Quintana Roo Research Articles

Sustainable Behavior of Generation Z Tourists’ Water Consumption

Tourism is one of the sectors with the highest demand for fresh water. Indicators suggest that water consumption by tourists is more than double that of residents. This phenomenon can be explained by tourists’ interest in engaging in unique experiences, which frequently entails putting sustainable practices aside. To mitigate the environmental impact of tourism and promote sustainable practices, the state of Quintana Roo has implemented the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2030, linking the government and companies to reduce environmental impacts by reducing tourists’ water consumption. Despite these efforts, the use of fresh water by tourists continues to be more than double that of residents. Consequently, tourists’ sustainable behavior is not significantly influenced by external factors, such as awareness campaigns, but depends more on the personal aspects of each individual. Generation Z stands out for being more aware of environmental problems and showing a willingness to modify their behavior towards more sustainable practices. The objective of this study was to explain the factors that influence the sustainable behavior related to water consumption among Generation Z tourists. The methodology employed was cross-sectional, with a quantitative approach, focused on attitude variables, subjective norms, and perceived control as determinants of sustainable behavior. This research is also considered nonexperimental, as there was no direct intervention with the subjects of the study, A non-probabilistic convenience sampling method was used to collect data directly from Generation Z tourists in the state of Quintana Roo, specifically from the destinations of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Bacalar, and Cancún. These locations were selected due to their prominence as major tourist attractions within the data collection areas, without further differentiation or classification. Data were collected through a face-to-face survey conducted over a period of two months, with a total of 408 respondents participating, of whom 57.8% were male. The results revealed that subjective norms and perceived control influence sustainable water consumption behavior, while attitudes do not have a direct impact. These findings will provide governments and businesses with a basis to design more effective strategies that encourage sustainable behavior among Gen Z tourists, thus offering a starting point for understanding the behavior of other generations.

Nutritional composition of manatee’s diet in the Western Caribbean: from the river to the reef

The endangered Greater Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), one of the largest aquatic herbivores in the Caribbean, plays a crucial role in nutrient recycling within the ecosystem, and the study of its feeding ecology is important for its conservation. Despite several studies determining the items consumed by manatees, there remains limited understanding of their nutritional significance for the species in the Western Caribbean. This study, aimed to analyze the bromatological composition of the food components in the manatee’s diet in the Mexican Caribbean across three distinct environments. We manually collected aquatic and semi-aquatic primary producers potentially part of the manatee diet in marine, brackish and riverine areas of the southern region of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Then, we analyzed them for moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, ash, ether extract, digestible nutrients, and digestible energy. We present the initial data on nutrient values in the manatee diet in the Caribbean, establishing a foundation for exploring the factors that influence spatial, temporal, and species-specific variations in nutrient content at a regional level. Our bromatological analysis demonstrated that the most nutritionally important plants for manatees, based mainly on protein content and freshwater contribution, include the seagrasses Halodule wrightii, Syringodium filiforme, Thalassia testudinum, the water lily Pontederia crassipes, and Vallisneria sp. Effective habitat management for manatees is crucial for their survival, ensuring that feeding resources are maintained in both enough quantity and high quality. Given its nutritional significance for manatees, we recommend that seagrasses in the region should be prioritized as conservation targets.

Análisis FODA de la apicultura en la península de Yucatán

The objective of this work is to identify and analyze through a participatory diagnosis the main strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats of beekeeping in the Yucatan Peninsula. Three participatory workshops were held with beekeepers in the states of Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. The study was based on the SWOT analysis procedure as a diagnostic tool. The analysis indicated that the main strengths of beekeeping in the Yucatan Peninsula are the experience, organization of the producers and the biodiversity that the beekeeping flora provides to the Apis mellifera bees to produce honey. The weaknesses were the lack of good practice, lack of knowledge in administration and location of their apiaries. In the area of opportunities, government support, cooperatives and access to new markets stood out. Finally, the threats were climate change (droughts, hurricanes), the use of pesticides, beehive pests and fluctuating honey prices. This diagnosis is of great importance to propose improvement proposals for the strengthening of beekeeping activity in the Yucatan Peninsula. Keywords: beekeeping, SWOT, producers, Yucatán Peninsula.

