State Of Tamaulipas Research Articles

Diversity and altitudinal distribution of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) in Peregrina Canyon, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) is a highly speciose family that has been poorly studied at the regional level in Mexico. In the present study, we estimated species richness and diversity in oak-pine forest, Tamaulipan thorny scrub and in tropical deciduous forests in Peregrina Canyon within the Altas Cumbres Protected Area of the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Sampling of Chrysomelidae consisted of five sweep net samples (200 net sweeps) within each of three sites during four sample periods: early dry season, late dry season, early wet season, and late wet season. Species were identified and total numbers per species were recorded for each sample. A total of 2,226 specimens were collected belonging to six subfamilies, 81 genera and 157 species of Chrysomelidae from the study area. Galerucinae was the most abundant subfamily with 1,828 specimens, representing 82.1% of total abundance in the study area. Lower abundance was recorded in Cassidinae (8.5%), Eumolpinae (3.6%), Cryptocephalinae (2.2%), Chrysomelinae (2.2%), and finally Criocerinae (1.3%). The highest species richness was also presented in the subfamily Galerucinae with 49% of the total obtained species followed by Cassidinae (20%), Cryptocephalinae (9.7%), Eumolpinae (9.7%), Chrysomelinae (6.5%) and Criocerinae (5.2%). The most common species were Centralaphthona fulvipennis Jacoby (412 individuals), Centralaphthona diversa (Baly) (248), Margaridisa sp.1 (219), Acallepitrix sp.1 (134), Longitarsus sp.1 (104), Heterispa vinula (Erichson) (91), Epitrix sp.1 (84) and Chaetocnema sp.1 (72). Twenty-two species were doubletons (1.97% of total abundance) and 52 were singletons (2.33%). The estimated overall density value obtained was 0.0037 individuals/m2. The greatest abundance and density of individuals were recorded at the lowest elevation site. However, alpha diversity increased with increasing altitude. Similarity values were less than 50% among the three sites indicating that each site had distinct species assemblages of Chrysomelidae. The highest abundance was obtained during the late dry season, whereas diversity indices were highest during the early wet season. The present work represents the first report of the altitudinal variation in richness, abundance, and diversity of Chrysomelidae in Mexico. These results highlight the importance of conservation of this heterogeneous habitat and establish baseline data for Chrysomelidae richness and diversity for the region.

Breeding Records of Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapilla) in Northeastern Mexico

Abstract We conducted field work during May–July 2005 in the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi. We observed breeding activity of Black-capped Vireos and found active nests in northwestern Nuevo Leon and southwestern Tamaulipas. These findings represent the first documented nests for those states, and for the latter state, the first records of Black-capped Vireos nesting below the Tropic of Cancer. Our findings suggest that the breeding range of Black-capped Vireos should be extended approximately 520 km to the southeast of the previous known nesting area near Ocampo, Coahuila.

Wind energy resource in Northern Mexico

Abstract Mexico has installed less wind power compared to the other North American countries. Renewable energy sources only account for 3% of the energy mix in Mexico. The U.S. states bordering Mexico, namely Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, have good wind power resources. Among them, Texas has the highest installed wind power capacity of 10.34 GW. The wind resources in these bordering states indicate that the wind energy resource in Northern Mexico must be assessed; thus, the spatial and temporal information about the wind energy resource was studied. The daily pattern of the wind speed, one per state studied, was obtained. The wind speed was found to exhibit a pattern; it increases from 4 pm until 6 am the following day. The main conclusions are that the state of Tamaulipas has the highest Wind Power Density (WPD) of 1000 W/m2 during September and October, but the north of Nuevo Leon has, in a large part of its territory, an annual WPD greater than 103 W/m2; each state has 1700 useful hours of wind speed above 3 m/s. Northern Mexico has some zones with excellent wind speed as well; the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas have a wind speed of over 4.51 m/s across nearly their entire territories. Because Mexico in recent years has been starting to exploit renewable energy sources, the government has mandated energy reform, which improves the conditions for investment in wind energy in Mexico.

