Héctor A. González-Ocampo

Perceptions of fishers to sea turtle bycatch, illegal capture and consumption in the San Ignacio-Navachiste-Macapule lagoon complex, Gulf of California, Mexico.

In this study, 10% of all registered fishermen in the coastal towns of Navachiste in Sinaloa, in northwestern Mexico, answered a survey designed to collect data on their perceptions of the following topics: the impact of turtle meat consumption; human health; bycatch; illegal turtle fishing; the illegal sea turtle market; the local economy; pollution; environmental education; the success of protective legislation; and sea turtle-based ecotourism. Perceptions were analyzed using the fuzzy logic method through classification into 5 fuzzy membership sets: VL, very low; L, low; M, moderate; H, high; VH, very high. The 9 topics generated decision areas upon applying fuzzy inference that revealed the membership level of the answers in each fuzzy set. The economic potential of sea turtle-based ecotourism and the economic profitability of the illegal turtle meat market were perceived as VL. Conservation legislation was perceived as H, although inefficiently applied due to corruption. Ecotourism and impacts on sea turtles were perceived as VL, because they were deemed unprofitable activities at the individual and community levels. Environmental education was perceived as L, because it centers on nesting, hatching and releasing turtles and is directed at elementary and middle-school students. While fishers perceive a serious negative impact of fishing activities on sea turtles in the San Ignacio-Navachiste-Macapule area, they do not see themselves individually as part of the problem. Achieving sea turtle conservation in this region requires: suitable ecotourism infrastructure, government investments in promotion, and studies to estimate the minimum number of tourists needed to assure profitability.

Erosivity indicators based on rainfall in Northwestern Mexico

AbstractThis study is motivated by the problem of erosivity (R), exacervated in semiarid zones by intense seasonal storms. The purpose was to estimate the spatial variation of R in a coastal area covering 37500 km2 which is one of the most important agricultural areas in northwestern Mexico. Four methods were used. Rainfall data from 11 SMN-CONAGUA weather stations (from 1966 to 2013) were used to calculate R. The annual average R1 was 1181.08, and R2 was 1084.51 MJ mm ha–1 h–1 with ranges of 2.35–5220.55 and 2.93–4711.38 MJ mm ha–1 h–1. Statistical tests showed that a transformation of the data of the form y = log (x), was appropriate for an ANOVA analysis of the data. The value of the test statistic was F = 1.77 with p = 0.149, showing interdependence between the indicators P (α = 0.05). The values of the correlation coefficients for the data were P vs. R1 = 0.96, P vs. R2 = 0.99, P vs. AIm = 0.98, P vs. MFI = 0.99. The classification of risk in this region showed that 2017.5 km2 of the study area was a...

Human health risk assessment of pesticide residues in snappers (Lutjanus) fish from the Navachiste Lagoon complex, Mexico

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) residues were determined in fillets of Lutjanus colorado, L. argentiventris, and L. novemfasciatus. Fillet samples were collected bimonthly from February 2012 to February 2013. OCPs average concentrations do not differ significantly according to size, weight, or season, nor do they relate with the physico-chemical parameters of the sea water. The highest concentration and most frequently encountered OCPs were endosulfan sulfate, δ-HCH, and heptachlor epoxide, which indicates their use in the recent past and confirms their persistence. Average concentrations of ∑HCHs, ∑chlordane, and ∑heptachlor in samples were above cancer MRLs according to data from monthly consumed portions. HCHs and heptachlor are listed in Appendix III of the Rotterdam Convention of chemicals placed on a prior informed consent procedure for import and export purposes; they are considered illegal in Mexico. The OCPs concentrations above cancer MRLs in Lutjanus spp. turn its frequent consumption into a human health risk.

Effect of Pediococcus sp., Pediococcus pentosaceus, inulin and fulvic acid, added to the diet, on growth of Oreochromis niloticus

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from the intestine of Oreochromis niloticus and its effect, along with that of inulin and fulvic acid, on growth of the same species was determined. Characterization of the isolates was performed through assessing the Gram stain, morphology, cell arrangement, hemolytic activity, antagonism, growth, hydrophobicity, extracellular enzyme activity, and counting of colony forming units (CFU), to select those microorganisms with probiotic potential. The selected isolates were identified at the molecular level by the amplification of 23S and 5S ribosomal genes. Treatments were performed in triplicate in plastic tanks with 600 l of filtered fresh water and 12 fish per tank (1.3 ± 0.12 g):

Applying Fuzzy Logic to Assess Human Perception in Relation to Conservation Plan Efficiency Measures Within a Biosphere Reserve

The objective of this study is to present an efficiency-perception impact assessment based upon the integration of fuzzy logic (FL) of the “Productive Reconversion” conservation program (PRP) instituted by the Mexican government, in the upper Gulf of California and the Colorado Delta Biosphere Reserve. This approach enables environmental analysts to deal with the intrinsic imprecision and ambiguity associated with people’s judgments and conclusions. The application of FL to the assessment of program efficiency is illustrated in this work, demonstrating how subjective perceptions can be converted into quantitative values easy to evaluate during the decision-making process.