New species, new geographical records and taxonomical notes on North and Central American Cerambycidae and Disteniidae (Coleoptera, Chrysomeloidea)

Elytrimitatrix (Grossifemora) pubescens Santos-Silva & Hovore, 2008 (Disteniidae) is redescribed based on three males, morphological and chromatic variation in the species is reported. The unknown female of Neocompsa flavoquadripunctata Botero & Santos-Silva, 2022 is shortly described and a new Mexican state record is provided. The absence of the paratype of Nealcidion bruchi (Melzer, 1934) in the MZSP collection (see acronym below) is reported, and the date of description of the species is commented. Alphinellus Bates, 1881 is transferred from Acanthocinini to Desmiphorini. Alphinellus minimus Bates, 1881 is recorded for the first time from the Mexican state of Campeche and from Guatemala. Three new species are described: Psyrassa peninsularissp. nov. (Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae, Elaphidiini) from Mexico (Quintana Roo); Pseudastylopsis skillmanisp. nov. (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Acanthocinini), from Guatemala; and Eranina amaurasp. nov. (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Hemilophini), from Guatemala.

Myrmozercon mites are highly host specific: two new species of Myrmozercon Berlese associated with sympatric Camponotus ants in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Two new species of Myrmozercon, M. serratus sp. nov. and M. spatulatus sp. nov., are described based on adults and deutonymphs collected in association with ants in Mexico. They represent the first records of this genus from the Neotropic s.s. faunal region. Both new species are associated with hosts in the genus Camponotus from the same small area of a coastal lagoon, which share the same nesting habit preferences, providing strong evidence for host specificity. All but one colony of C. atriceps hosted mites, whereas they occurred in only half of the colonies of C. rectangularis. There was a significant positive correlation between the abundance of C. atriceps sexual ants and the abundance of mites. We summarize the known host associations for the genus Myrmozercon and discuss host specificity. Larvae of both mite species were collected on the wings of males and gynes suggesting that egg laying occurs on the hosts reproductive caste. Two hypotheses explaining this observation are discussed, larvae may be phoretic on winged sexuals, favoring mite co-dispersal with hosts, or larvae reside on the alates as a refuge from predation.

The rise of the Kaanuˀl kingdom and the city of Dzibanche

Abstract The Kaanuˀl dynasty ruled a hegemonic state with political influence over much of the Classic Maya Lowlands between a.d. 520 and 751. The present article introduces the subject for a special section of the journal, which refocuses attention on the archaeological zone of Dzibanche in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, where new data are emerging about the origins of the Kaanuˀl dynasty, its urban organization, and its connections to neighboring centers. In this article, we present new data from a recent lidar survey as well as from previous work by Enrique Nalda's Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) project to reevaluate Dzibanche's characteristics vis-à-vis its rise as a kingdom with far-reaching political influence. We complement these archaeological data with epigraphic information from new monuments and reanalysis of existing ones based on 3D scanning to update the list of Dzibanche rulers. We then revisit the chronology of Dzibanche's royal burials proposing correlations with known Early Classic Kaanuˀl rulers. Overall, the contributions to this special section present new perspectives on the Kaanuˀl's rise to power and its relationship with distant vassals in the crucial period of expansion into northern Peten, leading to the defeat of Tikal and eventually to its transition to a new dynastic seat at Calakmul in the a.d. 630s.

