Sofía Ortega García

Analysis of sportfishing catch rates of striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) at Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, and their relation to sea surface temperature

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is the main sportfishing location for striped marlin, with a mean annual catch rate of 0.6 fish per fishing trip. In the present study, the interannual and seasonal variation of sportfishing catch rates from 1990 to 1999, and their relationship to mean monthly sea surface temperatures were analysed. Although interannual variation was not significant, the seasonal effect showed significant differences, with highest average catch rates in winter, and lowest catch rates in summer (0.9 and 0.3 respectively). An interannual significant difference with a decreasing tendency was in length analysis. Significant length and weight differences were found between males and females. Among females, the heaviest fish were recorded during spring. A significant relationship between catch rate and sea surface temperature (r = –0.62) was found, but no significant changes of catch rates could be measured during the 1992–1993 and 1997–1998 El Nino Southern Oscillation events, in spite of an apparent catch rate increase during the spring of 1998. Highest catch rates were recorded at between 22 and 24°C.

Reproductive dynamics of the common dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus in the southern Gulf of California

Abstract In this study we investigate the reproductive dynamics of the common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), using gonads obtained from four locations in Baja California Sur. From August 2004 to November 2006, 2839 dolphinfish were collected (1399 males and 1440 females), ranging in size from 42 to 155 cm fork length (FL). The sampling revealed a marked seasonality in abundance with 65% of samples obtained in summer–autumn. Histological analyses of 320 gonads (84 males and 236 females) showed maximal reproductive activity during the months of increased abundance, which coincided with increased sea surface temperatures (28–30°C). No immature individuals were sampled and individuals of both sexes were shown to have advanced reproductive activities. Ovarian development showed different kinds of oocytes, indicating that dolphinfish have asynchronous gonadal development. The low gonadosomatic indices were attributed to post-spawning individuals sampled from August to October. Mean batch fecundity (number of oocytes) estimated for 24 females was 279,383. The sex ratio for the analysed period did not differ significantly from 1:1.02 (P>0.05). It was determined that 50% of all individuals reached maturity at an average length of 80 cm FL. Using reproductive indicators it was determined that the season of maximum reproduction for dolphinfish in the southern Gulf of California occurs mainly during the second half of the year, in the warm months of summer–autumn.Abstract In this study we investigate the reproductive dynamics of the common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), using gonads obtained from four locations in Baja California Sur. From August 2004 to November 2006, 2839 dolphinfish were collected (1399 males and 1440 females), ranging in size from 42 to 155 cm fork length (FL). The sampling revealed a marked seasonality in abundance with 65% of samples obtained in summer–autumn. Histological analyses of 320 gonads (84 males and 236 females) showed maximal reproductive activity during the months of increased abundance, which coincided with increased sea surface temperatures (28–30°C). No immature individuals were sampled and individuals of both sexes were shown to have advanced reproductive activities. Ovarian development showed different kinds of oocytes, indicating that dolphinfish have asynchronous gonadal development. The low gonadosomatic indices were attributed to post-spawning individuals sampled from August to October. Mean batch fecundity (number o...

Basic and Clinical Approaches for Fertility Preservation and Restoration in Cancer Patients

As gonadotoxic adverse effects of antineoplastic treatments can result in infertility, gamete cryopreservation is routinely offered to patients as the strategy to preserve their fertility. However, there are many cases where gold standards cannot be applied, as is the case for prepubertal cancer patients and others unable to produce gametes or their precursors at the moment of diagnosis. With an increasing number of cancer survivors in our society, strategies using either cryopreserved gonadal tissue or stem cells have been developed to allow cancer survivors to achieve fatherhood, and recent advances in the field have increased public interest. In this review, we discuss the latest updates in fertility preservation from a basic and a clinical point of view.