Southern Baja California Research Articles

Geochemistry of coastal geothermal systems from southern Baja California peninsula (Mexico): Fluid origins, water-rock interaction and tectonics

The Baja California peninsula forms the western margin of the Gulf of California (GC) rift system, which is an active tectonic setting manifested by seismicity and numerous geothermal sites. The present study examines the geochemistry of thermal fluids (major ions and gas species, δ18O-δD, δ13C, 3He/4He) from the southern tip of the peninsula (Los Cabos Block, LCB). Sampling was mostly focused on the coastal thermal manifestations in the towns of Buenavista and El Sargento, but other sites further inland are also included for broadening the scope of the study. The main objectives include: (i) characterize water-rock interactions and other processes controlling the fluid composition, (ii) constrain solute geothermometry estimates through multi-step geochemical modeling, and (iii) discuss the fluid origins in terms of tectonics and regional shear-wave velocity anomalies in the upper lithosphere. The geothermal systems in the area have a tectonic origin and result from fluid circulation along regional faults that penetrate the upper crust through the granitic basement. Mixing between the thermal fluids and seawater at the coast is clearly illustrated through major ions and δ18O-δD relationships. Reconstruction of the pre-mixing chemical compositions indicates a low-salinity fluid at Buenavista (Cl = 104–109 mg L−1) and a saline fluid at El Sargento (Cl = 7169 mg L−1). The geochemical modeling allows us to validate these endmember compositions and to address a common issue when using solute geothermometry, which is the uncertainty on the state of equilibrium of the thermal fluid with respect to wall-rock minerals. The corresponding results reveal contrasting thermal regimes at depths (Buenavista: 101–122 °C, El Sargento: 212–220 °C), likely associated with differences in geothermal gradient and fluid circulation depth. Our gas samples have among the lowest He isotopic ratios (0.07–0.95 Ra) in the Baja California peninsula, indicating that the origin of helium is mainly crustal. Shear wave tomography demonstrates that the study area is associated with two low velocity regions, one in the crust and the other one in the upper mantle. Our results favor the hypothesis that the heating of fluids is produced by lower-crustal flow driven by strong topographic gradients along the rifted margin. This study provides new insights into the origin of the thermal anomalies in the LCB and the adjacent GC rift system.

Estimation of the desert dust balance and its relationship with environmental factors in the southern Baja California Peninsula

The emission, transport, and deposition of desert dust are influenced by environmental factors evaluated mainly as a function of precipitation, air temperature, and wind. The present study estimates the desert dust balance and its relationship with environmental factors for the period 1981–2020 in the Baja California Sur region, Mexico. Monthly data on wind, air temperature, precipitation, dust emission and deposition from in situ measurements, reanalysis, satellite estimates and a numerical parameterization scheme are used. First, the in-situ time series were reconstructed with a non-linear principal component analysis based on an autoassociative neural network. We then evaluated the performance of the satellite estimates and the reanalysis data using the matching technique, after which we quantified the dust emission in three source zones. To estimate the state of the climate, we obtained the annual cycle of monthly climatologies, and yearly averages. The effect of climate on the dust budget is estimated by means of non-parametric associations between the variables of interest. Finally, we estimate climate trends using Pettitt, Modified Man-Kendall and Theil-Sen tests. The results show that the data sets used represent the mean and variability of in situ measurements. There are three seasons with transitional periods for precipitation and air temperature. The wind shows a longitudinal west–east gradient. Its maximum intensity is from April to September. Northern zone was dominated by highest emissions. Dry deposition mechanism was the most representative. Emissions and dry deposition are controlled by wind intensity and precipitation, while precipitation controls wet deposition. The Pettitt test showed that abrupt changes in the time series coincide with periods where positive sunspot anomalies converge with negative PDO and SOI anomalies. Finally, trend analyses identified a temporal broadening of the dry season, warmer winters, and summers with increases of ~ 0.02 °C, predominantly increasing trends in dust emissions and wind intensity, and a progressive decrease in dust deposition mechanisms.

A new species of Encelia (Compositae, Heliantheae, Enceliinae) from the southern Baja California Peninsula.