Estado de excepción neoliberal y resistencia en el sureste de México

In November 2021, the President of Mexico (2018-2024) declared that the priority megaprojects of the National Development Plan (Maya Train, Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor, Dos Bocas Refinery) fall within the realm of national security. Public and private investments in these projects are directed towards southeastern Mexico, covering the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Yucatán, and Tabasco. These regions are home to indigenous peoples and communities that hold 45% of Mexico’s total social property. In some cases, these communities are visibly linked to national political organizations that defend land and territory. The decree is considered a state of exception applied to land-territory use, with dual implications. On one hand, it represents the undivided social field monopolized by monetary metrics. On the other hand, it signifies the expansion of a neocolonial condition promoted by the Mexican federal government, which marginalizes the voice of resistance in favor of adopting the capital logic defined by the stratification of the global economy. The methodology involves participatory action research since 2019, collaborative research through the coordination of workshops, caravans, marches, and political-community meetings, promoted in conjunction with assemblies fighting for territorial defense. We anticipate the increased use of such state of exception in response to the intertwined rise of health, environmental, and economic contingencies that drive the economic cycle, coupled with ineffective governmental policies formulated for regular times. In other words, the state of exception is activated to ensure the continuity of capital accumulation driven by the concentration of private property.

Los voladores de Papantla: persistencias coloniales y resistencias comunitarias en dos prácticas en México

The ritual ceremony of the Papantla flyers is a pre-Hispanic cultural practice performed since 600 B. C. by various indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America. This intricate ceremony comprises multiple stages, with the most notable being “the flight,” where a group of five individuals ascend a tall mast, known as the flying pole, to perform songs and dances from the top. Tied by their feet with ropes, the flyers then descend in concentric circles until they reach the ground. This article focuses on two contemporary practices in Mexico: one at the Xcaret Tourist Park in Quintana Roo, and the other in the municipality of Papantla, Veracruz. The aim is to compare these practices to highlight the tensions between colonial legacies and community resistance. Using the method of montage, we analyze two dialectical images across different dimensions: spaces, times, technical-material contents, participating social subjects, and the objectivity of the practice itself. The results reveal the tension between the colonial persistence of capitalist modernity—manifested in the commodification and patrimonialization of the practice—and community resistance, demonstrated through the revival of memories and traditions. While this research focuses on two specific practices, the methodological and analytical approach can be applied to other activities within the ritual flyers ceremony, or to other cultural practices recognized as intangible cultural heritage. This study contributes to the field of critical heritage studies.

Multifunctional characterization of cement-Sargassum composites for application as bioconstruction materials

Utilizing solid waste biomass developing of construction materials presents an environmental mitigation opportunity by gradually replacing conventional materials that generate diverse ecological impacts. This approach aligns with circular economy and green chemistry principles, promoting the creation of sustainable materials. This research analyzes the use of brown algae from the Sargassum genus for bioconstruction applications through its mix with Portland cement. The mass influx of pelagic Sargassum species onto Caribbean beaches since 2011 has significantly impacted the environment, economy, and human health. The valorization of Sargassum is crucial for effective management and impact reduction. The study encompasses four key stages: (a) collection and processing of the algae, (b) development of a construction material composed of Portland cement and Sargassum at concentrations of 5 wt.% and 7.5 wt.%, (c) multifunctional characterization of the composite material, encompassing physical chemistry and thermal, optical and mechanical properties, and (d) an economic-environmental evaluation of using the construction material for housing in the Mexican Caribbean to enhance thermal insulation and reduce electric energy consumption associated with air conditioning. Test specimens of the composite material reveal compressive strength ranging between 78 and 347 kg/cm2, solar spectrum absorbance between 54% and 70%, and thermal conductivity between 0.65 and 1 W/mK. The economic-environmental analysis indicates that employing the construction material in 5% of households in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, could lead to annual reductions in energy consumption of approximately 67 GWh, with savings exceeding US$33,000, and environmental yearly mitigation equivalent to 4.1 TnNOx, 5.2 TnCH4, and 33,262 TnCO2. These results suggest promising prospects for incorporating Sargassum into construction materials, offering potential environmental and economic benefits. The composite material demonstrates optical, thermal, and mechanical functionality.

