Connecting people and marine ecosystems through science
Five Years 2010- 2014
Connecting people and marine ecosystems through science
Presentation Exequiel Ezcurra In science, each generation has its own dexterities, its own set of research skills that we develop with, and within, our own time. In year 2005, I met Octavio Aburto for the first time. He was a young student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and I was immediately captivated by his skills and the tools he could use for field research. Octavio could handle digital media in ways I never imagined could be done, and use them for his research: photograph, video, monitoring devices, dataloggers, satellite sensors, field tagging equipment, all were within his realm. He also had a commitment for, and a focus on, the Gulf of California, a passion that was all too familiar for me. We rapidly established a symbiotic alliance in which we both brought our particular abilities into a larger collaborative program. We pledged to do our best efforts to bring our joint capacities to a new level by using science—good science, based on hard data and rigorous interpretation—to influence the sphere of decision making. After a few years of working together with the help and collaboration of the inimitable Brad Erisman, we decided to bring this de facto alliance to a new level by creating the Gulf of California Marine Program. Through this program, we have fought many battles together, and we have many scars to show, but the list of successes, viewed after five years, is quite impressive. Mangroves in Mexico are legally protected, despite the myriad efforts to topple the regulation that protects them; the marine park of Cabo Pulmo has become one of the most successful conservation stories in the world; the mountains and oases of the Sierra de la Giganta are listed to become the next large protected area in Mexico; papers have been published in the most prestigious journals describing the complex relationship between forage fish, seabirds, and warming oceans, calling for a better management of our fisheries; new monitoring techniques to understand large scale environmental change in rocky reefs have been developed and are now in use. The list of academic breakthroughs goes on and on, but perhaps the most important aspect of the Gulf of California Marine Program does not lie in its outstanding academic productivity but in its ability to bring research discussions to the public arena. The program has become a major element in the national discussions in Mexico on the sustainable and viable future of the nation. Using modern media, passionate outreach, and non-traditional modes of dissemination, the program has shown that science can make a difference in the destiny of a society. With an impressive team of young and committed scientists brimming with innovative ideas that transcend the boundaries of traditional science and disciplinary research, I am sure this group will continue making a huge difference in the sustainability debate in northwestern Mexico, bringing with their example the certainty that a hopeful destiny can be created for this incredible region in which its future prosperity can match the grandeur of its natural environment.
Collaborators:
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Octavio Aburto-Oropeza It seems like only yesterday when Dr. Ezcurra and I met with Dr. Jeremy Jackson, director in 2008 of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, in a small cafeteria in La Jolla, California. The proposal was to create and organize research activities in Mexico, linked to the efforts the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has carried out for decades. Our first idea was to create a “trans-border” team dedicated to science, management, and public policy with regards to the conservation of natural resources. We drafted a short pamphlet and included photographs of the region. Private donors interested in projects that we proposed began to look favorably on the potential of these projects. The first project, which would highlight the importance of reproductive aggregations of fish for fisheries management and was led by the recently graduated Dr. Brad Erisman, received support for a year. Very soon, we received support to estimate the value of the environmental services of mangroves for the region’s fisheries; the results of which were not only published in a prestigious scientific journal, they were also key in passing a reform on the legislation on mangroves in Mexico. In 2010, collaborators and donors helped us carry out a strategic plan to consolidate the group that was being formed. That is how the Gulf of California Marine Program began, a consortium of academic institutions dedicated to demonstrating and promoting an important concept: robust and transparent science, generated with the community’s involvement, is one of the best tools to achieve social change that will contribute to the conservation of natural resources. With this concept in mind, we have worked hard the last five years. The results can be seen on the pages of this short report. With great confidence, and after all that we have created, I believe that our team is prepared for a new adventure. There are lessons learned, but more importantly, there are fresh and innovative ideas that all team members are putting forth and developing. I have no doubt that the science we will carry out in the next five years will have a positive impact on conservation and the use of natural resources in the Gulf of California.
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Gulf of California
Marine Program
The Gulf of California Marine Program (GCMP) first began to take form back in 2008 when Drs. Exequiel Ezcurra and Octavio AburtoOropeza began to discuss how scientists working in the Gulf of California (GOC), Mexico could collaborate in order to tackle the ever-growing research needs in the area.
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Seven years later, the GCMP has grown immensely and is now composed of a group of multidisciplinary researchers, students, and professionals interested in conservation and research in the GOC. Although most of the team calls the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) home, the GCMP also encompasses the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UCMEXUS), the University of Texas, and El Centro para la Biodiversidad Marina y la Conservación A.C. (CBMC) in La Paz. In addition to the large outreach and media component of the program, collaborating members contribute a wealth of knowledge to understanding the Gulf from marine biology and oceanography to genetics, socio-economics, and environmental modeling. GCMP’s main activities occur in the Upper Gulf of California, La Paz Bay, the Cape area (containing Cabo San Lucas and Cabo Pulmo), and Punta Abreojos and Magdalena Bay on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur. The group approaches conservation in these areas in an interdisciplinary manner, targeting the generation and dissemination of scientific information to positively influence resource management and conservation. High quality data encompassing marine ecology, taxonomy, and biodiversity as well as fisheries science, socioeconomics, marine spatial planning, and climate change is collected and analyzed from scientific, economic, and political perspectives. GCMP ultimately aims to synthesize knowledge pertaining to the conservation of the region, emphasize the science behind marine ecosystems, and promote policies that support sustainability in the GOC.
Partners:
Ezcurra Lab
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Mission What distinguishes GCMP from similar organizations is how it emphasizes and prioritizes the local community.
The mission of the Gulf of California Marine Program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is to produce robust, objective scientific information that builds a comprehensive understanding of connections between marine
ecosystems and human-use activities in the Gulf of California. This knowledge helps inform current and future management and conservation issues in the region.
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Core Values
1 Conduct objective scientific research that is not influenced or driven by a specific agenda of any government institution, conservation organization, or user group.
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3
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Produce robust and credible scientific products that target policy and management needs of the GOC.
Collaborate with regional universities, organizations, and local communities to build capacity in the region and participate in forums to share knowledge.
Share data and information with local and regional stakeholders in a manner that ensures its effective use for policy and management.
Pursue scientific endeavors that inspire current and future scientists to further coastal and marine science while encouraging innovation.
Citizen Science
Community Involvement
Data Sharing
Data Accessibility & Transparency
Science Communications
Making Science Engaging
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Unique From involving the general public in Citizen Science
GCMP heavily invests in forging relationships with the community: it engages with the public and communicates science in innovative ways.
Programs to providing publicly accessible data through dataMares, GCMP collaborates with groups at all levels and collects robust data to act as the basis for effective marine management in the GOC. GCMP considers not only the biological and ecological components, but also the social and economic perspectives. Information is processed and always presented directly to the stakeholders involved who can benefit from it. As part of an academic institution, GCMP maintains the
capacity to conduct substantial, unbiased research to connect with both governments and people when addressing present and future conservation issues. 8
Top: Jaime Rojo helped document the abundance of marine resources in Bahia de los Angeles in order to show the relationship local communities have with the ocean. Bottom left: Fishing provides cultural identity to the Cucapa and also provides income to the Cucapa. As the curvina golfina (Cynoscion othonopterus) swims into the Colorado River to spawn every spring, entire families come together to take part in this tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Bottom right: This pink truck is one of many who wait on the beach for boats to return from their fishing trips in Golfo ade Santa Clara.