Scarlet macawAra macao cyanopteraconservation programme inMexico

InMexico, theScarlet macawAra macao cyanopterahas been extirpated from the states ofTamaulipas,Veracruz,Oaxaca (with the possible exception of a subpopulation ofc.50 birds in theChimalapas region, although there have been no recorded sightings of these birds in the last decade),Tabasco andCampeche. At the time of writing, the wild population comprises only 150–250 birds mainly located in theLacandonJungle inChiapas. The drastic reduction in theScarlet macaw population inMexico is related to an accelerated loss of their habitat and anthropogenic factors, such as illegal trade. It is evident that theScarlet macaw is currently subject to very high pressures with clear indications that wild populations will disappear from theJungle in the next 10 years. In 1993,Xcaret began a programme ofScarlet macaw reproduction in captivity, developing and using the best protocols for hand rearing, and establishing new procedures to facilitate parental rearing of the chicks without human intervention. The aim is to rear captive‐bred macaws that will adapt to the wild successfully and not require post‐release supplemental feeding. Endoscopy techniques have been used to determine gender and match the pairs in more than 100 enclosures. Since 2007 reintroduction procedures, developed in partnership withAcajunglaA.C.,AluxesEcoparquePalenque and some scientists of theUniversidadNacionalAutónoma deMéxico, have culminated in the release of 36 Scarlet macaws in 2013 in three events, on 21April (17), 29June (11) and 11August (8).

The Search for the Development of Clusters in Tamaulipas, Mexico: A Case Study

The advantages of industrial clusters as propenners of development have been widely noted. These advantages have prompted various administrations to propose the creation of clusters as a development policy. The state of Tamaulipas, Mexico has not been an exception. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of environmental factors, cluster characteristics, and on the performance of cluster companies, particularly, in four industrial clusters in Tamaulipas (petrochemical, auto parts, electric-electronic, and information technology). Based on in-depth interviews with members and participants, our findings suggest that the performance of these cluster comes from geographical location advantages, sociocultural identity, internal networks, specialization, and human capital training; that knowledge sharing is discretionary, and that the region still needs research support (research institutions and government agencies). However, the case studies show that policy makers, firms and knowledge institutions should work in mutual understanding to improve clusters absorptive capacity in order to increase innovative capacity.

Detection ofRhynchophorus palmarum(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Identification of Associated Nematodes in South Texas

This study reports a survey conducted to find the South American palm weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) and the red palm weevil R. ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), 2 invasive species of palm trees. The study was performed in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas and near the border with Tamaulipas state, Mexico. A total of 40 traps were inspected biweekly from 26 Sep 2011 to 20 Sep 2012 and 4 traps were inspected from 20 Sep 2012 to 4 Sep 2013. To attract R. palmarum and R. ferrugineus, the lures 2-methylhept-5-en- 4-ol and 4-methyl-5-nonanol were used, respectively. We used these lures in combination with sugar and the ethyl acetate aggregation kairomone for both species, plus an ethylene glycol kill solution. Two specimens of R. palmarum were found and identified next to a commercial palm plantation on 11 Mar and 5 May 2012 near the city of Alamo, Texas, but no R. ferrugineus was detected during the entire study. Nematodes found in the 2 R. palmarum specimens were dauer juveniles of the order Rhabditida, and in one of these weevils only 1 nematode of an undetermined species within the family Aphelenchoididae was found. It is of great importance that Bursaphelenchus cocophilus Cobb Baujard (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchinae), the nematode causal agent of coconut red ring disease, was not found within these insects. This is the first detection of R. palmarum in Texas, and the second in the United States.

