Northwestern Mexico Research Articles

Evaluation of nest management phases for Lepidochelys olivacea at two beaches in Northwest Mexico.

The olive ridley turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, is a vulnerable and endangered species according to the IUCN and Mexican Official Standard NOM-059, respectively. On most solitary nesting beaches of olive ridley turtles, the eggs are removed from the in situ nest to hatcheries due to the high incidence of predation, human poaching, and beach erosion; therefore, it is necessary to collect and analyze information on the protection activities conducted for this species from egg laying to hatchling release. In general, protection activities during nest management can be divided into 5 phases: nest logging (F1), egg collection (F2), egg transfer (F3), egg incubation and hatching (F4), and hatchling release (F5). This work was carried out on two Pacific beaches in northwestern Mexico, Ceuta Beach Sanctuary (CBS) during 2013-2019 and Caimanero Beach (CB) during the 2013-2018 nesting seasons, with the objective of quantitatively evaluating the management phases of the protection program for olive ridley turtles by assessing the nest, egg, and hatchling losses in each of the phases using the model of Godínez-Domínguez et al. (1991). The results of the statistical analyses indicate that the greatest losses occurred during the incubation phase (F4) at both beaches, with a 41.99% loss at CBS and a 33.09% loss at CB, followed by the F2 (with 15.56 and 27.27% losses, respectively) and F1 (21.28 and 25.56% losses, respectively) phases. Significant differences between the beaches were observed in F4, F5 and F3, with greater losses at CBS than at CB, indicating that the success of the management phases may vary among beaches. The results obtained show that it is necessary to focus on strategies for improving the success of mainly phase F4 and phases F1 and F2 at both beaches.

Risk perception about the covid-19 pandemic and its effect on self-medication practices in population of northwestern Mexico

The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of the risk perception of covid-19 on self-medication practices in Mexican population. A total of 526 participants over 18 years of age were surveyed, 68.4% women and 31.6% men residing in northwestern Mexico. Using a structural model, the relation and prevalence of self-medication were analyzed. Risk perception about covid-19, consisting of preventive practices and the perception of the threat of the pandemic, was negatively correlated with self-medication practices, which indicates that people who follow preventive care recommendations tend to reduce the use of self-medication and to improve emotional selfmedication. Furthermore, the study shows that at least half of the participants have used drugs during the pandemic without medical prescription. Self-medication is a critical health problem; therefore, awareness programs about the adverse effects of medications can help reduce self-medication practices in Mexico.

Dendroclimatic reconstruction of precipitation and temperature for the Mayo River basin in northwestern Mexico

Dendroclimatic reconstruction of precipitation and temperature for the Mayo River basin in northwestern Mexico

A Framework for Simulating Ecosystem Effects in Data-Poor Small-Scale Fisheries Using Science-Based and Local Ecological Knowledge-Based Models

The constant demand for seafood products and the undeniable effects of fishing on marine ecosystems make it urgent to implement an ecosystem approach, even in data-poor scenarios such as small-scale fisheries. Understanding the impacts of fishing is essential for promoting management strategies that prevent irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. Thus, ecosystem quantitative science-based models have been frequently used to evaluate the effects of fishing, although fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) can aid the implementation of qualitative models, particularly in data-poor conditions. Here, we present a framework for simulating and assessing the effects of fishing following two strategies: (1) for both types of models, we simulated species removal scenarios, and (2) for quantitative science-based models, we fitted time series to dynamically assessed impacts. The impacts were analyzed through ecological indicators commonly used for quantitative models, and because these indicators cannot be easily estimated for qualitative models, we propose the use of topological indicators in both types of models. The approach was applied to three case studies of small-scale finfish fisheries in northwestern Mexico. We found that the ecosystem response to species removal was different in each case study and that the target species can play an important role in ecosystems, but their removal does not generate abrupt changes in the ecosystem structure. The quantitative science-based models were able to reproduce the historical catch trends, which allowed us to reveal that changes in ecosystems are indeed influenced by fishing effort but also by underlying primary productivity. Furthermore, topological and ecological indicators showed similar trends in the quantitative models, which suggests that the former could be useful when data-poor conditions allow only qualitative models. This result confirms the relevance of the participation of fishers in generating qualitative models and their decisive role in the discussion of co-management strategies and risk scenarios in a better-informed manner.