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Community Cabo Pulmo, a marine protected area
What distinguishes GCMP from like organizations is how it emphasizes and prioritizes the local community.
and national park is a world renowned success story of community-lead marine management. A switch from fishing to tourism has both strengthened the bond between the local community and marine ecosystem as well as produce a thriving and
sustainable local economy. As much as sites like Cabo Pulmo mean to the thousands of tourists that pass through them, the environment means much more to the locals who grow up with and rely on the region and its resources. In Magdalena Bay, on the Pacific coast, Juan Castro Montaño, a local fisherman, described the underwater seascape as “a natural garden, tended by the hand of God”. He feels joy at the thought of
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what once was, but is now deeply concerned by the evident destruction that overexploitation from fishing has done in the region. Andrés Rubio, from San Felipe, in the Upper GOC, believed the vaquita marina and the totoaba could be protected through sound fisheries management if only fishermen and scientists would work together in order to document the complex web of activities in the area. Both Montaño and Rubio’s words highlight the importance of community involvement in science and conservation, and illustrate the bond between local residents and their natural surroundings. GCMP strives to nurture this relationship, and aims to incorporate community-driven conservation with scientific collaboration in every one of its numerous projects. Chronicling GCMP’s experiences in the field since 2011, the GCMP Blog is a series of short essays that brings interviews and field experience to readers everywhere, telling stories from both a scientific and community perspective. From posts describing the history of communities where GCMP undertakes research, to posts featuring Local Heroes, the blog posts are written not only for outsiders to learn about GCMP’s work, but for our local partners to connect with our researchers. Our series “Rostros del Golfo” (“Faces of the Gulf”) was particularly popular since it introduced separate members of GCMP and also featured local partners. This resulted in many new collaborations for the group, a number of which are still active today. GCMP members work to establish a bond with all generations within each of its collaborating communities: older members have a plethora of knowledge that often greatly facilitates the group’s research; the middle working generations provide support and know-how during research activities; the young generations represent the future that carry the baton for future conservation success. By including all age groups, GCMP aims to change local mindsets and improve the local community’s understanding of the environment, generating change in the actions of today and tomorrow.
Fishermen in Marisman Nacionales head out at night to fish for shrimp using light to attract them. This is a valuable resource in the area and provides income to local communities.
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The Region and its Issues
The GOC does much more than host a large
Policy makers, resource users and conservation groups may not have access to current data and information.
variety of species and ecosystems: it also provides a plethora of ecological services to humans. These include, but are not limited to, carbon sequestration, food supply, and storm protection. Historically, despite the services received, humans have developed a destructive relationship with the ocean —byproducts from
anthropogenic activities, such as pollution, climate change, and overfishing, greatly threaten the region. Currently, coastal and marine policy are primarily determined by politics and economics rather than science.
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Local policy makers, resource users, and conservation groups often do not have access to current data and information in the areas in which they work. As such, it is incredibly difficult to make fully informed, objective, legislative decisions that best benefit the ecosystems as well as the region’s communities. The GCMP aims to aid this situation by collating and providing open access data for all working in the region, allowing for more informed decisions to take place.
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P = resulted in publication, see pg 49
1998
Established
2002
Data used as part of the first Gulfwide environmental assessment
2006
First baseline study in Revillagigedo Archipelago
2009
Estimate of the recovery of fish biomass in Cabo Pulmo P
Ecological Monitoring Distinguishing anthropogenic change from
GCMP conducts annual surveys to map the changes in the structure, function, and overall health of the marine ecosystems.
natural trends in the environment is challenging to accomplish and even more difficult to quantify. To overcome this obstacle, GCMP conducts multiple surveys annually to map the changes in the structure, function, and overall health of the marine ecosystems in the GOC. GCMP quantitatively measures changes in fishes
and invertebrates of mangroves, fishery regions, Sargassums beds, seamounts, and other coastal habitats. Trends in these populations are continually analyzed to better unravel the complex human-environment
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2011
2012
1st annual training workshop certifying students for underwater monitoring surveys
Established public access to monitoring data via gocmarineprogram.org
2013
Used ecMonitor to automatically synchronize data with dataMares as monitoring is happening P
2014
Index to assess the health of the rocky reefs formulated and published P
interactions within the region. Patterns in diversity, density, size, and biomass of species indicate which sites fulfill larger ecological roles and demand greater protection or improved management. With the use of geographic information systems (GIS), GCMP has modeled biodiversity and located areas of greater heterogeneity. The health of monitored rocky reef sites is analyzed using GCMP’s “reef health index”, which measures differences in species numbers of reef inhabitants. Armed with these tools, GCMP is able to gauge the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), identify key sites that play critical roles in species’ life cycles, and better identify signs of overexploitation. All results are shared with other organizations and stakeholders operating in the region to strengthen collaborations.
2 million
425
organisms counted
total species recorded
7,804 transects
53
students
1,248
trained from 2011-2014 hours underwater
251
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institutions participating
rocky reefs monitored
1,198,600 m2 surveyed (or the area of 266 soccer fields) = 10 fields
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P = resulted in publication, see pg 49
2009
Established in Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora, with the gulf corvina fishery P
Trained locals in Golfo de Santa Clara to collect biometrics of fish and upload fishery data to online platforms
2010
GCMP became a member of Established research initiatives in Punta Abreojos, the Curvina Technical Group Baja California Sur
Citizen Science
2011
Established research initiatives in La Paz, Baja California Sur
2012
Trained locals in San Felipe to collect biometrics of fish and upload fishery data to online platforms
Established research initiatives in Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur
2013
Engaged with sport fishing locals to begin collecting fisheries data in Punta Abreojos cont. on page 18
FAST FACTS:
5,274
13 FISHING TRIPS MONITORED
SPECIES RECORDED FROM
3
3,500 TONS MONITORED
COMMUNITIES
It is no secret that the environment greatly impacts everyone: every local has a stake in what occurs in the Gulf of California.