Comparative anatomy of the stem, leaf and inflorescence basal axis of Polianthes L. (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) species

AbstractThe genus Polianthes belongs to Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae (APG III, 2009) and is endemic to Mexico, spanning the states of Chihuahua and Tamaulipas in the north, and extending to the state of Oaxaca in the south. Its species are perennial, herbaceous plants with corms and bulbs. Their leaves are green or glaucous, linear or lanceolate. Inflorescences are in racemes or spikes with narrow and widely infundibuliform flowers, varying in color from white to red. The fruit is a capsule with black seeds. The number of species of Polianthes varies depending on the criteria to classify them. For example, in the first revision for the genus, Rose (1903) recognized 12 species. According to Espejo and López (1992), the genus has 15 species, whereas GarcíaMendoza and Galván (1995) reported 12 species, and Solano and Feria (2007) recognized 14 species and three varieties. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Political protection and the origins of the Gulf Cartel

The history of drug trafficking in Mexico appears to be strongly influenced by specific features of the post-revolutionary authoritarian regime that has been characterized by its rampant corruption and poor levels of accountability. This is a rigorous empirical case study of state domination of the relationship with traffickers in a particular historical epoch and place. Based on research conducted through the examination of historic sources, this work explores the hypothesis that some political figures might have been colluding with members of criminal organizations, with the aim of protecting their businesses and fostering their consolidation. Such collusion has hindered the institutional functioning of key law enforcement and judicial institutions in the country. The present analysis considers these relationships in the course of three decades, the 1960s through the 1990s, and focuses on the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, where one of the most powerful and dangerous organized crime groups emerged, the so-called Gulf Cartel.

Prevalencia de estrés postraumático en unidades de medicina familiar de seis ciudades de la frontera México-Estados Unidos de América

determine the prevalence of the post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) in Family Medicine Units (umf) of six border cities of the North of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Material and methods: descriptive and cross-sectional study. A not randomized sample by quota. The study was carried out between January and December 2009. 300 patients were included of the 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 33, 36, 40 and 79 Family Medicine Units of the Mexican Institute of Social Security in the cities of Matamoros, Reynosa, Miguel Aleman, Diaz Ordaz, Rio Bravo and Camargo of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. 53.7% patients were female and 46.3% were male. The study included people of both genders and adults who had at least one year of residence in the border area of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Results: 49.68% women and 50.36% men had ptsd. The most common stress-producing factors in this area were: natural disasters, violent or sudden death death of a close family and family violence. Conclusions: the ptsd was more frequent in women and the most common factors were theft and rape and/or sexual abuse. The results of this study show that conditions of security and life in general in patients who belong to this group of the umf differ with those of the rest of Mexico; where it has been identified that from 1% to 5% of the population has been exposed to ptsd in contrast with more than 49% identified in this research.

Empoderamiento de las redes sociales en las crisis institucionales

En el presente artículo se pretende ahondar en el uso de las redes sociales como vehículo comunicativo veraz ante el vacío comunicativo institucional, concretamente en situaciones de riesgo para la sociedad civil. Desde la concepción de la existencia institucional se plantea como inherente el accionar estatal de protección de los ciudadanos y como consecuencia la difusión de aquellos mensajes que puedan contribuir a la seguridad de la ciudadanía. Cuando la emisión de mensajes en estas circunstancias no es proactivo o incluso es inexistente, los ciudadanos buscan organizarse como fuentes de información reactivas a la situación de riesgo en la que perciben vivir. Para la constatación de la existencia de estas fuentes de información paralelas y su uso ciudadano, se han estudiado tres regiones de México que actualmente atraviesan situaciones de inseguridad ciudadana, concretamente los estados de Nuevo León, Tamaulipas y Veracruz. La metodología aplicada ha sido la encuestación de un número significativo de ciudadanos divididos equitativamente entre las capitales de los tres estados citados anteriormente. Los resultados más relevantes apuntan hacia la falta de legitimación de las fuentes tradicionales de información en pos de las alternativas promovidas por los propios ciudadanos.

Pambolus oblongispina Papp, 2000 (Braconidae: Pambolinae), first record in Mexico

Braconidae is one of the insect families with more diversity in the world. Pambolinae is one of the most distinctive subfamilies because the spines present on the propodeum. In this note, Pambolus oblongispina Papp is a new record for Mexico, collected in the State of Tamaulipas. This species was previously known only from Honduras.