The genus Cletocamptus (Harpacticoida, Canthocamptidae): a reappraisal, with proposal of a new subfamily, a new genus, and a new species.

A new species of Cletocamptus closely related to C.helobius was found in sediment samples taken from a polluted estuarine system in north-western Mexico. The genus Cletocamptus was relegated to species incertae sedis in 1986, and this finding prompted us to evaluate the current taxonomic position of the genus within the Canthocamptidae. The latter has been subdivided in several, seemingly unnatural subfamilies in the past to better understand the relationships between its constituent taxa. In this study we propose a new subfamily, the Cletocamptinaesubfam. nov. for Amphibiperita, Cletocamptus, and Cletocamptoides gen. nov., defined by the synapomorphic subdistal ventral spinules on the rostrum. The genus Cletocamptoidesgen. nov. is proposed for C.helobius, C.merbokensis, and C.biushelosp. nov., and is supported by the ‘cletodid’ shape of the body and the reduced one-segmented endopod of the fourth swimming leg. Cletocamptus includes all the other species with long slender spinules on the posterior margin of prosomites and with the sexually modified inner spine on the second endopodal segment of the second swimming leg in the males. Amphibiperita retained the primitive female fifth leg with exopod and baseoendopod separated, and the primitive prehensile endopod of the first leg, but is defined by the loss of the antennary exopod. Other (syn)apomorphies are given, and the evolution of the mandibular palp is briefly discussed. Additionally, a diagnosis for the new subfamily, Cletocamptinaesubfam. nov., an amended narrower diagnosis for Cletocamptus, the diagnosis for Cletocamptoidesgen. nov., and a phylogenetic analysis supporting the proposal of these new taxa, are given.

Demographic and behavioral responses of the White-winged Dove to human disturbances during winter in northwestern Mexico

The simultaneous study of demography and behavior might provide a more comprehensive understanding about animal responses to anthropogenic disturbances. The White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) is a frequent dweller of urban and agricultural habitats in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Still, research on the species is heavily biased to the USA. We analyzed the response of the species to human disturbances during winter across an urban-agricultural landscape in northwestern Mexico through a demographic and behavioral approach. We modeled the effect of disturbance types (pedestrians, cars, pavement and building cover) on the density of the species. Also, we investigated if surveillance behavior varied across the landscape by estimating and comparing perching proportion among land uses (urban grey areas, urban green areas, cropfields, shrublands). We did not detect the species within cropfields, possibly because food resources were not available for the dove during winter in this land use. Pavement cover limited species’ density, as it might reduce the surface of the preferred feeding substrates of the dove. Pedestrians and building cover increased the density of the species, as they might provide food and shelter for the dove, respectively. Surveillance behavior peaked in urban grey areas, whereas it dropped in urban green areas. Differences on threat levels, threat type, and protective cover among land uses might influence such behavioral pattern. Our approach contributes to the knowledge of the species and demonstrates that both demographic and behavioral cues provide complementary evidence for analyzing the impact of human disturbances on animals.

A Personnel Selection Model for a Software Development Company based on the ELECTRE III Method and a Variant of NSGA-II

Personnel selection represents a valuable decision-making process that determines, in some way, the competitiveness and performance of an organization. The essential elements of the personnel selection task are the position requirements and the accessible information related to candidates. In this paper, the personnel selection task is modeled as a multicriteria decision-making problem, considering varied competencies and skills to assess the applicants for a specific position. We used this multicriteria model to solve personnel selection cases using sadgage, a decision support system that solves examples of the multicriteria ranking problem in decreasing order based on the preferences of the decision-maker. The electre-iii method is embedded in the software in order to construct a fuzzy outranking relation and a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm to exploit such relation and generate a ranking as a recommendation. This work presents a practical application to a personnel selection problem that evaluates a group of applicants to a software developer job in an enterprise based in northwestern Mexico. We show how the proposed multicriteria procedure offers a recommendation to the decision-maker about the applicants in decreasing order of preferences.