GCMP firmly believes that the general public should be included in exploration and research. Integrating the public and science is not easily achieved and historically, differences in agendas have hindered relationships between the two. Nonetheless, GCMP recognizes the importance of involving local communities, especially those directly tied to and impacted by fishing. Although local fishermen initially resisted and were hesitant about GCMP’s Citizen Science Program (CSP), they slowly came to understand the goals and concurred that co-responsibly managing marine resources was of the utmost importance. GCMP now maintains a strong partnership with the fishermen and local communities through the CSP in order to collect fisheries, biological,
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2013
Presented Citizen Science Program at: the Int. Conference on Marine Data and Information Systems (Italy); and the Centro Nacional Patagónico (Argentina)
Advised and contributed data to Bren School of Environ. Science & Management Master’s Project on vaquita conservation
GCMP became a member of the Cucapa Advising Committee
cont. from page 17
economic, and spatial data in the Upper Gulf and Bahia Magdalena. This enables the identification and robust analysis of interactions between fishermen and the ocean. By giving hand-held GPS data-logger devices to fishermen, GCMP is able to track their fishing trips and can use this data to map fishing areas and calculate fishing effort. Additionally, non-fisher members of the community are trained by GCMP to collect weight, size, sex, age and maturity data of the fish. By collaborating with fishermen, GCMP is able to discern where fish species spawn, how fishing effort changes throughout the spawning aggregation period and determine the target sizes and ages of the catch to contribute to fisheries management in the GOC. By recruiting the local fisherman not only is valuable data being collected, but the community is understanding their surroundings more and more. The interactions between the community, GCMP, and the environment demonstrates the potential for strong collaboration between science and the public. By expanding GCMP’s perspective to include and consider the local community, the overall value of the research programs increases, both scientifically and socio-economically. CSPs are proving invaluable to the research and sustainable growth of the region.
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2014
Presented CSP at 2nd Annual Latin American Fisheries Fellowship Workshop (La Paz)
Provided first valuation of fisheries in the Upper Gulf of California to help vaquita conservation
Gear testing for vaquita conservation, initiated by fishermen
Citizen Science Program Network:
Citizen Science Program Network:
p r o g r a m
p r o
Cucapá p r o • 1 Fishing Cooperative • Community Team: 2
g r a m
San Felipe, B.C.
El Golfo Santa Clara, Sonora
• • • •
• 5 Fishing Federations • 1 Processing Plant • Community Team: 2
2 Fishing Federations Independent Fishermen (31) 2 Processing Plants Community Team: 2
p r o
Punta Abreojos, B.C.S. • 1 Fishing Federations • 1 Processing Plants • Community Team: 5
Bahía Magdalena, B.C.S. • 5 Fishing Cooperatives • 1 Fishing Federation • Community Team: 3
Academic Institutions
CICESE UABC UABCS UNAM Brown University University of Texas
Espíritu Santo, B.C.S • 1 Fishing Cooperative • Community Team: 2
Government Institutions CONAPESCA SEPESCA-B.C. CRIP-B.C. CRIP-B.C.S. CONANP CEDES CDI-BC
NGOs
Noroeste Sustentable EDF EDF de México WWF-Golfo de California SmartFish Pronatura Noroeste COBI Niparajá
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P = resulted in publication, see pg 49
1995
2008
2011
a Marine National Park
recovery of Cabo Pulmo’s marine life
World’s Most Robust Marine Reserve P
Cabo Pulmo declared
Video sent to IUCN to describe the
Cabo Pulmo
Cabo Pulmo documented as the
2012
2013
Calderón revokes “Cabo Cortés” mega development
covering 7,111 ha and an ocean current study
Mexican President Felipe
Completed bathymetric map
Week-long survey of lands adjacent to
Cabo Pulmo recorded terrestrial biodiversity P
cont. on page 22
FAST FACTS:
1070%
463%
INCREASE IN TOP PREDATOR BIOMASS IN 10 YEARS
INCREASE IN TOTAL FISH BIOMASS IN 10 YEARS
INDIVIDUAL BIGEYE JACKS SPAWN AT CP EVERY YEAR
DOCUMENTARY 1 WINNER FESTIVALS 3 CINEMATOGRAPHY 5 FILM CATEGORIES
10,000
The biodiversity in Cabo Pulmo reigns high and serves as grounds for the study of complex ecosystem interactions within a marine reserve.
The clear waters of Cabo Pulmo are known as an ideal destination for SCUBA and snorkeling activities. However, Cabo Pulmo is more than just a vacation hotspot. Cabo Pulmo is the most successful MPA globally regarding fish biomass — top predator biomass increased by 1070% and total fish biomass grew 463% from 0.75 t ha -1 4.24 t ha-1 between 1999-2009. Designated as a protected area in 1993 under the category of Marine Park, Cabo Pulmo guards spawning aggregations of fish and is an ideal place for studying the effectiveness of MPAs as well as the movements of reef fish. To match the complexity of the region, a multidisciplinary method is utilized for research: acoustically tagging fish to
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2014
2014
2015
Group withdraw Environmental Impact Assessment and encourage future developers to preserve CP
BLUE Film Festival in foreign language category
Nature Film, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival
Glorious Earth Sansong Group and Beijing Int. Trade
Baja’s Secret Miracle won
Baja’s Secret Miracle Best
cont. from page 21
determine fish residency, developing a habitat map of the present species, conducting recreational fishery surveys, and constant dive monitoring all generate valuable information on the park. Bathymetric maps of the region were created October of 2013, providing insights into novel spawning grounds for species like groupers and snappers. Weekly plankton and egg surveys are analyzed with research partners from Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR) to identify species via rapid DNA sequencing. Along with the analysis of the vast ecological factors operating within Cabo Pulmo, GCMP aims to estimate the economic value of the region. Collectively, this knowledge contributes to local and regional marine conservation and management efforts. Every year, up to 10,000 individual bigeye jacks spawn between July and August at Cabo Pulmo, attracting tourists and sport fishers. By directly involving sport fishers and local diving operations in GCMP’s fish tagging program, GCMP further fosters personal and professional relationships between science and the local communities of Cabo Pulmo, Los Barriles and San José del Cabo. Local ecological monitoring has greatly improved over the last four years thanks to the collaborations with local operators. More recently, GCMP researchers have tagged many of the Gulf Groupers inside the park and used passive acoustics to monitor the species in a non-invasive manner. Overall, the data collected and analyzed provides support for the benefits of marine reserves and their effect on the overall health of local ecosystems and neighboring fisheries.
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Top: Morning breaks on a rocky shore in Cabo Pulmo. Middle left: Every year hundreds of mobulas (Mobula monkiana) gather in Cabo Pulmo’s waters to reproduce, displaying impressive acrobatics as they migrate. Middle right: As the marine park’s ecosystems recover, top predators like sharks are coming back, also offering opportunities for economic growth to local dive businesses. Bottom: Rocky shores create microhabitats occupied by intertidal organisms, which in turn provide food source to other species, like this blue heron.
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P = resulted in publication, see pg 49
2010
Gulf corvina data feeds into INAPESCA database and is used in stock assessments and quota management program (still ongoing)
2011
Suggests fisheries in NW Mexico to be managed according to spatial distribution P
2012
Risk assessment and demographic analysis of corvina fishery P
Fisheries
Began collaborations with fishers from Bahia Magdalena, via trackers and engaged with local government in management plans for local resources
Implementation of new corvina catch limit (reduced by 50%)
2013
Standardized methods of biological monitoring techniques with CEDES, CIBNOR, CEDO, EDF de México, INAPESCA and CONAPESCA P cont. on page 26
FAST FACTS: THE WEIGHT OF PEAK CAPTURE YEAR SINCE MONITORING BEGAN (2008) CAPTURE WEIGHT IN ENTIRE GOC: 1.1 BILLION KG OR...