Formicidae (Himenoptera) del estado de Tamaulipas

Las hormigas son insectos que participan en muchas de las cadenas alimenticias terres­tres; algunas especies son plagas, otras son enemigos naturales de diversos artrópodos. El objetivo de este artículo fue informar sobre los géneros y especies de hormigas presen­tes en el Museo de Insectos de la Facultad de Agronomía [hoy Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias (FIC)] de la Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas (MIFA-UAT), así como de los re­gistros para el Estado de Tamaulipas, México. Se determinó taxonómicamente el material de Formicidae del MIFA-UAT y se recopiló in­formación de diversas colecciones y publicaciones en México. Se encontró que, en el Estado de Tamaulipas, los formícidos se han colectado desde hace más de dos décadas, y que esta familia se encuentra representada por nueve subfamilias, 53 géneros y 155 es­pecies y en el MIFA-UAT por ocho subfamilias, 35 géneros y 60 especies. Los géneros con mayor diversidad son Pheidole (20 especies), Pseudomyrmex (12), Neivamyrmex (11), Cam­ponotus (10) y Crematogaster (8). El MIFA-UAT posee casi el 70 % de los géneros de hormi­gas registradas en Tamaulipas.

A new species of <i>Hechtia</i> (Bromeliaceae) from southwestern Tamaulipas, Mexico

A new species of Hechtia from the Mexican State of Tamaulipas is herein proposed as new: Hechtia hernandez-sandovalii, which is known only from the municipality of Villa de Miquihuana in the southwestern portion of the state. The new species is easily recognized by the following combination of characters: its white cotton-like indument (turning brownish with age) on the branches, rachis, and peduncle of both staminate and pistillate inflorescences. The new taxon is compared with H. glomerata, a species morphologically similar.

A climatological estimate of incident solar energy in Tamaulipas, northeastern Mexico

An estimation of climatological fields of incident solar energy in Tamaulipas State, northeastern Mexico, is presented. Monthly mean evolution of solar energy in 7 automatic meteorological stations distributed along the State shows that the maximum values generally exceed 500 ± 200 W m−2 during fall-winter (Nov–Feb), and 700 ± 200 W m−2 during spring-summer (May–Aug). An empirical model, which estimates the solar energy as function of other climatic variables (minimum temperature, maximum temperature, evaporation, and precipitation) recorded in 165 climatological conventional stations, is used to extend the climatological solar-energy estimate in the study area. The mean values of both measured and estimated solar energy are objectively mapped to fill the observation gaps and reduce the noise associated with inhomogeneous statistics and estimation errors. The highest values of solar energy (∼6.7 kW h m−2 during the summer and ∼4.0 kW h m−2 during the winter) are observed in the highlands, southwestern part of the State, whereas the lowest values (∼5.7 kW h m−2 during the summer and ∼2.8 kW h m−2 during the winter) are observed in the south-central part of the State.

Four new species of Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Mexico.

Four new species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from Mexico are described--E. albata Myartseva sp. n. (State of Nuevo León), E. barracas Myartseva sp. n. (State of Baja California Sur), E. chichenitza Myartseva sp. n. (State of Yucatán) and E. elenae Myartseva sp. n. (State of Tamaulipas). A key to the species of Encarsia in Mexico published in 2012 is modified to include the newly described species.

Herpetofauna en dos sitios en el municipio de Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas, México

Se realizó un estudio herpetofaunístico en los ranchos El Herradero y San José de los Leones ambos ubicados en el municipio de Soto la Marina, en la porción central-oriental del estado de Tamaulipas al Noreste de México. Estos predios se ubican en una forma de península rodeada por agua perteneciente a la Laguna Madre. Los objetivos fueron: realizar un inventario herpetológico, determinar la asociación de la herpetofauna con las comunidades vegetales y determinar el estatus de cada una de las especies de acuerdo a la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. Lo anterior con la finalidad de que el área ocupada por los ranchos sea para establecer sitios de conservación como servidumbre ecológica de especies. Se siguió el muestreo de transectos descrito por Campbell & Christman (1982). El estudio se realizó desde noviembre de 2009 hasta julio de 2010. Se registraron 17 especies: un anuro, seis tortugas, un cocodrilo, tres lagartijas y seis serpientes. De estos, ocho son nuevos reportes para el municipio de Soto la Marina, y de acuerdo con la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 se reportaron 10 especies donde seis se encuentran Sujetas a Protección Especial, tres se encuentran Amenazadas y una en Peligro de Extinción. Los ranchos cuentan con 34.69% de las especies de herpetofauna presente en el municipio.