Carbon Sequestration of Caesalpinia platyloba S. Watt (Leguminosae) (Lott 1985) in the Tropical Deciduous Forest

Caesalpinia platyloba was evaluated as an alternative for the retention of atmospheric carbon and as a feasible and viable economic activity in terms of income for tropical deciduous forest (TDF) peasants in the carbon markets. A total of 110 trees of C. platyloba from plantations and a TDF in the Northwest of Mexico were sampled. Growth (increase in height, diameter, and volume curves) was adjusted to assess their growth. Growth of individuals (height, diameter at breast height [DBH], age, and tree crown cover) was recorded. The Schumacher model (H = β 0 e β1•E-1), by means of the guided curve method, was used to adjust growth models. Information analysis was made through the non-linear procedure with the multivariate secant or false position (DUD) method using the SAS software. Growth and increase models revealed acceptable adjustments (pseudo R2>0.8). C. platyloba reaches >8m of height with 12cm in diameter and 550cm3 of volume, presenting the highest increase at 11 years considered as basal age. Highest significant density of wood was in good quality sites (0.80g•cm-3), with a carbon content (average of 99.15tC•ha-1) at the highest density of 2500 trees•ha-1 (without thinning). Average incomes of US

Phytochemical characterization and antioxidant properties of the wild edible acerola Malpighia umbellata Rose

483.33tC•ha-1 are expected. The profitability values (NPW = US

[RETRACTED ARTICLE]Teleconnections atmospheric-oceanic (Pacific and Atlantic oceans) modulating the wet and dry summers in the Core North American Monsoon

81,646.65, IRR = 472%, and B/C = 0.82) for C. platyloba make its cultivation a viable and profitable activity, considering a management scheme of the income derived from wood selling and from carbon credits.

Teleconnections atmospheric-oceanic (Pacific and Atlantic oceans) modulating the wet and dry summers in the Core North American Monsoon

ABSTRACT The objective of the current study was to determine the phenolic composition and carotenoid contents of leaves, bark, and fruits of Malpighia umbellata, assess the changes in the phenolic composition and contents of carotenoids and vitamin C of its fruits in different stages of maturity, and evaluate the antioxidant properties of its leaves, bark, and fruits. Leaves accumulated the highest levels of flavonoids (10.55 mg/g dry extract), tannins (21.16 mg/g dry extract), and carotenoids (424 63 µg/g dry tissue); whereas, the highest level of total phenolics was found in bark (47.12 mg/g dry extract). The vitamin C content decreased with the maturity of fruits. Twenty-two phenolics were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Apigenin-7-O-glycosides, phenolic acids, and flavonols were predominant in leaves, bark, and fruits, respectively. Important chemical variations were found during fruit ripening. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) scavenging activity and 2,2ʹ-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) inhibition assays revealed important antioxidant properties for this acerola.

[ARTÍCULO RETRACTADO]Teleconexiones atmosféricas-oceánicas (océanos Pacífico y Atlántico) moduladoras de veranos húmedos y secos en el Núcleo del Monzón de Norte América

In recent decades, irregular rainfall has evidenced a number of adverse environmental and socioeconomic effects worldwide. The goal of this study was to analyze the ability of four Regional Climatic Models (RCMs) forced by ERA-Interim to capture the humid and dry extreme monsoons in the Core North American Monsoon (CNAM), considering the oceanic mechanisms of the Pacific and Atlantic. From available databases in the network and for the period 1990-2008, we obtained: 1) average observations (obs mean); after obtaining four sets of observed precipitation data: UDel, CLICOM, GPCP and CRU, 2) from the Coordinated Regional Scale Reduction Experiment (CORDEX) -of North America (NA), four RCMs were obtained forced by ERA-Interim, 3) number and intensity of Pacific hurricanes, and 4) calculation of Caribbean Low Level Jet (CLLJ) anomalies, the Filtered Variance (VF), the Decadal Pacific Oscillation (PDO) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Two extreme monsoons were selected: one wet (1990) and one dry (2005). To all the data, they were applied the test of normality of Shapiro Wilk. It was calculated a Pearson correlation and a hypothesis test, with a confidence level of 95% (P<0.05) and 99% (P<0.01) between the models, Era-Interim, the observations and oceanic indexes. Regardless of the oceanic indexes, HadGEM3-RA and ERA-Interim were the that better captured precipitation in wet monsoons; And ERA-Interim and Reg1 proved to be better at capturing precipitation for dry monsoons. The 1990 monsoon presented almost twice as much precipitation as the monsoon of 2005. This wet anomaly could be associated with the occurrence of 16 hurricanes near the Gulf of California by 1990, since in 2005, only 7 hurricanes occurred. VF and CLLJ are inversely proportional and are two significant predictors of wet monsoons in the CNAM. ERA-Interim better captures precipitation in extreme wet years. PDO, was significantly and negatively correlated with REMO (Pr = -0.90) and CLLJ (Pr = -0.90), that is to say, REMO has no ability to capture dry monsoons that occur when -PDO (La Niña) and -CLLJ (La Niña) [A RT ÍC UL O RE TR AC TA DO ] Llanes Cárdenas, Omar et al. Nova Scientia, No 19, Vol. 9 (2), 2017. ISSN 2007 – 0705, pp.: 348-371 351 phases are present. The dry events are significantly associated with the occurrence of -PDO (La Niña) phase anomalies and not with the occurrence of -CLLJ (La Niña) phase anomalies. This methodology is an effective alternative to predict extreme hydroclimatic events in CNAM, especially when there is no data from weather stations.