>50
SPECIES
FROM 14 FAMILIES OF FISHES ARE KNOWN TO FORM SPAWNING AGGREGATION IN UPPER GOC
1 ONLY 1 SPECIES PROTECTED (TOTOABA) AND ONLY 1 SPECIES MANAGED (CORVINA) IN UPPER GOC
4
EMPIRE STATE BUILDINGS GOC PRODUCES ABOUT
50% OF MEXICO’S TOTAL FISHERY CATCHES
>460% TOTAL AMOUNT OF FISH IN CP GREW FROM 1999 - 2009
To understand the impact fishing has on marine ecosystems, GCMP aims to describe the complex ecology and food webs within the GOC, illustrating the potential dynamic shifts that take place when specific species are fished without limits.
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2013
Fisheries monitoring program in San Felipe began
Presented results in Mexican Consulate with US and Mexican authorities
CONANP & PROFEPA begin using GCMP corvina data to design management and enforcement programs
2014
Participated in revision of fishery scorecards
Completed first valuation of fisheries in the Upper Gulf of California
cont. from page 25
The GOC alone produces more than 50% of Mexico’s total fishery catch. In 2012, the Mexican Secretariat of Fisheries reported that over 82% of Mexico’s fisheries were fully or over exploited. GCMP tackles this management challenge by calculating, collecting and robustly analyzing data pertaining to the GOC’s fisheries. To better understand the impact of fishing activities, GCMP outlines the ecology and food webs of the regions in detail, illustrating the potential dynamic shifts that take place when specific species are fished out and ecosystems are altered. With its strongest fisheries programs operating mainly in the Upper Gulf and Bahía Magdalena, GCMP formulates risk assessments, demographic and population models, health evaluations, and estimates the economic value of the fisheries. GCMP realizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to fisheries: the overfishing of commercial species has greatly altered ecosystems, economics, and policy throughout history. As such, GCMP works to intertwine and streamline the political, economic, social, and environmental factors surrounding conservation and focuses research on the leopard grouper, barred sand bass, yellow snapper, and gulf corvina fisheries. In order to better evaluate the industry, GCMP not only implements fishery monitoring programs for these fisheries, but also advocates innovative management approaches such as splitting the GOC into eight regions to be managed separately —fishermen being more likely to abide by local management laws tailored to their situation rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach. GCMP has consistently monitored the yellow snapper and leopard grouper fisheries of Los Islotes in order
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to gain insight into the effectiveness of this no-take reserve at Espiritu Santo Island. The team has not only shown this no-take has been ineffective, but has identified the reasons why this management plan has failed. An extensive study involving grouper acoustic tagging conducted in 2012 demonstrated high levels of site fidelity leading GCMP to conclude that decreases in stock were due to fishing activities rather than spatial redistributions of the species. GCMP is currently developing a project tailored to this region to model the connectivity between populations of leopard grouper in the Gulf. Fisheries ecology that involves Citizen Science ensures maximum efficiency in data collection and the implementation of positive change. With fishery landings topping 1.1 billion kilograms in a single year, it is imperative to increase sensitivity and adaptability of fisheries management in the region to avoid the continued unsustainable development of the industry. Though GCMP has lead great strides towards greater conservation, management, and relationships between fishermen and their surroundings, there is still much more to be done.
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P = resulted in publication, see pg 49
2007 2008 Began mangrove project
Estimated $37,500 per hectare in fisheries product P
2009
Study supports new mangrove legislation increasing the protection of mangrove ecosystems
2011
Created first map identifying conservation priorities
2012
Interviewed fishermen about changes in estuary after the opening of Canal de Cuautla P
Mangroves
2013
Took first core sample to estimate carbon sequestration
Estimated the value of Mexican waterfowl wintering habitats for the US waterfowl hunting industry P
2014
Mangrove data collected by CONABIO is directly linked to dataMares
Core sampling continued in mangroves on the Baja California Peninsula, Sinaloa and Nayarit
Natural Numbers episode on mangroves completed and released
FAST FACTS:
1 = 37,500 USD HA
ONE HECTARE OF MANGROVE IN THE GOC ANNUALLY PROVIDES FISHERIES 37,500 USD
1,648 billion USD ANNUAL VALUE OF GLOBAL MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM
THE WEIGHT OF
1 billion kg OF FISH & CRAB COME FROM MANGROVES, EQUAL TO...
2 PYRAMIDS OF GIZA
One hectare of coastal mangrove in the Gulf of California provides 37,500 USD, translating to 1.648 trillion USD per year.
Rich in hydrogen sulfide, mangroves are commonly known to be associated with an unpleasant aroma and thus often regarded as a wasteland. Historically, this view of mangroves has facilitated the replacement of mangroves with housing and business development, but their negative stigma is now lifting. GCMP currently holds data on 125 estuary sites and is investing in the quantification and dissemination of the great benefits of mangroves: they perform critical ecological services such as sequestering carbon, providing nursery grounds for wide varieties of commercially important species, providing timber, preventing the erosion of coastlines, and protecting coastal areas from major storm events. Over 1
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billion kilograms of fish and crab are produced each year by mangroves surrounding the GOC, averaging an annual value of 19 million USD. By sifting through over 54,679 records, and 25 fisheries offices in 5 Mexican states, GCMP has estimated that one hectare of coastal mangrove provides 37,500 USD, translating to 1.648 trillion USD per year. GCMP not only aims to determine and emphasize the economic and ecological importance of mangroves, but also identify and publicize the consequences of losing such a valuable ecosystem. One approach GCMP is taking to realize this goal is measuring the amount of carbon at numerous sites, determining the age and structure of the sediments: GCMP calculates the amount of carbon sequestered and the rate at which the process occurs, which is crucial to understanding mangroves’ role in climate change as carbon dioxide levels continue to climb. After taking vertical cores, GCMP uses carbon-14 dating, total carbon elemental analysis, and microscopy to estimate the age, carbon content, and species make-up of the forest. These data can potentially add to the current value of mangroves and can contribute to protecting and improving the management of this ecosystem. As climate change marches on, it is imperative that we understand the mechanisms and details of carbon uptake—and release—by mangroves.
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Top: The Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) is the only species with prop roots that not only anchor them to the shore, but create a unique ecosystem where many species of invertebrates and fish thrive. Bottom left: Mangrove roots provide protection for juveniles of commercially important species like the yellow snapper. Bottom right: Night herons are commonly spotted feeding on the mud flats surrounding mangrove forests in Baja California.
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2013
CITES approved regulation of trade in
Manta ray and Manta alfredi products
Pilot expedition to
Bahia de Banderas
Manta Rays
Tagging and stable isotope analysis
suggest population structure
2014
Proyecto Manta officially launched
Establishment of field station in
Bahia de Banderas with Instituto Tecnológico de Bahia de Banderas
Confirmed presence of manta
subpopulations in Mexico via genetic techniques and additional tagging
FAST FACTS:
195
50,000+
NUMBER OF DAYS TAG STAYED ON MANTA (LONGEST DOCUMENTED IN GCMP)
MANTA RAYS GENERATE
143 MILLION USD
OCEANOGRAPHIC SAMPLES
GLOBALLY EACH YEAR IN TOURISM REVENUES
- 10 MILLION USD JUST IN MEXICO
There are two subpopulations of mantas in Mexico, one in Bahia de Banderas and one in the Revillagigedo Islands. GCMP tagging data indicates that they are two distinct populations with no connectivity between them.
Oceanic manta ray populations are under increasing, unsustainable fishery pressure in response to growing demand for mobulid gill plates in traditional Chinese medicine. GCMP aims to contribute to the protection of this economically and culturally valuable species’ protection by understanding their population dynamics and developing innovative, regional conservation strategies based on the foundations of good science. Proyecto Manta combines 33
science, conservation, sustainable ecotourism, and capacity building for a holistic approach to marine conservation. It addresses knowledge gaps that are critical in conserving this iconic, yet threatened species. The primary scientific goals of Proyecto Manta are to (1) determine the connectivity of the manta population in Bahia de Banderas with nearby locations such as the Revillagigedo Islands, and more distant hotspots such as Costa Rica, Peru and Indonesia; (2) identify the
Manta presence is likely related to upwelling events and thus with food availability, suggesting Bahia de Banderas is an important location due to its characteristics as a feeding ground.
locations of high-use areas and critical habitats of manta rays in Pacific Mexico; (3) determine seasonal and daily trends in manta abundance and site-use; and (4) identify which oceanographic factors affect manta presence and abundance. In short, GCMP investigates what regions of Pacific Mexico are important habitats for mantas, how they meander throughout the region, and the environmental factors that affect their numbers and presence. GCMP involves local stakeholders at every stage to foster strong and ongoing support for manta conservation. Thus far, GCMP has identified two unique subpopulations and their movement within Mexico, as well as their conservation needs. By working with local institutions and training local students, GCMP is providing an effective long-term solution for manta ray conservation both in Bahia de Banderas and elsewhere in Mexico and Latin America.
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35
P = resulted in publication, see pg 49
1982
2004
2009
and coordinated by Dr. Enriqueta Velarde
fishery catches using seabird ecology P
sardine fishery and seabirds reproductive success
Monitoring established
Predictions of sardine
Interactions between
2011
Marine Stewardship Council certified the GCSF as sustainable despite lack of management plan
Sardines
2012
2013
sardines and Isla Rasa completed and released to the public
fishery declines using seabird diets P
Natural Numbers episode on
Warning of sardine
Revista QUO features the
scientific facts about the importance of sardine populations P
2014
Sardine fishery catches in the
GOC begin to fall dramatically
FAST FACTS:
9.5 billion
50,000+
CATCH (IN KG) IN GOC,1990-2010
50 THOUSAND + VIEWS OF NATURAL NUMBERS VIDEO
5 MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COLLABORATING
Birds nesting in Isla Rasa require 60 tons of sardines daily; the equivalent to the amount a single fishing boat can catch in a single night.
Caught for hundreds of years, the supply of sardines seemed endless. Indeed, the amount of sardines fished easily topped 5 million metric tons during peak years around the world. Known for their schooling disposition and tasty meat, sardines have been largely overfished in various regions and inefficiently used for fish meal and other non-human uses. However, as an important foundation in many food webs, the devastating decrease in sardines has caused a chain reaction that shakes the natural ecological systems on every level. Birds nesting in Isla Rasa alone require 60 tons of sardines daily — equivalent to the amount a single fishing
37
boat can catch in a single night. The Gulf of California Sardine Fishery (GCSF) operates without a Fishing Management Plan while at the same time they proudly boast of their “sustainable� practices. From 19902000, the catch in the region has totaled 9.5 billion kilograms of sardines. With 85% of the total catch used to feed livestock, GOC sardines are a prime example of a marine resource inefficiently used. Ten kilograms of sardines produces only 1 kilogram of chicken: this could be the protein for an average man for
The GCSF has collapsed several times resulting in serious economic crises and the loss of thousands of jobs. People need to be aware of the type of decisions being made when it comes to natural capital use.
178 days. GCMP has brought these statistics to light and increased awareness about effectively utilizing sardines as a resource through publications and social media. Natural Numbers published a sardines video which has generated over 50,000 views and over 350 shares. Data collection on the effect it has on the birds in Rasa Island has since provided insight on the reproduction, diet, and life history of both the species (birds and sardines). With this data, better management of the fishery is on the horizon and public awareness on responsible marine resource use has increased. Sardines act as an example to the world of the resulting devastation when a resource is abused—it reminds the public of the great responsibility they have to the ocean and the damaging consequences that ensue if it is ignored.
38
Fisheries Exploitation Without Strategy 3,000 tons of fish can be caught in one night
50 ships engaged in sardine fishing in the Gulf of California
The Gulf of Mexico
60 tons The Gulf of California 800,000 tons of sardines were captured.
85%
of sardines captured by a fishing boat in one night
In 2008 the maximum catch in sardines was reached.
of the catch is used to produce fishmeal to feed chickens, pigs, cows and fish from hatcheries.
10.5 million tons of sardines were captured in 20 years between 1990 and 2010, according to the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries. A volume that could meet the animal protein needs for the entire population of Mexico for one year.
$
For this capture, the fleet received about $20 million dollars in subsidies for fuel and released more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Subsidizing a fleet of 50 vessels to fish such disproportionate amounts of sardines seems like a misguided use of a marine resource. SOURCE: Revista QUO
2006
First idea with a name “Virtual Gulf”
2009
First meeting with programmers, GIS experts and researchers
data Mares
2011
Construction of dataMares platform begins
2013
Beta version launched
Presented at the Int. Conference on Marine Data and Info Systems (Italy)
“Geospatial and Ecosystem Monitoring” Lab launched at SIO
2014
Exhibited at the Int. Marine Conservation Congress (Scotland)
13 years of CONAPESCA Mexican fisheries landings and 16 years of underwater monitoring data available through dataMares
FAST FACTS:
>3 million
230+ FISHERY RECORDS
FISHERY RESOURCES
4
>3.5 million
GLOBAL IMAGES PER DAY
DATA POINTS
FROM
7
DATABASES
RECEIVES DATA
300,000/yr
NEW DATA POINTS
100/yr
CONAPESCA 20,000/yr
NEW DATA POINTS
TRACKERS
NEW DATA POINTS
PROMONITOR
Work. Finish. Publish. Release.
41
“Work. Finish. Publish. Release� is the overarching theme of dataMares, a hub of free data and analyses helping to understand marine systems in the Gulf of California and beyond. DataMares integrates rocky reef monitoring, fisheries, climate analysis, animal tracking and mangrove ecology. The platform delivers open-access information and acts as a
Bringing the marine conservation experience to people around the world to promote research and awareness at no cost.
channel among scientists, stakeholders, and decision-makers to effectively communicate marine conservation issues. DataMares holds massive amounts of fishery, reef, mangrove data and more pertaining to the GOC and delivers this information in an interactive and easily digestible manner. As long as an individual is connected to the Internet, they have the ability to access and learn about the marine ecosystems in the region. This is what dataMares is all about: bringing the marine conservation experience to people around the world, promoting research and awareness at no cost. Since its conception, dataMares has grown tremendously and is consistently expanding its library of datasets while improving the functionality and overall usability of the platform. The Geospatial and Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) Lab started at SIO in 2014 and specializes in the interdisciplinary application of geospatial technologies and uses dataMares as one of the primary platforms to share advances in science. By promoting free public access to robust scientific data, dataMares paves the way for better understanding, more effective management, and healthier, more sustainable communities. 42
DataMares Open Source Network: How does it work? The dataMares Open Source Network allows users to upload data to the network using metadata. The data can be shared publically or saved to private groups and then used to create data-rich maps. Even though raw data and maps cannot be downloaded unless all authors and owners agree, all metadata is public.
Create
Share publicly
Metadata
Discuss
Private project/group
1
Users register and create a profile.
3
Users can use public data or data stored in private projects or groups to create maps. Maps and other visualizations have metadata.
2
Users upload data using metadata. Data can be shared publicly or saved to private projects or groups.
4
Members can upload data to projects or group folders. The data can remain private or made public. If it remains private, only members of project or group folder can view and discuss the data, maps and visualizations.
43
The
Ezcurra Lab at Riverside
FAST FACTS:
26
4 RESEARCH PAPERS IN TOP JOURNALS
BOOKS
7 BOOK CHAPTERS
The Ezcurra Lab stands out for its important contributions to environmental policy in Mexico and its outreach efforts to highlight the interconnections between the environment, ecology, and people.
During the last five years Exequiel Ezcurra’s lab has produced important contributions in nature conservation, land-ocean interactions, the application of mathematical modeling in ecology and conservation, the management of natural resources under traditional use, and the establishment of new protected natural areas. With an impressive total of 26 research papers in top journals, four books and seven book chapters, the lab’s work has contributed to the conservation of the Cabo Pulmo region, it has yielded critically important data for the preservation of mangroves in Mexico, and has produced important studies modeling the complex relationship between the sardine fishery, 45
the conservation of seabirds, and the growing incidence of oceanographic anomalies in the Gulf’s pelagic food chain. Some of the lab’s studies are fundamental contributions to understand the effects of large-scale environmental change at a regional scale using the Gulf of California as a model.
The work of the Ezcurra Lab has contributed significantly to the ongoing debate in Mexico about environmental conservation, climate change, and social justice...
The lab’s recent papers have revealed the perceptible impact of anthropogenic sea level rise (result of the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps) on coastal lagoons and mangroves, and the complex dynamics that warm oceanographic anomalies are imposing on coastal ecosystems. The lab’s work has contributed critically important information to the discussion on the certification of the sardine fishery and has seriously questioned appropriateness of certifying forage fish as sustainable, a discussion that has large repercussions not only in the Gulf of California, but also in other large marine ecosystem fisheries, such as the Antarctic krill. On top of his well-known studies of the interaction of climate variation and ecological dynamics in the context of desert-sea interactions, the Ezcurra Lab stands out in these last five years for its important contributions to environmental policy in Mexico and its outreach efforts to highlight the interconnections between the environment, ecology, and people. With publications and outreach efforts in some of Mexico’s most important news media, the work of the Ezcurra Lab has contributed significantly to the ongoing debate in Mexico about environmental conservation, climate change, and social justice, and has revealed the damage that discretionary decision making and the conflicts of interest between government, industry, and investor can make on biological diversity and the environment. 46
Partners & Collaborators Amigos para la Conservación de Cabo Pulmo, A.C.
Universidad de Vallarta
Brown University
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Cabo Pulmo Divers
University of California, Riverside (UCR)
Centro Ecológico del Estado de Sonora (CEDES)
University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)
Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE)
University of Texas
Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR)
World Wildlife Fund-Gulf of California Program (WWF)
Centros Regionales de Investigación Pesquera, Baja California and Baja California Sur Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (CONAPESCA) Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO) Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI) Conservation International Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR) David and Lucile Packard Foundation Environmental Defense Fund de México Ezcurra Lab, UCR Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, A. C. Helmsley Foundation Instituto Nacional de Pesca (INAPESCA) International Community Foundation International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) Mission Blue National Geographic National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Punta Mita Expeditions Secretaria de Pesca y Acuacultura, Baja California (SEPESCAB.C.) SmartFish Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparajá Stanford University The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (UAS) Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS) Universidad de Guerrero Universidad de Michoacán Universidad de Peru
48
Walton Family Foundation
Federación de Cooperativas Ribereñas Andrés Rubio Castro S. P. R. de R. L. Federación de Sociedades Cooperativas de Producción Pesquera Ribereña del Puerto de San Felipe S. de R. L. de C. V. Federación Regional de Cooperativas Pesqueras y Turísticas “Vaquita Marina” S.C. de R. L. de C. V. Federación Regional de Sociedades Cooperativas “Pescadores de la Reserva de la Biosfera” Federación Regional de Sociedades Cooperativas Adolfo Beltrán Camacho Federación Regional de Sociedades Cooperativas de la Industria Pesquera de Baja California Sociedad Cooperativa De Producción Pesquera de Bahía Magdalena S. C. de R. L. Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Nuevo Sol S.C.L Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Punta Abreojos S. C. de R. L. Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera Punta Abreojos S. C. de R. L. Sociedad Cooperativa de Responsabilidad Limitada Gómez Castellanos S.C. de R.L. Sociedad Cooperativa Hermanos Calderón S.C. de R. L.
Publications 2011 Aburto-Oropeza, O., M. Caso, B. Erisman, and E. Ezcurra (editors). (2011). Log of the Deep Sea: An expedition to the Gulf of California. Instituto Nacional de Ecología, UC MEXUS, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Mexico, D.F. Aburto-Oropeza, O., B. Erisman, G. R. Galland, I. MascareñasOsorio, E. Sala, & E. Ezcurra. (2011). Large Recovery of Fish Biomass in a No-Take Marine Reserve. PLoS One, 6(8), e23601. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023601.t002 Erisman, B.E., G.R. Galland, I. Mascareñas, J. Moxley, H.J. Walker, O. Aburto-Oropeza, P.A. Hastings, and E. Ezcurra. (2011). List of coastal fishes of Islas Marías archipelago, Mexico, with comments on taxonomic composition, biogeography, and abundance. Zootaxa 2985: 26–40. Erisman, B. E., G. A. Paredes,T. Plomozo-Lugo, J. J. Cota-Nieto, P. A. Hastings, and O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2011). Spatial structure of commercial marine fisheries in Northwest Mexico. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68(3), 564–571. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsq179 Ezcurra, E., B. Berger, and M.A. de la Cueva. (2011). El tesoro de la sierra: La Giganta y Guadalupe. Especies Jul–Aug 2011: 4–10. de la Cueva, M.A., B. Berger, and E. Ezcurra. (2011). Guadalupe y La Giganta. Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparajá, La Paz, Baja California. Garcillán, P.P., and E. Ezcurra. (2011). Sampling procedures and species estimation: testing the effectiveness of herbarium data against vegetation sampling in an oceanic island. Journal of Vegetation Science 22: 273–280 López-Medellín, X., A. Castillo, and E. Ezcurra. (2011). Contrasting perspectives on mangroves in arid Northwestern Mexico: Implications for integrated coastal management. Ocean & Coastal Management 54: 318–329. López-Medellín, X., E. Ezcurra, C. González-Abraham, J. Hak, L.S. Santiago, and J.O. Sickman. (2011). Oceanographic anomalies and sea-level rise drive mangroves inland in the Pacific coast of Mexico. Journal of Vegetation Science 22 (1): 143–151. Mora, C., O. Aburto-Oropeza, A. Ayala Bocos, P. M. Ayotte, S. Banks, A. G. Bauman, et al. (2011). Global Human Footprint on the Linkage between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Reef Fishes. PLoS Biology, 9(4), doi:10.1371/ journal.pbio.1000606.g004 Moreno-Báez, M., R. Cudney-Bueno, B.J. Orr, W.W. Shaw, T. Pfister, J. Torre-Cosio, R. Loaiza, and M. Rojo. (2012). Integrating the spatial and temporal dimensions of fishing
activities for management in the Northern Gulf of California, Mexico. Ocean & Coastal Management. 55(1):111-127. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.10.001 Mascareñas-Osorio, I., B. Erisman, J. Moxley, O. AburtoOropeza. (2011). Checklist of Conspicuous Reef Fishes of the Bahia de los Angeles region, Baja California Norte, Mexico, with comments on Abundance and Ecological Biogeography. Zootaxa 2922: 60-68. Peters, E.M., C. Martorell, and E. Ezcurra. (2011). The effects of serotiny and rainfall-cued dispersal on fitness: Bet-hedging in the threatened cactus Mammillaria pectinifera. Population Ecology 53(2): 383–392.
