Multiple approaches to understanding the taxonomic status of an enigmatic new scorpion species of the genus Tityus (Buthidae) from the biogeographic island of Paraje Tres Cerros (Argentina)

Andres Alejandro Ojanguren Affilastro (2017, [Artículo])

Tityus curupi n. sp., belonging to the bolivianus complex, is described from the biogeographically distinct area of Paraje Tres Cerros in north-eastern Argentina. We also present a molecular species delimitation analysis between Tityus curupi n. sp. and its sister species Tityus uruguayensis Borelli 1901 to confirm species integrity. Furthermore, a cytogenetic analysis is presented for these two species which contain different multivalent associations in meiosis, as a consequence of chromosome rearrangements, and the highest chromosome numbers in the genus. © 2017 Ojanguren-Affilastro et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Argentina, chromosome analysis, chromosome rearrangement, genus, human, meiosis, sister, species, anatomy and histology, animal, Argentina, chemistry, chromosome, classification, ecosystem, fluorescence in situ hybridization, genetics, geography, isl BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA BIOLOGÍA DE INSECTOS (ENTOMOLOGÍA) BIOLOGÍA DE INSECTOS (ENTOMOLOGÍA)

Biodiversity conservation in an anthropized landscape: Trees, not patch size drive, bird community composition in a low-input agroecosystem

ERIC MELLINK BIJTEL (2017, [Artículo])

One of the most typical agro-ecosystems in the Llanos de Ojuelos, a semi-arid region of central Mexico, is that of fruit-production orchards of nopales (prickly pear cacti). This perennial habitat with complex vertical structure provides refuge and food for at least 112 species of birds throughout the year. Nopal orchards vary in their internal structure, size and shrub/ tree composition, yet these factors have unknown effects on the animals that use them. To further understand the conservation potential of this agro-ecosystem, we evaluated the effects of patch-size and the presence of trees on bird community composition, as well as several habitat variables, through an information-theoretical modelling approach. Community composition was obtained through a year of census transects in 12 orchards. The presence of trees in the orchards was the major driver of bird communities followed by seasonality; bird communities are independent of patch size, except for small orchard patches that benefit black-chin sparrows, which are considered a sensitive species. At least 55 species of six trophic guilds (insectivores, granivores, carnivores, nectivores, omnivores, and frugivores) used the orchards. Orchards provide adequate habitat and food resources for several sensitive species of resident and migratory sparrows. The attributes that make orchards important for birds: trees, shrubs, herb seeds, and open patches can be managed to maintain native biodiversity in highly anthropized regions with an urgent need to find convergence between production and biological conservation. © 2017 Mellink et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

agroecosystem, carnivore, chin, conservation biology, driver, frugivore, granivore, habitat, human, insectivore, landscape, nonhuman, omnivore, orchard, resident, seasonal variation, shrub, sparrow, theoretical model, agriculture, animal, biodiversit CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

Modelo híbrido de sistemas energéticos para la evaluación del uso de energías renovables

Carlos Iván Torres González (2020, [Tesis de maestría])

En este trabajo proponemos un modelo híbrido para evaluar diferentes escenarios de generación de electricidad con energías renovables que maximiza el bienestar social desde la perspectiva económica contemplando un enfoque técnico sobre la estructura de costos de producción de electricidad. Adicionalmente, realizamos 2 simulaciones del modelo propuesto al sistema eléctrico de Baja California Sur para 10 períodos, contemplando 4 escenarios de producción limpia diferentes. De los resultados observados en ambas simulaciones podemos remarcar 2 puntos en términos de políticas públicas. El primer punto es la importancia de tener múltiples generadores que funcionen con combustibles renovables si se desea producir una proporción significativa de electricidad con FER. El segundo punto es el trade-off entre bienestar y emisiones de CO2. Los resultados sugieren que el aumento del consumo de electricidad es un elemento importante para aumentar el bienestar social. A su vez, el aumento de consumo eléctrico implica un aumento de producción, y por tanto un aumento de emisiones de CO2. Los resultados de la segunda simulación sugieren que con el aumento de la capacidad de generación limpia y costos eficientes, se pueden alcanzar niveles de bienestar casi iguales a los tradicionales, pero con la mitad de emisiones de CO2.

Electric power production -- Effect of renewable energy sources on -- Mexico -- Baja California Sur (State) -- 2015 -- Mathematical models. Carbon dioxide mitigation -- Effect of renewable energy sources on -- Mexico -- Baja California Sur (State) -- 2015 -- Mathematical models. CIENCIAS SOCIALES CIENCIAS SOCIALES

Estimación de los flujos de materia y energía en la Reserva de Bahía de los Ángeles, Canales de Ballenas y de Salsipuedes, mediante un modelo de balance de masas

Estimation of the flows of matter and energy in Bahía de los Ángeles, Canales de Ballenas y de Salsipuedes Reserve, using a mass balance model

Ana Lilia Perea Rojas (2023, [Tesis de maestría])

La Reserva de la Biósfera de Bahía de Los Ángeles, Canales de Ballenas y de Salsipuedes (RB-BLACS) es un área natural protegida que provee de distintos servicios ambientales a los pobladores de la comunidad de Bahía de Los Ángeles. Tiene una gran importancia ecológica por la diversidad de especies que habitan en ella y para las especies migratorias que la utilizan, algunas de las cuales se encuentran enlistadas dentro de la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001. Con objeto de estimar el efecto de la pesca sobre el ecosistema se construyó un modelo de balance de masas empleando Ecopath con Ecosim. Mediante una revisión documental, se definieron 32 grupos funcionales (GF) y se construyó una matriz de dietas. El modelo se parametrizó con los valores de biomasa (B), relación producción/biomasa (P/B) y se obtuvieron los valores de eficiencia ecotrófica (EE) y relación producción/consumo (P/Q). El rendimiento total del sistema (TST) fue de 13,689 t/km2/año. El nivel trófico de la captura de 3.48 y la producción neta del sistema de 4,641 t/km2/año. La matriz de impactos tróficos mixtos muestra que los grupos que sufren mayor impacto negativo por los Tiburones son los Odontocetos, Misticetos y Tortugas. Se simularon los cambios en la biomasa relativa de los GF bajo escenarios de incremento y decremento del esfuerzo pesquero (5 y 10%) y no pesca, en un lapso de 10 años. Se encontró que los cambios en el esfuerzo pesquero de Elasmobranquios y los Peces de escama son los que mayor efecto tienen sobre otros GF. Resalta que suspender la pesca tendría poco efecto, tanto positivo como negativo (2-3%) sobre la biomasa relativa de los GF, excepto Tiburones y rayas, que incrementarían 245 y 124%, respectivamente. Este modelo podría utilizarse para la toma de decisiones en el manejo y conservación del ecosistema.

The Biosphere Reserve of Bahía de Los Ángeles, Canales de Ballenas y de Salsipuedes (RB-BLACS) is a natural protected area that provides different environmental services to the residents of the community of Bahía de Los Ángeles. It has great ecological importance due to the diversity of species that inhabit it and the migratory species that use it, some of which are listed within NOM-059- SEMARNAT-2001. To estimate the effect of fishing on the ecosystem, a mass balance model was built using Ecopath with Ecosim. Through a documentary review, 32 functional groups (GF) were defined, and a diet matrix was constructed. The model was parameterized with the values of biomass (B), production/biomass ratio (P/B) and the values of ecotrophic efficiency (EE) and production/consumption ratio (P/Q) were obtained. The total system throughput (TST) was 13,689 t/km2/year. The trophic level of the capture is 3.48 and the net production of the system is 4,641 t/km2/year. The matrix of mixed trophic impacts shows that the groups that suffer the greatest negative impact from Sharks are Odontocetes, Mysticetes and Turtles. Changes in the relative biomass of GF were simulated under scenarios of increase and decrease in fishing effort (5 and 10%) and no fishing, over a period of 10 years. It was found that changes in the fishing effort of Elasmobranchs and Finfish have the greatest effect on other GFs. It highlights that suspending fishing would have little effect, both positive and negative (2-3%) on the relative biomass of GFs, except for sharks and rays, which would increase 245 and 124%, respectively. This model could be used for decision making in the management and conservation of the ecosystem.

Ecopath con Ecosim, socio-ecosistema, Golfo de California, pesquerías, conservación Ecopath with Ecosim, socio-ecosystem, Gulf of California, fisheries, conservation BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES DE LA BIOLOGÍA OTRAS OTRAS

Utilización de aguajes por el borrego cimarrón (Ovis canadensis cremnobates) y análisis de calidad del agua en Sierra Santa Isabel, Baja California, México

Watering sites use by bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis cremnobates) and water quality analysis in Sierra Santa Isabel, Baja California, Mexico

Jonathan Gabriel Escobar Flores SERGIO ALVAREZ CARDENAS Sara Cecilia Díaz Castro Aradit Castellanos Vera Jorge Torres Rodriguez MARIANA DELGADO FERNANDEZ (2016, [Artículo])

"Se analizó la utilización de aguajes por el borrego cimarrón en la Sierra Santa Isabel, Baja California, México durante la temporada de sequía de 2011 y 2013 y el periodo de lluvias e inicio de la temporada de sequía del 2015. Asimismo, se estudió la calidad del agua, con base en siete parámetros fisicoquímicos. Se obtuvieron 260 registros fotográficos de borregos cimarrones, donde hembras, añeros y corderos representaron el 73%. En el periodo de lluvias, en dos de los aguajes se obtuvieron valores de conductividad de 1.31 µS/cm2 y 1.92 µS/cm2, y de sólidos disueltos totales de l0.65 ppt y 0.95 ppt, indicando un bajo contenido de sales en el agua. Los valores de oxígeno disuelto mayores a 6.4 ppm, dureza del agua menor a 100 ppm y PH entre 6.5 y 8.5, sugieren que el agua tiene condiciones óptimas para ser bebida por los borregos cimarrones. Los aguajes con mayor utilización por los borregos fueron El Zamora (n = 120) y El Cordero (n = 67), donde se registraron las mejores condiciones de calidad de agua en este estudio. El mayor registro de hembras y añeros, asociado a condiciones óptimas de calidad del agua, confirman la importancia de los aguajes para la crianza y reclutamiento del borrego cimarrón."

"Water used by bighorn sheep during the 2011 and 2013 dry seasons and the rainy season and drought of 2015 in the Sierra Santa Isabel of the State of Baja California, Mexico was analyzed for seven physicochemical parameters. At four watering sites, 260 photographs of sheep were obtained. Females, yearlings, and lambs accounted for 73% of the photographs. In the rainy season at two watering sites, conductivity was 1.31 µS/cm2 and 1.92 µS/cm2 and total dissolved solids was 0.65 and 0.95 ppt, indicating low salt content and safe for bighorn sheep. The watering sites with greater use by bighorn sheep were El Zamora (n = 120) and El Cordero (n = 67), which also had the best water quality. The frequent use by females and yearlings of the two sites with optimal water quality support the belief that watering sites for lambing and recruitment of bighorn sheep is important."

Baja California, borrego cimarrón, calidad del agua, cámaras trampa. Baja California, bighorn sheep, water quality, camera traps. BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA BIOLOGÍA ANIMAL (ZOOLOGÍA) MAMÍFEROS MAMÍFEROS

Whole-genome comparison between reference sequences and oyster Vibrio vulnificus C-genotype strains

CARLOS ABRAHAM GUERRERO RUIZ (2019, [Artículo])

Whole-genome sequences of Vibrio vulnificus clinical genotype (C-genotype) from the CICESE Culture Collection, isolated from oysters, were compared with reference sequences of CMCP6 and YJ016 V. vulnificus C-genotype strains of clinical origin. The RAST web server estimated the whole genome to be ~4.8 Mb in CICESE strain 316 and ~4.7 Mb in CICESE strain 325. No plasmids were detected in the CICESE strains. Based on a phylogenetic tree that was constructed with the whole-genome results, we observed high similarity between the reference sequences and oyster C-genotype isolates and a sharp contrast with environmental genotype (E-genotype) reference sequences, indicating that the differences between the C- and E-genotypes do not necessarily correspond to their isolation origin. The CICESE strains share 3488 genes (63.2%) with the YJ016 strain and 3500 genes (63.9%) with the CMCP6 strain. A total of 237 pathogenicity associated genes were selected from reference clinical strains, where—92 genes were from CMCP6, 126 genes from YJ016, and 19 from MO6-24/ O; the presence or absence of these genes was recorded for the CICESE strains. Of the 92 genes that were selected for CMCP6, 67 were present in both CICESE strains, as were as 86 of the 126 YJ016 genes and 13 of the 19 MO6-24/O genes. The detection of elements that are related to virulence in CICESE strains—such as the RTX gene cluster, vvhA and vvpE, the type IV pili cluster, the XII genomic island, and the viuB genes, suggests that environmental isolates with the C-genotype, have significant potential for infection. © 2019 Guerrero et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Article, bacterial gene, bacterial strain, bacterial virulence, comparative study, controlled study, gene cluster, gene identification, genomic island, genotype, nonhuman, phylogenetic tree, sequence analysis, strain identification, Vibrio vulnificus BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA GENÉTICA GENÉTICA

Contrasting spatial patterns in active-fire and fire-suppressed mediterranean climate old-growth mixed conifer forests

Danny L. Fry  (2014, [Artículo])

In Mediterranean environments in western North America, historic fire regimes in frequent-fire conifer forests are highly variable both temporally and spatially. This complexity influenced forest structure and spatial patterns, but some of this diversity has been lost due to anthropogenic disruption of ecosystem processes, including fire. Information from reference forest sites can help management efforts to restore forests conditions that may be more resilient to future changes in disturbance regimes and climate. In this study, we characterize tree spatial patterns using four-ha stem maps from four old-growth, Jeffrey pine-mixed conifer forests, two with active-fire regimes in northwestern Mexico and two that experienced fire exclusion in the southern Sierra Nevada. Most of the trees were in patches, averaging six to 11 trees per patch at 0.007 to 0.014 ha-1, and occupied 27-46% of the study areas. Average canopy gap sizes (0.04 ha) covering 11-20% of the area were not significantly different among sites. The putative main effects of fire exclusion were higher densities of single trees in smaller size classes, larger proportion of trees (≥56%) in large patches (≥10 trees), and decreases in spatial complexity. While a homogenization of forest structure has been a typical result from fire exclusion, some similarities in patch, single tree, and gap attributes were maintained at these sites. These within-stand descriptions provide spatially relevant benchmarks from which to manage for structural heterogeneity in frequent-fire forest types.

article, climate, controlled study, ecosystem fire history, forest structure, geographic distribution, geographic mapping, land use, mathematical computing, mathematical model, Mexico, spatial analysis, taiga, United States, comparative study, conife CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

Effects of geostrophic kinetic energy on the distribution of mesopelagic fish larvae in the southern Gulf of California in summer/fall stratified seasons

FERNANDO CONTRERAS CATALA (2016, [Artículo])

Effects of geostrophic kinetic energy flux on the three-dimensional distribution of fish larvae of mesopelagic species (Vinciguerria lucetia, Diogenichthys laternatus, Benthosema panamense and Triphoturus mexicanus) in the southern Gulf of California during summer and fall seasons of stronger stratification were analyzed. The greatest larval abundance was found at sampling stations in geostrophic kinetic energy-poor areas (<7.5 J/m3), where the distribution of the dominant species tended to be stratified. Larvae of V. lucetia (average abundance of 318 larvae/10m2) and B. panamense (174 larvae/10m2) were mostly located in and above the pycnocline (typically ∼ 40 m depth). In contrast, larvae of D. laternatus (60 larvae/10m2) were mainly located in and below the pycnocline. On the other hand, in sampling stations from geostrophic kinetic energy-rich areas (> 21 J/m3), where mesoscale eddies were present, the larvae of the dominant species had low abundance and were spread more evenly through the water column, in spite of the water column stratification. For example, in a cyclonic eddy, V. lucetia larvae (34 larvae/10m2) extended their distribution to, at least, the limit of sampling 200 m depth below the pycnocline, while D. laternatus larvae (29 larvae/10m2) were found right up to the surface, both probably as a consequence mixing and secondary circulation in the eddy. Results showed that the level of the geostrophic kinetic energy flux affects the abundance and the three-dimensional distribution of mesopelagic fish larvae during the seasons of stronger stratification, indicating that areas with low geostrophic kinetic energy may be advantageous for feeding and development of mesopelagic fish larvae because of greater water column stability. © 2016 Contreras-Catala et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Article, autumn, Benthosema panamense, Diogenichthys laternatus, environmental factor, environmental parameters, fish, geographic distribution, geostrophic kinetic energy, hydrography, larva, nonhuman, population abundance, population dispersion, pop CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA Y DEL ESPACIO OCEANOGRAFÍA OCEANOGRAFÍA

Maintenance of Coastal Surface Blooms by Surface Temperature Stratification and Wind Drift

MARY CARMEN RUIZ DE LA TORRE (2013, [Artículo])

Algae blooms are an increasingly recurrent phenomenon of potentially socio-economic impact in coastal waters globally and in the coastal upwelling region off northern Baja California, Mexico. In coastal upwelling areas the diurnal wind pattern is directed towards the coast during the day. We regularly found positive Near Surface Temperature Stratification (NSTS), the resulting density stratification is expected to reduce the frictional coupling of the surface layer from deeper waters and allow for its more efficient wind transport. We propose that the net transport of the top layer of approximately 2.7 kilometers per day towards the coast helps maintain surface blooms of slow growing dinoflagellate such as Lingulodinium polyedrum. We measured: near surface stratification with a free-rising CTD profiler, trajectories of drifter buoys with attached thermographs, wind speed and direction, velocity profiles via an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, Chlorophyll and cell concentration from water samples and vertical migration using sediment traps. The ADCP and drifter data agree and show noticeable current shear within the first meters of the surface where temperature stratification and high cell densities of L. polyedrum were found during the day. Drifters with 1m depth drogue moved towards the shore, whereas drifters at 3 and 5 m depth showed trajectories parallel or away from shore. A small part of the surface population migrated down to the sea floor during night thus reducing horizontal dispersion. The persistent transport of the surface bloom population towards shore should help maintain the bloom in favorable environmental conditions with high nutrients, but also increasing the potential socioeconomic impact of the blooms. The coast wise transport is not limited to blooms but includes all dissolved and particulate constituents in surface waters. © 2013 Ruiz-de la Torre et al.

chlorophyll, algal bloom, article, cell count, cell density, coastal waters, controlled study, dinoflagellate, Lingulodinium polyedrum, meteorological phenomena, Mexico, near surface temperature stratification, nonhuman, nutrient concentration, popul CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA Y DEL ESPACIO OCEANOGRAFÍA OCEANOGRAFÍA

Genetic analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3:K6 strains that have been isolated in Mexico since 1998

CARLOS ABRAHAM GUERRERO RUIZ (2017, [Artículo])

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important human pathogen that has been isolated worldwide from clinical cases, most of which have been associated with seafood consumption. Environmental and clinical toxigenic strains of V. parahaemolyticus that were isolated in Mexico from 1998 to 2012, including those from the only outbreak that has been reported in this country, were characterized genetically to assess the presence of the O3:K6 pandemic clone, and their genetic relationship to strains that are related to the pandemic clonal complex (CC3). Pathogenic tdh+ and tdh+/trh+ strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Also, the entire genome of a Mexican O3:K6 strain was sequenced. Most of the strains were tdh/ORF8-positive and corresponded to the O3:K6 serotype. By PFGE and MLST, there was very close genetic relationship between ORF8/O3:K6 strains, and very high genetic diversities from non-pandemic strains. The genetic relationship is very close among O3:K6 strains that were isolated in Mexico and sequences that were available for strains in the CC3, based on the PubMLST database. The whole-genome sequence of CICESE-170 strain had high similarity with that of the reference RIMD 2210633 strain, and harbored 7 pathogenicity islands, including the 4 that denote O3:K6 pandemic strains. These results indicate that pandemic strains that have been isolated in Mexico show very close genetic relationship among them and with those isolated worldwide. © 2017 Guerrero et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Article, bacterial strain, biofouling, controlled study, Crassostrea, food intake, gene sequence, genetic analysis, genetic variability, Japan, Mexican, Mexico, molecular phylogeny, nonhuman, pandemic, pathogenicity island, sea food, serotyping, toxi BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA GENÉTICA GENÉTICA