Spatial analysis to identify unauthorized municipal solid waste disposal sites in rural areas of southern Mexico.

The management of solid waste in rural areas of developing countries faces significant challenges due to economic constraints and irregular human settlements. These factors often lead to the creation of unauthorized disposal sites, which pose risks to human health, ecosystems and the economy. Remote sensing and geographic information system techniques provide a means to understand the complex issues associated with inadequate municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal. This study aimed to identify unauthorized disposal sites in the rural areas of southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, by examining land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation indices as potential indicators of unauthorized final disposal sites (FDSs). The findings reveal that 13% of the study areas have a high, moderate or low probability of hosting unauthorized disposal sites. Additionally, 3 authorized final disposal sites (FDSs) were confirmed, and 20 unauthorized sites were identified. LST and the normalized difference vegetation index were effective in detecting unauthorized sites, as these areas exhibited higher temperatures and less vigorous vegetation compared to adjacent areas. The results provide valuable insights into the issues associated with inadequate waste disposal in rural areas and offer information that can help optimize MSW management and mitigate its environmental and health impacts.

Structural and sociolectal limits of variability of que in Mexican Spanish noun clefts

This paper investigates the structural and sociolectal limits of the use of non-standard “plain” que instead of the standard relativizer DET+que in Mexican Spanish noun clefts. Although plain que in Spanish noun clefts is considered ungrammatical by reference grammars, we find it in data from Felipe Carrillo Puerto (Quintana Roo, Yucatan) and Mexico City (CDMX). Among the speakers from CDMX, only younger speakers use plain que in our data, suggesting that it might be a more recent innovation in this variety. Among Yucatecan speakers, we find that bilingual speakers (Spanish-Maya) tend to use more plain que than monolingual Spanish speakers, and only bilingual speakers show similar age effects to those found in CDMX, whereas older monolingual Yucatecan speakers use more plain que than younger YS monolinguals. Structurally, plain que is limited to canonical clefts, which we interpret as an indication that clefts with plain que constitute functionally reanalyzed headed relatives. Moreover, we find that those speakers that use plain que do so mostly when the antecedent is specific and carries a determiner. If the antecedent is either non-specific or does not carry a determiner, DET+que is generally preferred.

Towards sustainable coastal management: aerial imagery and deep learning for high-resolution Sargassum mapping

The massive arrival of pelagic Sargassum on the coasts of several countries of the Atlantic Ocean began in 2011 and to date continues to generate social and environmental challenges for the region. Therefore, knowing the distribution and quantity of Sargassum in the ocean, coasts, and beaches is necessary to understand the phenomenon and develop protocols for its management, use, and final disposal. In this context, the present study proposes a methodology to calculate the area Sargassum occupies on beaches in square meters, based on the semantic segmentation of aerial images using the pix2pix architecture. For training and testing the algorithm, a unique dataset was built from scratch, consisting of 15,268 aerial images segmented into three classes. The images correspond to beaches in the cities of Mahahual and Puerto Morelos, located in Quintana Roo, Mexico. To analyze the results the fβ-score metric was used. The results for the Sargassum class indicate that there is a balance between false positives and false negatives, with a slight bias towards false negatives, which means that the algorithm tends to underestimate the Sargassum pixels in the images. To know the confidence intervals within which the algorithm performs better, the results of the f0.5-score metric were resampled by bootstrapping considering all classes and considering only the Sargassum class. From the above, we found that the algorithm offers better performance when segmenting Sargassum images on the sand. From the results, maps showing the Sargassum coverage area along the beach were designed to complement the previous ones and provide insight into the field of study.