Systematics, Ecology, and Biochronology of Blancan Horses from Sonora, Northwestern Mexico

Systematics, Ecology, and Biochronology of Blancan Horses from Sonora, Northwestern Mexico

Tornado climatology and potentially severe convective environments in Mexico

Tornadoes are extreme meteorological phenomena that can produce significant damage. The Mexican territory is prone to tornadogenesis; however, these phenomena are poorly studied in the country, and several characteristics of their behavior are unknown. We analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of tornadoes and waterspouts in Mexico (2000-2020) and compared them with potentially severe convective environments. The updated climatology consists of 378 tornado and 99 waterspout reports and is the product of previous research and recent documentation obtained from official and non-official sources. Given the significant influence of population density on the distribution of tornado reports and the lack of meteorological instrumentation for severe weather monitoring, we used the ERA5 dataset to complement the documentary data by computing potentially severe convective environments. The results show an increasing trend in tornado reports, from an annual average of 12 (2000-2012) to 44 (2015-2020). Tornadoes are mainly documented along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in central Mexico, while waterspouts are reported in the central and southern portions of the Pacific Ocean and the Yucatán Peninsula. The tornado season spans from May through August, while waterspouts are common during June. Tornadic activity is most frequent between 15:00 and 21:00 h local time (20:00-02:00 h UTC). The results obtained from the reanalysis data indicate favorable conditions for severe storm development in northeastern and northwestern Mexico during late spring and summer. These regions coincide with those where significant tornadoes and supercell storms have been previously documented. The computed covariates based on convective available potential energy and wind shear allowed the identification of regions vulnerable to the impact of diverse severe storm manifestations (e.g. tornadoes) and the coverage of areas without documentary information.

Leucism: the prevalent congenital malformation in the olive ridley sea turtle of northwestern Mexico

Despite being the most abundant sea turtle in the world, the olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. There is evidence of congenital malformations in hatchlings, and the associated causes are multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental sources. Santuario Playa Ceuta (SPC) is a sanctuary for the olive ridley, located at the northernmost region of its nesting range in the Mexican Pacific. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the prevalence and severity of congenital malformations in olive ridley embryos/hatchlings in SPC during the 2017 nesting season. We collected 62907 eggs from 643 relocated nests that were moved to a hatchery, of which 4242 eggs with obvious development did not hatch and were analyzed for this study. Hatching success was 53.9%, with 22.5% of nests (n = 145) and 0.54% of eggs (n = 344) showing embryos or hatchlings with malformations. The nest severity index was 2.4 (range: 1-10) malformed embryos or hatchlings per nest, and the organism severity index was 1.4 (range: 1-7) malformations per malformed embryo or hatchling. Leucism was the most prevalent malformation (34.4%; 170/494 total observed), with the craniofacial region showing the greatest diversity of malformations (17/35 types). Given the geographical position of SPC, extreme environmental conditions (e.g. cold, heat, and dryness) could be one of the main causes of teratogenesis in this species. However, more studies are needed regarding the presence of contaminants, genetic factors, health assessments of nesting females, and malformation rates of nests that remain in situ versus those that are relocated.

Quantitative paleoecology of Cambrian (Series 2–Miaolingian) communities from central Sonora, Mexico

This work presents a paleoecological approach to study benthic communities preserved in Cambrian strata exposed at the Sahuaral locality in central Sonora, northwestern Mexico. Based on species richness and abundance, this work analyzed 627 individuals corresponding to 33 species from five distinctive Cambrian formations: the lowermost Proveedora Formation characterized by bioturbation horizons that record the occurrence of a benthic-infaunal biota from coastal shallow seas, followed by the Buelna Formation which contains reef deposits dominated by autotrophic epibenthic communities. The Cerro Prieto Formation was deposited in a high-energy shallow marine environment, dominated by primary consumers-epifaunal and suspensions feeders. The uppermost unit, the El Gavilán Formation, is an intercalation of shale and fossiliferous limestone characterized by the fossil remains of suspension feeders, detritus feeders and nektobenthic organisms of low energy deep water environments. The paleobiota consist of ichnofossils, microbial oncolites, chancellorids, brachiopods, hyolithids, and trilobites in a sequence of increasing diversity and complexity. Paleoecological indices (Simpson Dominance, Shannon-Weaver Index, Evenness Index, and Total Richness) were determined and compared in the study area. In addition, the effective number of species and the true diversities were obtained, which are similar between each station distributed in each formation. However, it is possible that the high degree of dominance is a factor to indicate an inequality between the true diversity and the species richness identified. These results provide new analytical and paleoecological criteria for better understanding depositional environments and fossil associations where the spatial distribution of benthic organisms, richness and abundance provide a valued window to Cambrian biotas. The structure of the marine community of the El Sahuaral area has a great affinity with other Cambrian communities, such as those from the Stephen Formation (Burgess Shale, British Columbia) and the Chengjiang biota of the Yangtze Shelf deposits in South China.

Critique of Albores-Barajas et al. (2020) on Establishing Seabird Conservation Needs in Northwestern Mexico

Critique of Albores-Barajas et al. (2020) on Establishing Seabird Conservation Needs in Northwestern Mexico

Consumption of Sprouts and Perceptions of Their Health Properties in a Region of Northwestern Mexico.

There is a lack of information about consumer understanding of functional foods. Sprouts provide beneficial compounds that can help counteract chronic noncommunicable diseases. The population of a region in Northwestern Mexico has a high prevalence of chronic degenerative disease, and there is a need to promote strategies to increase the consumption of foods that provide health benefits, including sprouts. However, there is a lack of information regarding the sale, consumption and perception of sprouts’ healthy properties. A computer-assisted web-based survey (CAWI) was developed and distributed through social media to understand consumer knowledge of these foods’ health effects and their consumption. The survey of people with diverse sociodemographic profiles indicated a 1–3 times per week consumption and they knew the health benefits of consuming sprouts. A total of 82% of respondents were conscious that sprout consumption could prevent chronic diseases, which may be related to education level (χ2: 0.001, p < 0.05). In order to expand on our findings, it is important to investigate the communication strategies used by sprout manufacturers, dieticians, nutritionists and health professionals about the health benefits of sprout products to promote their consumption.

Dry sowing reduced durum wheat performance under irrigated conservation agriculture

• First long-term experiment on tillage and sowing irrigation effects in durum wheat. • Dry sowing on permanent beds reduced plant stands. • Low plant stands did not (always) result in low yields. • Tillage and sowing irrigation effects on yield small compared to weather. • Split N application increased grain N content compared to basal N application. Permanent raised beds (PB) are a conservation agriculture option for irrigated conditions that can improve soil quality, increase soil moisture conservation and stabilize yields compared to conventional furrow irrigation. In irrigated wheat ( Triticum sp.) production, wet sowing (i.e. applying irrigation before sowing) is most widely used. It allows pre-sowing weed control but reduces sowing time flexibility. Dry sowing, i.e. applying irrigation after sowing, reduces options for weed control but improves water use efficiency and sowing time flexibility. This study evaluated the performance of durum wheat ( Triticum durum L.) under conventionally tilled (CTB) and PB with wet and dry sowing in northwestern Mexico. In those four tillage-sowing irrigation environments (ENV), five nitrogen (N) fertilization treatments were tested. Plant stand, grain yield, and grain quality were measured for ten years and fertilizer-based N use efficiency indices were assessed in three years. Plant stand, wheat yield and quality were significantly affected by ENV. The lowest plant stand and yield were found in PB-Dry sowing. On average, only 54 plants m -2 emerged in PB-Dry whereas 159 plants m -2 emerged in CTB-Wet. Plant stand showed high yearly fluctuations, with plant stand in dry sowing favored by lower reference evapotranspiration, with CTB-Dry favored more by high minimum temperature and PB-Dry by high maximum temperature. Yield ranged between 4.20 and 7.94 t ha -1 . Yield in PB-Dry was on average 0.35 to 0.50 t ha -1 lower than in the remaining ENV, but positive interactions between year and dry sowing systems were associated with high minimum temperatures at germination and tillering. N fertilization management affected wheat quality, but not wheat yield, possibly due to high levels of soil mineral N available at sowing that were not measured in this study. Split application of N increased grain N content compared to basal N application. Research should address reduced plant stands with dry sowing in conservation agriculture to find management options that improve wheat emergence. Further efforts to optimize N fertilizer management in PB are required to improve grain quality components.

Bias-Based Cyberaggression in Northwestern Mexican Adolescents: Associations With Moral Disengagement

Although there is a body of literature that addresses victimization of adolescents based on their membership in stigmatized groups, there is little that focuses on this type of aggression delivered digitally. Furthermore, the extant literature typically focuses on the targets of such aggression, but scant attention has been paid to the aggressors. To address this gap, the current study investigated characteristics of perpetrators of bias-based cyberaggression in a sample of 554 self-reported cyber-aggressors among 1695 12- to15-year-old adolescents in northwestern Mexico. Approximately one-fourth of these cyber-aggressors engaged in bias-based cyberaggression. Demographic characteristics were investigated in an attempt to describe those most at risk for perpetration of bias-based aggression. In addition, the influence of moral disengagement was examined in this unique sample. Results showed that cyber-aggressors who were male and younger were disproportionately represented among those whose cyberaggression was motivated by some type of bias. Bias-based cyberaggression was associated with higher levels of several types of moral disengagement. Possible explanations and implications of the findings are discussed.

Evaluation of Home Energy Efficiency Improvements in a Hot Desert Climate in Northwestern Mexico: The Energy Saving vs. Money Saving Conflict

Reducing household energy consumption is one of the most important strategies used to decrease fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gases emissions, and to encourage renewable energy utilization. Most energy conservation strategies in the domestic sector are aimed at preferential loans, i.e., purchasing renewable electricity or to improve the efficiency of home appliances, such as air conditioning and lighting. However, despite the relative economic successes of these technologies, they have not had expected impacts in regard to energy consumption. In this work, the authors analyzed the consumption patterns of two equivalent households—one was adapted with improved thermal insulation and a 1.2 kW photovoltaic system to reduce consumption from the electrical grid. The results show that dwellings where no improvements were made registered lower electric energy consumption, due the fact that users were aware that no strategy had been implemented, and its consumption; hence, electricity payments depended solely on one’s attention over the electronic device operations. On the other hand, energy conservation strategies in households promotes confident and relaxed attitudes toward the use of energy, leading to lower energy billings, but a higher gross energy consumption.

Genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history of the chilhuil sea catfish Bagre panamensis in Northwestern Mexico inferred from mitochondrial DNA

The chilhuil sea catfish (Bagre panamensis) is an ecologically relevant species contributing to the structure, organization, and functioning of the ecosystems it inhabits. Also, it is an important artisanal fishery resource in the Mexican Pacific coast. This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity, population structure, and historical demography of B. panamensis in the Mexican Pacific. The mitochondrial DNA was amplified from two distinct regions, r16S and COI, resulting in an 1142 bp of the concatenated genes. Low genetic diversity levels were detected for r16S (H = 12; h = 0.131; π = 0.0003) and high genetic diversity levels for COI (H = 57; h = 0.9128; π = 0.0039) and the concatenated gene fragments (H = 62; h = 0.9307; π = 0.0023). Population structure analysis indicated ‘panmixia’ for B. panamensis along the Mexican Pacific. Furthermore, historical demographic analysis (Tajima’s D, Fu’s Fs, mismatch distribution, and Bayesian Skyline plot analyses) supported a population expansion scenario for the studied species.