Here, we describe and illustrate Enceliabalandra sp. nov., a new species of Compositae from the Baja California Peninsula. It is rare and known only from the rocky hills around Puerto Balandra and Pichilingüe, inside the bay of La Paz, in the State of Baja California Sur, Mexico. We determine that this new species has affinities with Encelia, based on its suffruticose woody habit, neuter ray florets and compressed disc cypselae with a cleft apex. The taxonomic placement within Encelia is supported by nuclear ribosomal sequence data from two regions, ITS and ETS. We also present detailed photographs, a conservation assessment and a dichotomous key to the Encelia of the southern Baja California Peninsula. Finally, we discuss the uniqueness of Enceliabalandra amongst peninsular Encelia and its potential significance for understanding the enigmatic biogeography of this ecologically important genus.

Recent and historical data show no evidence of Pacific bluefin tuna reproduction in the southern California Current system.

Despite their broad distribution across the North Pacific Ocean, the only known spawning grounds for Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus orientalis) are around coastal Japan and the East China Sea. However, an increase in the prevalence of large bluefin tuna up to 10 years old in the California Current System during exceptionally warm ocean conditions has led to speculation that they may be spawning in this region. To investigate this possibility, we collected samples from 36 females (estimated 3–8 years old) between 2015 and 2019. Histological analyses revealed no signs of imminent, active, or recent spawning. Further examination of historical ichthyoplankton collections showed no records of larval bluefin tuna, but confirmed the presence of the larvae of other tuna species in waters > 24°C. Fishery-dependent records showed that bluefin tuna are rarely recorded in purse seine catches where surface temperatures exceed 23°C. Our study, therefore, provided no evidence of bluefin tuna reproduction in the CCS. However, more comprehensive sampling, in particular off southern Baja California, may be required to confirm the absence of spawning.

Local adaptation of juvenile giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, from their southern limit in the northern hemisphere explored using reciprocal transplantation

ABSTRACT The Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula (Mexico) is a unique biogeographic transition zone, where many kelp species encounter their southern subtropical limits and have experienced a range contraction in the northern hemisphere. Using reciprocal transplant experiments with giant kelp populations from their southern limit and a northern temperate site on the Baja California peninsula, we hypothesized that juveniles from the southern site would grow longer, have more fronds (an individual stipe with its blades), and have higher photosynthetic efficiency (α) and blade tissue nitrogen, especially under warmer nitrate-limited field conditions experienced in their habitat. At the southern-limit transplant site, local juveniles had more fronds compared with those from the north after 90 days in field conditions (warm waters). At the northern transplant site, blade tissue nitrogen of juveniles from both populations was low after 23 days in field conditions (not significantly different during a warm water period), however, after a further 56 day cooling period and shortly after a strong upwelling event, juveniles from the southern population had greater blade tissue nitrogen concentrations than those from the north, which showed little change. Respiration and a were both greater at higher temperatures in juveniles from the southern population, and this pattern was maintained under warm water field conditions. These physiological differences in conspecific juveniles from different populations may be driven by population-level adaptation to frequently occurring thermal and nutrient stress in southern Baja California, which is the southern distribution limit for giant kelp. Further exploration of population level differences in ecophysiology should be applied to kelp forest restoration efforts as oceans warm.

High heat flow at the SW passive margin of the Gulf of California

AbstractNew high heat flow data confirm the presence of a heat source in the passive margin of the southern Baja California Peninsula that is not linked with volcanic activity. The high heat discharge is spatially associated with low seismic velocity, crustal thinning, intense seismic activity, documented local extension, shallow Curie Point Depth and silica geothermometer temperatures above 100°C. The highly oblique rifting regime in the centre of the Gulf of California generates a transtensional setting conducive to local extension in its southwest margin. Similar high heat flow in a rifted margin has been reported only in the Gulf of Aden that is also an obliquely spreading ridge. The intense heat discharge, with heat flow values as high as 613 mW/m2, indicates the presence of a heat source consistent with mantle upwelling. Heat transfer calculations indicate that the heat source emplacement would be at most 2 Ma old.