Organizational Action Style Focused on the Performance of the Quintana Roo Employee Based on the Work Behavior Clinic

This work is a report of the research on clinical work performance developed from October 2022 to August 2023, in three Quintana Roo organizations, one of private initiative, another of a parastatal nature and the third was a public institution. It is based on the problem that represents the low level of results, despite the strategies of administrative enrichment implemented, where a good amount of financial resources are invested, and that according to managers it is largely the human factor that determines that the results do not occur as expected. The objective was to identify the style of action of the employees during their working hours. The models of Organizational Development, Management by Objectives, Strategic Planning and Total Warmth were analyzed to identify their essence; finding important invariants in them, for their implementation. Epistemology was interpretive with an ethnographic paradigm. As a result, four particular prototypes of value attitudes were identified, corresponding to four particular types of people, which were called by the authors of the study as: Type I. Circumstantial worker; Type II. Tormented worker; Type III. Resentful worker; Type IV. Passionate worker; distributed equally within the three organizations investigated. Concluding that value attitudes have greater influence the higher the level of authority that a person has within the administrative structure, recommending that, in order to make real changes within organizations, it is necessary to start from the eradication of institutional vices.

Influence of submarine groundwater discharge on the nutrient dynamics of a fringing-reef lagoon

Study regionThis study investigates nutrient distribution and flux dynamics in a coral reef lagoon in Quintana Roo, Mexico, located on a permeable limestone coast of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Study FocusEmphasis is placed on submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) as a crucial contributor to nutrient pathways, including ammonium (NH4+), nitrate and nitrite (NOx-), hydrogen silicate (HSiO3-), hydrogen phosphate (HPO42-), and urea. Inputs vary with SGD magnitudes and sources and by proximity to active spring discharges. Groundwater multi-tracer analysis and multiple linear regression identify 226Ra as explaining NH4+ variability due to long-term groundwater processes, while 223Ra predicts NOx-, HSiO3-, and urea due to short-term inputs. No significant relationship was found between HPO42- and any radium isotope, indicating complex behavior in coastal karst aquifers. New hydrological insights for the regionThe findings highlight complex nutrient dynamics in coastal karst settings, with SGD-derived fluxes primarily consisting of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and HSiO3-. Although lower in concentration, HPO42- and urea fluxes are significant compared to other karst environments. Radium isotopes distinguish between short-term and long-term, as well as new and recycled nutrient inputs. Groundwater inputs transport fresh nutrients to healthier reefs, whereas processed, recycled inputs were detected near degraded reefs. These insights are essential for understanding global nutrient cycles and coral health, particularly in the context of global change and anthropogenic disturbances affecting coral reef ecosystems.

New status of Bichromomyia subspecies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) based on molecular taxonomy.

The sand fly of the genus Bichromomyia (Galati, 1995) includes 3 subspecies considered vectors of Leishmania, which share high morphological similarity. Through information from the Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene, we provide complementary evidence to support that Bichromomyia olmeca olmeca, and Bichromomyia olmeca bicolor, should be raised to nominal species status. We recovered specimens of Bi. o. olmeca from Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Oaxaca, Mexico, supply 17 new COI sequences, and also incorporate GenBank sequences for other Bichromomyia species. After a Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis, all Bichromomyia species clustered with a bootstrap of 100%, although sequences of Bichromomyia flaviscutellata were divided into 2 clusters with an interspecific range distance of 11.16% between them, which confirm cryptic species in Brazil. The genetic distance of Bi. o. olmeca compared to related subspecies ranged between 12.59% and 14.64%. A total of 29 haplotypes (Hd = 0.987; π = 0.08783; S = 136) were recovered from the Bichromomyia sequences. Results of the TC network were consistent with the ML analysis, supporting that subspecies of Bichromomyia are genetically distinct and deserve being raised to valid species category: Bichromomyia olmeca (Vargas & Díaz-Nájera) and Bichromomyia bicolor (Fairchild & Theodor).

FIRST RECORDS OF AEDES TORMENTOR AND CULEX PANOCOSSA AS A RESULT OF VECTOR SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED DURING THE CHARACTERIZATION OF FOCI OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS IN TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO.