Security, Migration, and the Economy in the Texas–Tamaulipas Border Region: The “Real” Effects of Mexico's Drug War

This article analyzes the effects of Mexico's drug war on security, migration, and the economy on the eastern U.S.–Mexico border between the state of Texas and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Both sides of the border are analyzed and compared simultaneously. The article shows that the extreme violence that Mexico is suffering has benefited U.S. border towns while having a negative impact on Tamaulipas. The positive effects of Mexico's violent spiral on U.S. border security and the U.S. border economy are evident, notwithstanding American public discourse and the reporting of U.S. media alleging the opposite.Related Articles Héctor Ramón Ramírez. 2009. “.” Politics & Policy 37 (): 579‐609. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00186.x/abstract Gaspare M. Genna, and David A. Mayer‐Foulkes. 2011. “.” Politics & Policy 39 (): 5‐9. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00280.x/abstract Ernesto Aguayo‐Téllez, and Christian I. Rivera‐Mendoza. 2009. “.” Politics & Policy 39 (): 119‐140. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00285.x/abstract Related MediaBlog del Narco. http://www.blogdelnarco.com/ Borderland Beat. http://www.borderlandbeat.com/ Frontera List. http://groups.google.com/group/frontera‐list?hl=en

Estudio de validación de un método para seleccionar técnicas de pronóstico de series de tiempo mediante redes neuronales artificiales

In this paper, a validation study for a method geared towards the selection of forecasting techniques for time series is presented. The proposed method makes use of artificial neural networks to predict the performance of several statistics-based forecasting techniques to help select the potential best one. Eighteen time series with real data related to economic activities in the state of Tamaulipas were used for validation purposes. The results indicate that the proposed method is sufficiently reliable to become a useful resource for people with modest level of training in statistics. It is also proposed that the method be tabulated for convenient access.

Avistamiento del playero roquero, Aphriza virgata, en las costas de Tamaulipas, México

El playero roquero, Aphriza virgata, es una especie del Pacífico americano y hasta la fecha, no se tenían reportes de su presencia en la costa del Atlántico mexicano. Existen reportes recientes de su presencia en la costa de Texas en EUA y en este trabajo la reportamos por primera vez en el estado de Tamaulipas, México. La falta de un esfuerzo de observación suficiente en la costa del Atlántico mexicano podría haber resultado en que esta especie pasara desapercibida. Esta observación representa el primer registro documentado de la especie para la costa atlántica de México.

Forchhammeria and Stixis (Brassicales): Stem and Wood Anatomical Diversity, Ecological and Phylogenetic Significance

Qualitative and quantitative data are given for wood anatomy of six of the 11 recognized species of Forchhammeria (Mexico, Central America, West Indies), a genus formerly placed in Capparaceae. Though still in Brassicales, the genus has been excluded, along with several other genera, from the major recognized families of that order on the basis of molecular data. Liquid-preserved material of several species permitted detailed histological accounts of the successive cambia and their development in the stems of Forchhammeria. Successive cambia have a curious distribution in Brassicales that may represent homoplasies. Most wood features of the genus do not appear highly xeromorphic, but presence of tracheids as a wood background tissue and abundance of starch and perhaps water storage in ray parenchyma and conjunctive tissue can be cited as mechanisms likely to resist embolism formation. Forchhammeria retains green leaves throughout the dry season. Forchhammeria tamaulipana, known only from Tamaulipas State, Mexico, the single species of a new subgenus, Pauciflora, is newly described. Its embryos have nearly equal cotyledons and germinate epigeously, whereas all remaining species of the genus are pseudomonocotylous and hypogeous. These and other distinctive features of F. tamaulipana may prove significant in providing links to other brassicalean genera. The family name Stixaceae Doweld is now appropriate for Forchhammeria, Neothorelia, Stixis, and Tirania