A multi-proxy record of hurricanes, tsunami, and post-disturbance ecosystem changes from coastal southern Baja California

Tsunamis and hurricanes are two earth surface processes that can dramatically impact coastal landforms and ecosystems. This study uses a combination of palynological, grain-size, X-ray fluorescence, and loss-on-ignition analyses, short-lived isotopic and radiocarbon dating, and statistical analysis to differentiate the tsunami and hurricane deposits, establish a Late-Holocene record of extreme events, and document the landscape and vegetation transformation in response to disturbance events and environmental changes from a small coastal lagoon in Baja California, Mexico. Prior to ~530 cal yr BP, Playa Los Cocos was occupied by a short-hydroperiod tidal marsh bounded by desert vegetation on the surrounding hillslopes. At ~530 cal yr BP, a tsunami created a backbarrier lagoon and introduced mangrove propagules from other coastal localities, and the lagoonal environment and substrates also provided suitable habitats for red mangroves to proliferate. Once established, red mangrove populations rapidly expanded until ~180 cal yr BP, when modern human activities diminished the mangrove forest in our study area. Overall, the multi-proxy dataset revealed four hurricane events at ~770, ~600, ~280, and ~0 cal yr BP, and one tsunami event at ~530 cal yr BP. The hurricane deposits were preserved in the form of fluvial and slope-wash deposits characterized by low organic and water contents, low concentration of marine elements, and high concentration of terrestrial elements. The tsunami run-up deposits are characterized by abundant broken and intact sea shells, high content of carbonate and marine elements, low concentration of terrestrial elements, and sharp basal contact with the underlying sediments. The tsunami backwash deposits are characterized by a mixed physical and chemical signature resembling both marine and terrestrial sediments. Results also suggest that both hurricanes and tsunamis can help propagule dispersal and create suitable coastal habitats favorable for the spread and proliferation of mangroves in a desert coastal environment.

Trends of daily extreme and non‐extreme rainfall indices and intercomparison with different gridded data sets over Mexico and the southern United States

AbstractTrends of 15 extreme and non‐extreme daily rainfall indices for Mexico and the southern United States are analyzed for the extended boreal winter (November–March) and summer (June–October) during 1981–2010. The analysis includes gridded observations (CHIRPS and Livneh), reanalyses (ERA5, ERA‐Interim, MERRA2, and CFSR), the regional climate model RegCM4.7 (forced by ERA‐Interim), and four general circulation models (GCMs) from the CMIP5 (HadGEM2‐ES, CNRM‐CM5, MPI‐ESM‐MR, and GFDL‐ESM2M). The domain is divided into 13 regions with similar seasonal rainfall patterns according to the k‐means algorithm applied to CHIRPS monthly precipitation, as a reference. Gridded observations and reanalyses (O&R) show similar regional annual cycles and metrics of precipitation. The two observational data sets show the largest differences in the magnitude of some indices in the wettest region (southeastern Mexico) and in the monsoon. During summer, O&R show positive significant trends in extreme rainfall indices in regions commonly affected by tropical cyclones (southern Baja California Peninsula, northeastern Mexico, and the southeastern United States), while negative significant trends of seasonal accumulation of rainfall are seen in the Mediterranean Californias and the Sonoran Desert region. There is an agreement among most data sets that the frequency and intensity of extreme winter precipitation indices have declined in northwest Mexico and the southwestern United States, but trends are not statistically significant, while southeastern Mexico shows significant increases in 5‐days accumulation (rx5d). ERA5 followed by MERRA2 show the best performance. RegCM4.7 reproduces the annual cycle of precipitation in most of the regions and captures the main trend signals especially in winter, but it has difficulties in reproducing the summer interannual variability of few indices. The GCMs tend to overestimate (underestimate) the annual cycle of precipitation and the median values of extreme indices in the driest (wettest) regions. They are not able to capture the regional trends of the indices.

Geospatial modelling to estimate the territory at risk of establishment of influenza type A in Mexico - An ecological study

The aim of this study was to estimate the territory at risk of establishment of influenza type A (EOITA) in Mexico, using geospatial models. A spatial database of 1973 outbreaks of influenza worldwide was used to develop risk models accounting for natural (natural threat), anthropic (man-made) and environmental (combination of the above) transmission. Then, a virus establishment risk model; an introduction model of influenza A developed in another study; and the three models mentioned were utilized using multi-criteria spatial evaluation supported by geographically weighted regression (GWR), receiver operating characteristic analysis and Moran's I. The results show that environmental risk was concentrated along the Gulf and Pacific coasts, the Yucatan Peninsula and southern Baja California. The identified risk for EOITA in Mexico were: 15.6% and 4.8%, by natural and anthropic risk, respectively, while 18.5% presented simultaneous environmental, natural and anthropic risk. Overall, 28.1% of localities in Mexico presented a High/High risk for the establishment of influenza type A (area under the curve=0.923, P<0.001; GWR, r2=0.840, P<0.001; Moran's I =0.79, P<0.001). Hence, these geospatial models were able to robustly estimate those areas susceptible to EOITA, where the results obtained show the relation between the geographical area and the different effects on health. The information obtained should help devising and directing strategies leading to efficient prevention and sound administration of both human and financial resources.

Seasonal pattern of the chlorophyll-a in a coastal lagoon from the southern Baja California (Mexico), described with in situ observations and MODIS-Aqua imagery

This study aims to estimate, with a climatology perspective, the average seasonal pattern of phytoplankton biomass (SP-PBavg) and its distribution in Bahia Magdalena (Mexico) as a baseline to evaluate PB changes in future studies. This lagoon is in a semi-arid region, lacks river discharges, and channels with vegetation are limited at the north and south zones. SP-PBavg was estimated with chlorophyll-a (chl-a) data obtained in 21 sites on daily MODIS-Aqua imagery (2002–2013; n = 2,418) from a ready-to-use public database. The first step was to establish criteria to use imagery and validate with in situ observations taken in 14 sites (2002–2011; n = 312). MODIS-Aqua overestimated chl-a (mean ± confidence interval95: 5.09 ± 0.97 mg m−3; n = 225); with differences among sites. There were no differences near the inlet lagoon (p <0.05), where the water characteristics are Case-1 while values were significantly higher in the eastern shore and two or three times higher in the mouth of north and south channels, whose water characteristics are similar to Case-2. Multivariate statistical methods allow defining zones into the lagoon and describe their SP-PBavg with both in situ and MODIS Aqua data, but the former's sample size was small, and the patterns were only delineated. In the inlet surroundings, chl-a peaks from March/April to June/July. On the eastern shore, where MODIS Aqua and in situ data were correlated, despite concentration differences, chl-a is higher from March/April to October, with peaks in June and September. In the mouth of internal channels, chl-a was higher than other sites and during a longer period; however, the very high MODIS-Aqua values suggest that the satellite also detects organic matter supplied by phytoplankton and other vegetables, which explain the high lagoon's productivity. These results validate the use of MODIS Aqua imagery to describe the chl-a seasonal patterns in the sea's vicinity.

Tree Ring‐Based Historic Hydroclimatic Variability of the Baja California Peninsula

AbstractThe Baja California Peninsula is one of the most arid regions in Mexico, receiving an average of only 168 mm of precipitation annually. Climate change scenarios project drier and warmer conditions in the region at the end of this century driven by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. The growing demand for limited water supplies and the impacts of climate change pose a challenge to manage the already scarce water resources in the Peninsula. Analysis of historical hydroclimatic variability in the Peninsula is limited because most of the early instrumental climate data collection started only in the 1950s. In this study, we reconstruct past precipitation variability for the Peninsula using two tree ring chronologies from northern (Pinus monophylla) and southern (Pinus lagunae) Baja California. Our two reconstructions document multicentury hydroclimatic variability in the Peninsula, including events that turned out to be more extreme than those captured by modern instrumental records. Drought episodes are longer, more frequent, and more intense in the northern peninsula compared to the southern region. Multiyear dry and wet events in our two reconstructions exhibit broad spatial extent, affecting most of northwest Mexico and the western United States, which are mainly caused by broad‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The results of this study allow framing current and projected droughts in a longer‐term context, thus providing a better understanding of past climate variability and a basis for robust water resource management in the region.

Functional traits of leaves and photosynthetic stems of species from a sarcocaulescent scrub in the southern Baja California Peninsula.

Photosynthetic stems represent a source of extra carbon in plants from hot and dry environments, but little is known about how leaves and photosynthetic stems differ in terms of photosynthetic capacity, trait coordination, and responses to seasonal drought in subtropical systems. We studied photosynthetic, hydraulic, morphometric (specific leaf area [SLA], wood density [WD]), and biochemical (C and N isotopes) traits in leaves and photosynthetic stems of 12 plant species from a sarcocaulescent scrub in the southern Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, in wet and dry seasons. Leaves and stems had similar mean photosynthetic capacity, as evaluated by chlorophyll fluorescence traits, indicating similar investment in leaf and stem photosynthesis. We did not find a relationship between stem hydraulic conductivity and leaf or stem photosynthetic traits. However, we found resource allocation trade-offs, between WD and both stem hydraulic conductivity and SLA. Leaf and stem photosynthetic traits did not change with season, but specific stem area was one of the few traits that changed the most between seasons-it increased during the dry season by as much as 154% indicating substantial water storage. Our results indicate the same proportional investment in photosynthetic capacity and dry matter in both leaves and photosynthetic stems across all 12 species. We identified multiple strategies at this seasonal site, with species ranging from high WD, low SLA, low hydraulic conductivity, and high specific bark area on one end of the spectrum and opposite traits on the other end.