We report the 1st records of Aedes tormentor and Culex panocossa throughout vector surveillance events carried out in putative foci of eastern equine encephalitis in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Formerly, Ae. tormentor had been reported in, at least, 2 Central American countries and Mexico. In Mexico, reports were from the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, and Veracruz. Records of Ae. tormentor in these 4 Neotropical states were recently reviewed and eliminated; thus, the southernmost geographic distribution for this species is considered to be the state of Tamaulipas Mexico in its neotropical zone. Further, Cx. panocossa had been collected in Guerrero, Tabasco, and Veracruz. In Tamaulipas, there are 82 species of mosquitoes, being the 4th state accounting for the highest mosquito species diversity of 11 states in which comprehensive studies have been conducted on the subject of mosquito distribution.

Spondias dulcis propagation by seeds and stem cuttings

Objective: To found simple and low-cost ways to increase the number of plants. In Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, a trial was established to evaluate two propagation forms from January to June 2023. Design/Methodology/Approach: In soil enriched with bocashi, 22 seeds of seasoned fruits were sown. Also, four lots of stem cuttings were planted (five cuttings per lot) 30 cm in length, testing four average diameters (2.94, 2.34, 2.1 and 1.58, cm) that were also rooted in soil and bokashi, on the assumption that those with the largest diameter were also the oldest. The stem cuttings were obtained from 1.5- and 2.5-year-old trees. This latter experimental procedure was repeated, but stem cuttings were obtained from an 8-year-old tree, five lots of cuttings with the following average diameters (3.6, 1.92, 1.74, 1.7, and 1.16, cm) were evaluated; in addition, cuttings were treated with a stimulant to develop roots (Raizal® 400). Results: The data analyzed in Excel™ showed that germination is slow and irregular, 77% germination was reached after 2.5 months. Only the thickest cuttings from the 1.5-year-old tree developed abundant roots and vegetative shoots. Findings/Conclusions: The propagation of S. dulcis is better done by seeds. Propagation by cuttings is possible, but with low success, only 8.8%.

Saline intrusion assessment using the GALDIT index on the northern coast of Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Saline intrusion assessment using the GALDIT index on the northern coast of Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

First report of Carybdea xaymacana Conant, 1897 (Cnidaria, Cubozoa, Carybdeida) in Colombia

Carybdea xaymacana Conant, 1897 is a box jellyfish belonging to the family Carybdeidae and is currently recorded from the Mexican Caribbean (State of Quintana Roo), Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Panama, and Venezuela. Here, we report for the first time the presence of this species in Colombia, based on collections made in three departments of the Colombian Caribbean. Documenting the extension in the distribution range of this species is of great importance due to its ecological role in regional ecosys-tems.

Exploring the microbial community and biotechnological potential of the sponge Xestospongia sp. from an anchialine cave in the Yucatán Peninsula

Sponge-associated microorganisms are key influencers of nutrient biogeochemistry and important sources of bioactive natural products. This study provides the first insights into the taxonomic diversity of the microbial community associated with the sponge Xestospongia sp. from an anchialine cave in the coastal area of the underground river of the Yucatán Peninsula in Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexico, and the potential antimicrobial activity of its cultivable bacteria. High abundances of Sulfurospirillum and Desulfovibrio were detected with 16S rRNA amplicons, suggesting that the microbial community of Xestospongia sp. plays an important role in the geochemical sulfur cycle. Analysis with crude extracts of Nocardiopsis dasonvillei NCA-454 revealed antimicrobial activity against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25913 (MSSA) and methicillin-​resistant ​S. aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA). Studies of the microbiomes of sponges from the anchialine cave system in the Yucatán Peninsula can help elucidate the biogeochemical cycles of these poorly studied environments. Moreover, the microorganisms of these microbial communities represent an untapped source of secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential.