canariensis var. dawsonii) is invalid. Therefore, a new species is described: Hildenbrandia ardreae sp. nov., selecting a Dawson specimen from Punta Norte, Cedros Island, Baja California, as the holotype. Furthermore, morphological characters, once used as diagnostic at the species level, are considered irrelevant. The new holotype proposed in this study shows the same characteristics stated by F. Ardré in her original publication (1959) and could be a potential source for DNA extraction for comparative studies.

Linking Tourist Willingness to Pay and Beach Management: A Travel Cost Analysis for Balandra Marine Park, Mexico

Balandra, one of the most popular beaches in La Paz, Baja California Sur, was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2012, and in 2019, the Mexican government chose it as the best beach in Mexico during the Tianguis Turistico celebrated on that year. Because of this latter distinction, this beach currently faces overcrowding. Formulating effective management policies depends, to a certain extent, on the knowledge of their recreational value and visitor characteristics. Recreational value allows us to know the benefits of the tradeoffs among the ecosystem services and society and exhibit the value of possible damages to marine ecosystems, like the one caused in 2022 by the fire of a tourist boat inside Balandra. Using the individual travel cost method and applying 159 questionnaires to site visitors, the individual willingness to pay to access Balandra Beach was estimated, resulting in USD 11.11/day/visitor. Recreational economic value (REV) for Balandra was estimated using two essential criteria: first, the total visitors registered in 2021, and second, the daily maximum carrying capacity. Welfare recreational loss was also calculated, derived from the site’s two-month closure, using REV as a proxy. Finally, beach management options and possible environmental and economic policy instruments that could be implemented are discussed.

Genetic Insights into the Giant Keyhole Limpet (Megathura crenulata), an Eastern Pacific Coastal Endemic: Complete Mitogenome, Phylogenetics, Phylogeography, and Historical Demography

Background: The giant keyhole limpet Megathura crenulata is a gastropod mollusk (Fissurella superfamily) that is endemic to the eastern Pacific coast from southern California, USA, to Baja California Sur, Mexico. M. crenulata is socioeconomically important as it produces a potent immune-stimulating protein, called Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin, which is extracted in vivo and utilized for vaccine development. However, ecological studies are scarce and genetic knowledge of the species needs to be improved. Our objectives were to assemble and annotate the mitogenome of M. crenulata, and to assess its phylogenetic relationships with other marine gastropods and to evaluate its population genetic diversity and structure. Methods: Samples were collected for mitogenome assembly (n = 3) spanning its geographic range, Puerto Canoas (PCA) and Punta Eugenia (PEU), Mexico, and California (CAL), USA. Total DNA was extracted from gills sequenced using Illumina paired-end 150-bp-read sequencing. Reads were cleaned, trimmed, assembled de novo, and annotated. In addition, 125 samples from eight locations were analyzed for genetic diversity and structure analysis at the 16s rRNA and COX1 genes. Results: The M. crenulata mitogenomes had lengths of 16,788 bp (PCA) and 16,787 bp (PEU) and were composed of 13 protein-coding regions, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and the D-Loop region. In terms of phylogeographic diversity and structure, we found a panmictic population that has experienced recent demographic expansion with low nucleotide diversity (0.002), high haplotypic diversity (0.915), and low φST (0.047). Conclusions: Genetic insights into the giant keyhole limpet provides tools for its management and conservation by delimiting fishing regions with low genetic diversity and/or genetically discrete units.

Achieving Responsible Reclaimed Water Reuse for Vineyard Irrigation: Lessons from Napa Valley, California and Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California

Achieving Responsible Reclaimed Water Reuse for Vineyard Irrigation: Lessons from Napa Valley, California and Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California

Evolution and architecture of an exhumed ocean‐facing coarse‐grained submarine canyon fill, Baja California, Mexico

Evolution and architecture of an exhumed ocean‐facing coarse‐grained submarine canyon fill, Baja California, Mexico

Advances in the Characterization of Creole Cattle from Nayarit, Chihuahua, and Baja California Sur.

Objective. This manuscript aims to contribute to disseminating the research conducted on creole cattle from Nayarit, Chihuahua, and Baja California, as these regions have been the focus of numerous studies. These studies include identifying the areas of opportunity that need to be addressed for the conservation of this zoogenetic resource present in Mexico. Description. Cattle farming in Mexico began with the arrival of the first bovines from the Iberian Peninsula to New Spain over 500 years ago. These cattle established itself in various regions of the country, developing specific characteristics that have allowed it to adapt primarily to harsh environmental conditions. As a result, these bovines are considered a productive alternative in various agroecological environments to address the challenges of climate change and mitigate the negative effects on the ecosystem. Limitations. To date, research on the morphological, productive, and genetic characterization, as well as the production environment of Creole cattle in Mexico, remains limited. Therefore, it is necessary to develop studies in this area to contribute to the conservation of this resource and, above all, to identify mechanisms for its rational use that justify its existence in a modern economic and productive environment. Conclusions. The documentary review conducted to present the current state of research on creole cattle herds in Nayarit, Chihuahua, and Baja California Sur revealed that the studies have primarily focused on productive aspects in various environments. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage research directed towards other productive areas of cattle, such as reproduction, animal health, and adaptation, in order to develop strategies that contribute to the conservation of this zoogenetic resource.