A new genus and seven new species of chrysopetalids (Annelida, Chrysopetalidae) from the Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Chrysopetalids annelids have been little studied in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), with only 24 species recorded in the region. Most records are from northwestern Mexico and Costa Rica, leaving many sites along the Tropical Pacific coast of America unexplored. Furthermore, there are species recorded and described from the region with problems in their status, including questionable records, modest illustrations or descriptions, and lost type material. This paper aims to improve the knowledge of this family in the TEP. Almost 290 specimens were revised, provided from five scientific collections, covering 51 sites along the TEP and nearby. Two subfamilies: Calamyzinae and Chrysopetalinae, nine genera and 20 species were determined. Of these, ten species have been previously recorded, three are indeterminable and seven are new species: Paleanotus karlyae n. sp., Arichlidon mucropaleum n. sp., Bhawania bastidai n. sp., Chrysopetalum mexicanum n. sp., C. tovarae n. sp. A new genus is proposed, Bhawatsonia n. gen. which includes two new species, B. fusa n. sp. as its type species, B. nenoae n. sp. and, the new combination and neotype of B. purpurea n. comb. An updated and revised checklist of all chrysopetalids species recorded in the region is included, currently composed of 16 genera, 30 species, and four morphospecies.

Tracking the desert's edge with a Pleistocene relict

In addition to the Sky Islands of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico, a series of 900–1200 m desert peaks surrounded by arid lowlands support temperate affiliated species at their summits. The presence of disjunct long-lived plant taxa on under-explored desert mountains, especially Isla Tiburón at 29° latitude in the Gulf of California, suggests a more southerly extent of Ice Age woodlands than previously understood. The phylogeography of the desert edge species Canotia holacantha (Celastraceae) was investigated to test the hypothesis that insular desert peak populations represent remnants of Pleistocene woodlands rather than recent dispersal events. Sequences of four chloroplast DNA regions totaling 2032 bp were amplified from 74 individuals of 14 populations across the entire range of C. holacantha as well as nine individuals that represented the other two species in its clade (C. wendtii and Acanthothamnus aphyllus) and two outgroups. Results suggest that a Canotia common ancestor occurred on the landscape, which underwent a population contraction ca. 15 kya. The Isla Tiburón C. holacantha population and the Chihuahuan Desert microendemic C. wendtii have the greatest genetic differentiation, are sister to one another, and basal to all other Canotia populations. Three haplotypes within C. holacantha were recovered, which correspond to regional geography and thus identified as the Arizona, Sonora, and Tiburón haplotypes, within which Acanthothamnus aphyllus is nested rather than as a sister genus. These results indicate a once broad distribution of Canotia/Acanthothamnus when the current peripheral desert ecotone habitat was more widespread during the Pleistocene, now present in relict populations on the fringes of the southern desert, in the Chihuahuan Desert, with scattered populations on desert peaks, and a common or abundant distribution at the northern boundary of the Sonoran Desert. These results suggest Canotia has tracked the shift of the desert's edge both in latitude and elevation since the end of the last Ice Age.

Water isotope variation in an ecohydrologic context at a seasonally dry tropical forest in northwest Mexico

We conducted an isotopic characterization of precipitation, streamflow, groundwater and bulk soil moisture (<60 cm depth) to assess ecohydrologic separation and its seasonal variation in a tropical dry forest in northwestern Mexico using four representative tree species. We present a data set that allows analyzing the connection of vegetation to soil or movable water in a highly seasonal ecosystem throughout one year (2015) but relies on baseline data set of local precipitation. A local meteoric water line was created using 5 years (2012–2017) of isotopic data (δ2H = 7.64*δ18O + 7.34, r2= 0.97) at the study site. Ecohydrologic separation was clear throughout the dry season but during the wet monsoon season the upland trees L. divaricatum, A. cochliacanta and L. watsonii showed the opposite pattern since the isotopic composition of xylem water was similar to the meteoric water and shallow soil, stream and ground water. The riparian tree T. huegelii resulted in an isolated dynamic showing a similar isotopic composition to stream water. Results of this work suggest that ecohydrologic separation is not a universal pattern because it does not occur in all vegetation types and it may vary seasonally.