2012 Aburto-Oropeza, O., and E. Ezcurra (editors). (2012). Mexico’s mangroves. Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, México, D.F. Avilla, E., R. Riosmena-Rodriguez, and G. Hinojosa-Arango. 2012. Sponge-rhodolith interactions in a Subtropical Estuarine System. Springer-Verlag and AWI. Doi: 10.1007/ s10152-012-0327-y. Erisman, B., O. Aburto-Oropeza, C. González-Abraham, I. Mascareñas-Osorio, M. Moreno-Baez, and P. A. Hastings. (2012). Spatio-temporal Dynamics of a Fish Spawning Aggregation and its Fishery in the Gulf of California. Scientific Reports, 2:284. Doi: 10.1038/srep00284 Friedlander, A. M., B. J. Zgliczynski, E. Ballesteros, O. AburtoOropeza, A. Bolaños, A., and E. Sala. (2012). The shallowwater fish assemblage of Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica: structure and patterns in an isolated, predatordominated ecosystem. Revista De Biologia Tropical, 60, 321–338. López-Medellín, X., and E. Ezcurra. (2012). The productivity of mangroves in northwestern Mexico: a meta-analysis of current data. Journal of Coastal Conservation 16:399–403. Lövei, G.L., Lewinsohn, T.M., and the Biological Invasions in Megadiverse Regions Network. (2012). Megadiverse developing countries face huge risks from invasives. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 27(1): 2–3. Rife, A. N., B. Erisman, A. Sanchez, and O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2012). When good intentions are not enough … Insights on networks of “paper park” marine protected areas. Conservation Letters, 6(3), 200–212. doi:10.1111/j.1755263X.2012.00303.x Rubio-Cisneros, N., O. Aburto-Oropeza and E. Ezcurra. (2012). Para romper círculos viciosos en los sistemas ecológico49
sociales en la región de Marismas Nacionales. La Jornada Ecológica 3 de diciembre 2012: pages 5–8.
Wehncke, E.V., J. Rebman, X. López-Medellín, and E. Ezcurra. (2012). Sierra de la Libertad: A major transition between two desert regions in Baja California, Mexico. Botanical Sciences 90 (3): 239–261.
2013 Álvarez-Romero, J. G., R. L. Pressey, N. C. Ban, J. Torre-Cosío, and O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2013). Marine conservation planning in practice: lessons learned from the Gulf of California. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 23(4), 483–505. doi:10.1002/aqc.2334 Ezcurra, E., and M.A. de la Cueva. (2013). El tesoro de la sierra: La Giganta y Guadalupe. México Desconocido 435 (May 2013): 32–38. Gherard, K. E., B. E. Erisman, O. Aburto-Oropeza, K. Rowell, and L.G. Allen. (2013). Growth, Development, and Reproduction in Gulf Corvina (Cynoscion othonopterus). Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences, 112(1), 1–18. Martínez-Berdeja, A., N. Pietrasiak, A. Tamase, E. Ezcurra, E.B. Allen. 2013. Living where others dare not: Microhabitat distribution in Chorizanthe rigida, a serotinous desert annual. Journal of Arid Environments 97: 120–126. Mascareñas I., G. Hinojosa, B. Erisman, O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2013). Manual de Monitoreo biológico-pesquero de curvina golfina (Cynoscion othonopterus). CBMC-SIO. 28 pp. Mascareñas I., G. Hinojosa, B. Erisman, O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2013). Guía de identificación de curvinas en la región del Alto Golfo de California. CBMC-SIO. 12pp. Reddy, S.M.W., A. Wentz, O. Aburto-Oropeza, M. Maxey, S. Nagavarapu, and H. M. Leslie. (2013). Evidence of marketdriven size-selective fishing and the mediating effects of biological and institutional factors. Ecological Applications, 23(4), 726–741. Rife, A.N., O. Aburto-Oropeza, P. A. Hastings, B. Erisman, F. Ballantyne, J. Wielgus, et al. (2013). Long-term effectiveness of a multi-use marine protected area on reef fish assemblages and fisheries landings. Journal of Environmental Management, 117(C), 276–283. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.12.029 Rojo, J., A. Domínguez, O. Aburto. (2013). Sardinas, el motor invisible del mar. Revista Quo, 26 mayo del 2013. Rubio-Cisneros, N., O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2013). Marismas Nacionales: su subsistencia en el tiempo. CONABIO. Biodiversitas, 108:1-6 TinHan, T. C. (2013). Long-term movement patterns of yellow 50
snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris) and Leopard grouper (Mycteroperca rosacea) at Los Islotes Reserve, Gulf of California. Dissertation. 50; 1527347. Trasviña Castro, A., O. Aburto-Oropeza, E. Ezcurra, and O. Zaytsev. (2013). Observaciones de corrientes en el Parque Nacional de Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur: mediciones Eulerianas en verano, otoño e inicios del invierno. GEOS 32(2): 1–20. Velarde, E., E. Ezcurra, and D.W. Anderson. (2013). Seabird diets provide early warning of sardine fishery declines in the Gulf of California. Nature Scientific Reports 3: 1332 | DOI: 10.1038/srep01332. Wehncke, E. V., X. López-Medellín, M. Wall, and E. Ezcurra. (2013). Revealing an endemic herbivore-palm interaction in remote desert oases of Baja California. American Journal of Plant Sciences 4(2A): 470¬–478. Wilder, B. T., C. O’Meara, N. Narchi, A. M. Narváez, and O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2013). The need for a next generation of sonoran desert researchers. Conservation Biology, 27(2), 243–245. doi:10.1111/cobi.12022
2014 Erisman BE, Apel A, MacCall A, Roman- Rodriguez M, Fujita R. 2014. The influence of gear selectivity and spawning behavior on a data-poor assessment of a spawning aggregation fishery. Fisheries Research 159:75-87. Ezcurra, E. (2014). La construcción de una esperanza. Este País 284: 8–11 (december 2014). Gómez-Gutiérrez, J., R. Funes-Rodríguez, K. Arroyo-Ramírez, C. A. Sánchez-Ortíz, J. R. Beltrán-Castro, S. HernándezTrujillo, R. Palomares-García, O. Aburto-Oropeza and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Oceanographic mechanisms that possibly explain dominance of neritic-tropical zooplankton species assemblages around the Islas Marías Archipelago, Mexico. Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Res., 42(5): 1009-1034. López Sagástegui, C., O. Aburto Oropeza, M. Moreno Báez, I. Mascareñas Osorio, G. Hinojosa Arango. 2014. Ciencia ciudadana en el alto Golfo de California: abriendo camino en el manejo pesquero y la conservación. CONABIO. Biodiversitas, 116:1-6 Martínez-Berdeja, A., M. Torres, D. L. Altshuler, and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Hydration history and attachment morphology regulate seed release in Chorizanthe rigida (Polygonaceae), a serotinous desert annual. American Journal of Botany 101(7): 1079–1084. doi: 10.3732/ajb. 1400120. Munguia-Vega, A., A. Jackson, S. G. Marinone, B. Erisman, M. Moreno-Baez, A. Girón-Nava, et al. (2014). Asymmetric connectivity of spawning aggregations of a commercially
important marine fish using a multidisciplinary approach. PeerJ, 2, e511. doi:10.7717/peerj.511
Peters, E.M., S. Arizaga, C. Martorell, R. Zaragoza, and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Distribución geográfica y estado de conservación de las poblaciones de Mammillaria pectinifera. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 85: 942-952, DOI: 10.7550/ rmb.36338 Rubio-Cisneros, N., O. Aburto-Oropeza, and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Patos, lagunas y cazadores, conexión para promover la conservación de humedales en Norteamérica. La Jornada Ecológica 31 de marzo 2014: pages 7–9. Rubio-Cisneros, N. T., O. Aburto-Oropeza, J. Murray, C. E. Gonzalez-Abraham, J. Jackson, and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Transnational Ecosystem Services: The Potential of Habitat Conservation for Waterfowl through Recreational Hunting Activities. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 19(1), 1–16. doi:10.10 80/10871209.2013.819536 Sánchez-Rodríguez A., M. Moreno-Báez M., O. AburtoOropeza, G. Hinojosa-Arango, I. Mascareñas-Osorio, B. Erisman. (2014). Protocolo de Monitoreo para los Ambientes Marinos y Costeros. CMBC-SIO. 57 pp. TinHan, T., B. Erisman, O. Aburto-Oropeza, A. Weaver, D. Vázquez-Arce, and C. G. Lowe. (2014). Residency and seasonal movements in Lutjanus argentiventris and Mycteroperca rosacea at Los Islotes Reserve, Gulf of California. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 501, 191–206. doi:10.3354/meps10711 Vanderplank, S., B. T. Wilder, and E. Ezcurra (editors). (2014). Descubriendo la Biodiversidad Terrestre en la Región de Cabo Pulmo / Uncovering the Dryland Biodiversity of the Cabo Pulmo Region. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers, and University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States, Riverside, California. Vanderplank, S., E. Ezcurra, J. Delgadillo, R. Felger, and L.A. McDade. (2014). Conservation challenges in a threatened hotspot: Agriculture and plant biodiversity losses in Baja California, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation 23(9): 21732182. DOI 10.1007/s10531-014-0711-9. Vanderplank, S.E., S. Mata, and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Biodiversity and archeological conservation connected: Aragonite shell middens increase plant diversity. Bioscience 64(3): 202–209. doi: 10.1093/biosci/bit038 Velarde, E., B.T. Wilder, R.S. Felger, and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Floristic diversity and dynamics of Isla Rasa, Gulf of California - A globally important seabird island. Botanical Sciences 92(1): 89–101.
Wilder, B.T., J.L. Betancourt, C.W. Epps, R.S. Crowhurst, J.I. Mead, and E. Ezcurra. (2014). Local extinction and unintentional rewilding of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) on a desert island. PLoS-ONE 9(3): e91358. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0091358
2015 Aburto-Oropeza, O., E. Ezcurra, J. Moxley, A. SánchezRodríguez, I. Mascareñas-Osorio, C. Sánchez-Ortiz, et al. (2015). A framework to assess the health of rocky reefs linking geomorphology, community assemblage, and fish biomass. Ecological Indicators, 52, 53–361. doi:10.1016/j. ecolind.2014.12.006 Chabot, C.L., M. Espinoza, I. Mascareñas-Osorio, A. Rocha-Olivares. (2015). The effect of biogeographic and phylogeographic barriers on gene flow in the brown smoothhound shark, Mustelus henlei, in the northeastern Pacific. Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.1002/ece3.1458 Erisman, B. I. Mascareñas-Osorio, C. López-Sagástegui, M. Moreno-Báez, V. Jimenez-Esquivel, M.O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2015). A comparison of fishing activities between two coastal communities within a biosphere reserve in the Upper Gulf of California. Fisheries Research 164 (2015) 254–265. Ezcurra, E. (2015). De Lima a París: El largo plazo comienza hoy. Criterio Ambiental (México, D.F.) 8: 8–9 (Feb. 2015). Girón-Nava, A. C. López-Sagástegui, and O. Aburto-Oropeza. (2015). On the conditions of the 2012 cannonball jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris) bloom in Golfo de Santa Clara: a fishery opportunity? Fisheries Management and Ecology. doi: 10.1111/fme.12115 Martínez-Berdeja, E. Ezcurra, and A. C. Sanders. (2015). Delayed seed dispersal in California deserts. Madroño 62(1): 21–32. doi: 10.3120/0024-9637-62.1.21 Martínez-Berdeja, A. and E. Ezcurra. (2015). What can Chorizanthe rigida propagule morphology tell us about rainfall variability and geomorphology in desert ecosystems? Mojave National Preserve Science Newsletter April 2015: 6–9. Sarukhán, J., T. Urquiza-Haas, P. Koleff, J. Carabias, R. Dirzo, E. Ezcurra, S. Cerdeira-Estrada, and J. Soberón. (2015). Strategic actions to value, conserve, and restore the natural capital of megadiversity countries: The case of Mexico. BioScience 65(2): 164–173. doi: 10.1093/biosci/ biu195 Velarde, E., E. Ezcurra, and D.W. Anderson. (in press, corrected proof available). Seabird diet predicts following-season commercial catch of Gulf of California Pacific Sardine and Northern Anchovy. Journal of Marine Systems http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.08.014 (available online 23 August 2014). 51
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