Composición botánica del matorral sarcocaule en Baja California Sur durante las estaciones húmeda y seca

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la composición florística del matorral sarcocaule del desierto sonorense en un área de 800 ha dentro de una propiedad ejidal ubicada en los límites de la ciudad de La Paz, Baja California Sur. El muestreo se realizó durante la época de lluvias (septiembre-noviembre de 2018) y a finales de la épocade sequía (mayo-agosto de 2019), por medio de 20 cuadrantes de 5 m × 5 m. Se identificaron 29 especies de 1 634 individuos, entre las dos temporadas y se consideraron las variables de altura y diámetro de copa de cada ejemplar por especie, para determinar abundancia (Ar), dominancia (Dr), frecuencia (Fr), índice de valor de importancia (IVI) y los índices de Shannon para la diversidad de especies (H´) e índice de Margalef para la riqueza de especies (S´). Durante la época de lluvias, se observó a Jatropha cinerea como dominante Dr=7.15 % y con mayor IVI (10.7 %); Turnera diffusa fue la más abundante con Ar=3.2. En cambio, para la temporada seca, fue Prosopis articulata la especie dominante Dr=9.29 y con mayor IVI (12.51 %); Mammillaria armillata fue la más abundante, con Ar=4.56. Los índices de (H’) y (S’) durante la época de lluvias fueron 3.36 y 8.09, respectivamente, con diferencia entre ellos (p≤0.05) al compararlos con los de la temporada seca (2.88 y 4.88, respectivamente), debido a la ausencia de taxones y disminución del número de individuos, en relación con la época húmeda.

Characteristics of mesoscale convection over northwestern Mexico, the Gulf of California, and Baja California Peninsula

AbstractMesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are frequent, but understudied, components of the warm season climatology in northwestern Mexico. This study provides an update of previous research on convective development and examines MCS life cycle, structure, and motion from July through September. It focuses on a region south of the North American monsoon core and, from 2009 to 2018 satellite observations, on patterns of cloud tops higher than 10 km above sea level. The diurnal cycle of convection shows cells initiating in the early afternoon over the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains and becoming better organized over the next few hours. These features typically move westward, grow upscale to reach maximum vertical extent near local sunset, and weaken during the night. However, there is a distinct region of deep convection over and off the coast of Nayarit (20–23°N), in the Pacific Ocean, that remains active through the night and into the early morning, producing heavy rainfall and frequent lightning. Occasionally, the inner structure of these MCSs can move across the Gulf of California and reach the southern Baja California Peninsula. One particular long‐lived, fast‐moving MCS from July 23 and 24, 2014 was selected for in‐depth analysis, because it was associated with weather conditions that included unusual precipitation and extreme winds. The MCS caused damage from sustained winds of tropical‐storm strength and an intense gust front in the Los Cabos area, in the southern tip of the peninsula. This extraordinary MCS developed in the most unstable and humid environment recorded during the 1976–2018 period, and was supported by a collocated upper‐level, inverted trough and a lower‐troposphere tropical wave. We also found that the 10 most unstable conditions have all occurred after 2011, possibly indicative of a trend toward more frequent and favourable environments to spawn MCSs over the Gulf of California entrance.

Quantifying rates of “rifting while drifting” in the southern Gulf of California: The role of the southern Baja California microplate and its eastern boundary zone

AbstractThe southern Baja California (Mexico) microplate has been rapidly moving away from the North America plate since ca. 12 Ma. This relative motion toward the northwest developed an oblique-divergent plate boundary that formed the Gulf of California. The rift-drift hypothesis postulates that when a continent ruptures and seafloor spreading commences, rifting on the plate margins ceases, and the margins start to drift, subside, and accumulate postrift sediments, eventually becoming a passive margin. In contrast to this hypothesis, the southern part of the Baja California microplate (BCM), and in particular its actively deforming eastern boundary zone, has continued significant rifting for millions of years after seafloor spreading initiated within the southern Gulf of California at 6–2.5 Ma. This is a process we call “rifting-while-drifting.” Global positioning system (GPS)–based data collected from 1998 to 2011 show relative motion across the eastern boundary zone up to ∼2–3.2 mm/yr with respect to a stable BCM. Furthermore, the velocity directions are compatible with normal faulting across the eastern boundary zone nearly perpendicular to the trend of the plate boundary at the latitude of La Paz and therefore a highly strain partitioned domain. North of 25°N latitude up to the Loreto area, there is a domain with no strain partitioning, and northwest-directed transtensional deformation dominates. From long-term geologic and paleoseismology studies, late Quaternary faulting rates are equal to or less than the GPS-derived rates, while geologic rates older than 1–2 Ma are commonly much higher. We suggest that the “rifting-while-drifting” process may be caused by the large topographic relief across the BCM margin, which created a significant gradient in gravitational potential energy that helps in driving continued relatively slow faulting. The relief was inherited from the much faster faulting of the BCM eastern boundary zone before plate motions largely localized along the modern transform–spreading centers in the axis of the Gulf of California. The low sediment flux from the small drainages and arid climate on the southern Baja California Peninsula result in the maintenance of underfilled to starved basins, and the relatively slow late Quaternary active faulting promotes continued topographic relief over millions of years.

Adaptive sub-images BSR pattern recognition system for seismic reflection images

Commonly, the Bottom-Simulating Reflector (BSR) location is done by hand-operation by a trained interpreter. Recently, a pattern recognition system named the 2D multiresolution automated system for detecting BSRs on post-stack seismic reflection images has been presented. That system focuses on locating BSRs parallel and non-parallel to the Sea-Bottom Reflector (SBR). However, in that system, the seismic reflection sub-images (containing a BSR) are of the same size. Also, the time contribution of the SBR is eliminated by semi hand-operation. The present work proposes a methodology that uses adaptive sub-images to get a more efficient BSR pattern recognition system. The lateral continuity, intensity, and the inclination angle of the BSR determine the number of traces in each adaptive sub-image. Also, this technique removes the SBR influence automatically. The system was tested using seismic reflection images from offshore the southern Baja California Peninsula. The adaptive sub-image BSR pattern recognition system locates the BSRs accurately in all the cases, even when the BSR cuts lithologic reflectors. Low time was employed to obtain the BSR position, which allows us to implement this methodology in desktop or laptop machines.

Geochronology and geochemistry of the Puerto Vallarta igneous and metamorphic complex and its relation to Cordilleran arc magmatism in northwestern Mexico

New field, geochemical, Sr-Nd-O isotopic, and U-Pb geochronological data constrain the lithological diversity and geologic history of the Puerto Vallarta Batholith (PVB), which is one of the largest calc-alkaline intrusives along the Mexican Pacific coast. I-type granitoids were emplaced during the Late Cretaceous between 80 and 85 Ma in multiple magmatic pulses, confirmed by U-Pb and Rb-Sr geochronological data. PVB igneous rocks intrude paragneiss, schist, and orthogneiss of a recently discovered ∼400 km2 poly-lithological metamorphic unit which we named Yelapa-Chimo Metamorphic Complex (YCMC), located at the northern PVB coastline. 128–136 Ma zircon ages from western YCMC orthogneiss and amphibolite samples suggest the existence of an Early Cretaceous arc with a nearly contemporaneously accreted and collided component of M-type granites. These rocks can be regarded as the roots of an oceanic island arc in front of today’s southern Baja California and Jalisco. We called it Chimo Arc and it reveals an apparent resemblance to the Early Cretaceous (∼110 Ma) Alisitos arc in Baja California and the intruding plutons further to the northwest. Another PVB wall rock unit is represented by ∼160 Ma two-mica granites from the eastern part of the PVB, which are considered as part of a widespread, magmatically more evolved, Late Jurassic arc in western Mexico. These granites intruded a Late Triassic volcanosedimentary greenschist sequence, similar to that from the Arteaga Complex, which is the oldest lithological unit in the Zihuatanejo subterrane of the Guerrero tectonostratigraphic terrane. When comparing the vast PVB geochemical and isotopic dataset with those of the neighboring Late Cretaceous intrusive rocks, there is strong evidence for the PVB as being part of a southeast extended Peninsular Ranges Batholith. Our new geochemical and geochronological results contribute to a better understanding of the arc magmatism in northwestern Mexico.

New biogeographical makeup for colonisation of the Baja California Peninsula, with the description of a new Onthophagus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

ABSTRACTThe dung beetles of the Onthophagus chevrolati species group are preponderantly associated to montane habitats and high plains in the Mexican Transition Zone. Herein, we describe O. bajacalifornianus new species, the first of this species group from the southern Baja California Peninsula, which inhabits xeric shrublands near the sea level from the sandy foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna. The new species corresponds to a new monotypic phyletic lineage among the American Onthophagus. The multiple biogeographical origins of the Baja Californian endemic biota are briefly discussed. The need for recognising two new biogeographical elements is highlighted: the Baja Californian Paleoamerican sub-pattern (Miocenic Holarctic affinities) and the Neotropical Baja Californian pattern (Miocenic Neotropical affinities).http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7840ECCA-4CCC-4DB1-A30D-560FEE84AABF

Growth Variations in the Geoduck Panopea globosa in Different Climatological Regions of Northwestern Mexico

Growth curves of the geoduck Panopea globosa were compared from four zones in northwestern Mexico, with three zones in the Gulf of California (Guaymas, Puerto Penasco, and San Felipe) and one zone on the Pacific Coast of the southern Baja California Peninsula (Bahia Magdalena). The curves were shaped using the von Bertalanffy growth model. The lengths-at-age data for each location were obtained from fishery-independent data at each location. The average asymptotic lengths of P. globosa were 114.4, 156.6, 161.5, and 168.4 mm in Guaymas, Puerto Penasco, San Felipe, and Bahia Magdalena, respectively. The Kimura's likelihood ratio test was used as the goodness-of-fit trial. In comparison with geoducks from the other locations, geoducks from Guaymas, located on the central Gulf of California, were the shortest, with a significant difference in length from those at the other three sites. Geoducks from the upper Gulf of California (Puerto Penasco and San Felipe) and Pacific Coast had no significant differences among them. Because the fishing management strategy for this species uses the minimum legal size (MLS), the MLS should vary regionally to promote sustainable use.

Post-release survivorship and movements of bigeye thresher sharks, Alopias superciliosus, following capture on deep-set buoy gear

The bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) is a large pelagic predator routinely caught in a new deep-set fishery off California. Deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) was recently developed to selectively target swordfish (Xiphias gladius) at depth during the daytime and is currently being trialed by a limited fleet of vessels operating under an exempted fishing permit (EFP) issued through the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) and Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC). Although marketable, bigeye thresher sharks (BETS) are often released or discarded to conserve limited hold space for more valuable catch. This study outfitted BETS with pop-up satellite archival transmitters (PSATs) programmed for 30-day deployments to evaluate acute post-release survival in the DSBG fishery and begin to understand depth and temperature distribution for this poorly known species. Fourteen BETS (43–93 kg) were tagged from 2016 to 2018 with PSATs (Wildlife Computers sPATs and MiniPATs) following fight times that ranged from 15 to 171 min. Out of the 14 deployments, twelve individuals survived the acute effects of capture, one BETS died shortly after release and one individual was preyed upon 6 h after release. Given the lack of information surrounding the predation induced mortality, two survivorship estimates are provided, one that includes the event as a mortality resultant of the capture event (86% survivorship) and one that excludes the event from the analysis (92% survivorship). All surviving BETS exhibited consistent diurnal dive patterns in which the sharks remained below the thermocline during the day and within the mixed layer at night. Mean daytime depths ranged from 250 to 439 m, while mean nighttime depths ranged from 20 to 106 m. Daytime temperatures at depth ranged from 6 to 10 °C with the lowest temperature value (6.0 °C) recorded on the deepest dive (548 m). For all BETS, maximum night temperatures averaged from 22.5 to 25.1 °C. Two tagged individuals remained proximal to the study area (<150 km) with others moving up to >1300 km from the tagging site (mean = 1009 ± 455 km). Mean daily rates of horizontal movement ranged from 3.4 to 41.6 km day−1. The most common movement trend entailed BETS moving in a southerly direction towards a series of offshore seamounts along southern Baja California, Mexico (22°-26 °N and 114°-126 °W), a purported offshore corridor for other large pelagic sharks of the eastern Pacific.