Connecting people and marine ecosystems through science

Connecting people and marine ecosystems through science

Five Years2010- 2014

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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.

Presentation

Collaborators:

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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The Gulf of California Marine Program (GCMP) first began to take form back in 2008 when Drs. Exequiel Ezcurra and Octavio Aburto-Oropeza 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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Gulf of California

Marine Program

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.

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Partners:

Ezcurra Lab

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.

What distinguishes GCMP from similar organizations is how it emphasizes and prioritizes the local community.

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Mission

Conduct objective scientific research that is not influenced or driven by a specific agenda of any government institution, conservation organization, or user group.

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.

1 2 3 4 5

Core Values

Citizen Science

Community Involvement

Data Sharing

Data Accessibility & Transparency

Science Communications

Making Science Engaging

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From involving the general public in Citizen Science

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.

GCMP heavily invests in forging relationships with the community: it engages with the public and communicates science in innovative ways.

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Unique

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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Cabo Pulmo, a marine protected area

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

CommunityWhat distinguishes GCMP from like organizations is how it emphasizes and prioritizes the local community.

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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.

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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.

The GOC does much more than host a large

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.

The Region and its Issues

Policy makers, resource users and conservation groups may not have access to current data and information.

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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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Ecological Monitoring

Distinguishing anthropogenic change from

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

GCMP conducts annual surveys to map the changes in the structure, function, and overall health of the marine ecosystems.

1998 Established

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2002 Data used as part of the first Gulf-wide environmental assessment

2006 First baseline study in Revillagigedo Archipelago

2009 Estimate of the recovery of fish biomass in Cabo Pulmo

P = resulted in publication, see pg 49

P

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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.

1,248

7,804

251

hours underwater

transects

rocky reefs monitored

students trained from 2011-2014

institutions participating

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1,198,600 m2

surveyed (or the area of 266 soccer fields)

= 10 fields

425 total species recorded

2 million organisms counted

2011 1st annual training workshop certifying students for underwater monitoring surveys

2012 Established public access to monitoring data via gocmarineprogram.org

2013 Used ecMonitor to automatically synchronize data with dataMares as monitoring is happening

2014 Index to assess the health of the rocky reefs formulated and publishedP P

CitizenScience

2009 Established in Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora, with the gulf corvina fishery

2010 Established research initiatives in Punta Abreojos, Baja California Sur

GCMP became a member of the Curvina Technical Group

Trained locals in Golfo de Santa Clara to collect biometrics of fish and upload fishery data to online platforms

P = resulted in publication, see pg 49

P

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,

It is no secret that the environment greatly impacts everyone: every local has a stake in what occurs in the Gulf of California.

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135,274

SPECIES RECORDEDFISHING TRIPS MONITORED

3

FAST FACTS:

FROM

COMMUNITIES

3,500

TONS MONITORED

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

2013 Engaged with sport fishing locals to begin collecting fisheries data in Punta Abreojos

Established research initiatives in Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur

cont. on page 18

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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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

p r o g r a m p r o g r a m

p r o g r a m p r o g r a m

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Citizen Science Program Network:

• 2 Fishing Federations • Independent Fishermen (31) • 2 Processing Plants • Community Team: 2

San Felipe, B.C. • 5 Fishing Federations • 1 Processing Plant • Community Team: 2

El Golfo Santa Clara, Sonora

• 1 Fishing Federations • 1 Processing Plants • Community Team: 5

Punta Abreojos, B.C.S.

• 5 Fishing Cooperatives • 1 Fishing Federation • Community Team: 3

Bahía Magdalena, B.C.S.

• 1 Fishing Cooperative • Community Team: 2

Cucapá

• 1 Fishing Cooperative • Community Team: 2

Espíritu Santo, B.C.S

Instituciones Académicas CICESE UABC UABCS UNAM Brown University Texas University Gobierno CONAPESCA SEPESCA-B.C. CRIP-B.C. CRIP-B.C.S. CONANP CEDES CDI-BC Sociedad Civil Noroeste Sustentable EDF EDF de México WWF-Golfo de California SmartFish Pronatura Noroeste COBI Niparajá

UC MEXUS CBMC SCRIPPS

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2014 Presented CSP at 2nd Annual Latin American Fisheries Fellowship Workshop (La Paz)

Gear testing for vaquita conservation, initiated by fishermen

Provided first valuation of fisheries in the Upper Gulf of California to help vaquita conservation

Academic InstitutionsCICESEUABCUABCSUNAMBrown UniversityUniversity of Texas

Government InstitutionsCONAPESCASEPESCA-B.C.CRIP-B.C.CRIP-B.C.S.CONANPCEDESCDI-BC

NGOs Noroeste SustentableEDFEDF de MéxicoWWF-Golfo de CaliforniaSmartFishPronatura NoroesteCOBINiparajá

Citizen Science Program Network:

Cabo Pulmo

1995 Cabo Pulmo declared a Marine National Park

2008 Video sent to IUCN to describe the recovery of Cabo Pulmo’s marine life

2011 Cabo Pulmo documented as the World’s Most Robust Marine Reserve

P = resulted in publication, see pg 49

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Cabo Pulmo

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

The biodiversity in Cabo Pulmo reigns high and serves as grounds for the study of complex ecosystem interactions within a marine reserve.

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2012 Mexican President Felipe Calderón revokes “Cabo Cortés” mega development

2013 Completed bathymetric map covering 7,111 ha and an ocean current study

Week-long survey of lands adjacent to Cabo Pulmo recorded terrestrial biodiversity

cont. on page 22

INCREASE IN TOP PREDATOR BIOMASS IN 10 YEARS

INCREASE IN TOTAL FISH BIOMASS IN 10 YEARS

INDIVIDUAL BIGEYE JACKS SPAWN AT CP EVERY YEAR

FAST FACTS:

10,000

1070% 463%

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CINEMATOGRAPHY FESTIVALS

FILM CATEGORIES

WINNER DOCUMENTARY

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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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2014 Baja’s Secret Miracle won BLUE Film Festival in foreign language category

2015 Baja’s Secret Miracle Best Nature Film, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival

cont. from page 21

2014 Glorious Earth Sansong Group and Beijing Int. Trade Group withdraw Environmental Impact Assessment and encourage future developers to preserve CP

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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.

Fisheries

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

2012 Risk assessment and demographic analysis of corvina fishery

P = resulted in publication, see pg 49

P

P

FROM 14 FAMILIES OF FISHES ARE KNOWN TO FORM SPAWNING AGGREGATION IN UPPER GOC

Fisheries

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 Standardized methods of biological monitoring techniques with CEDES, CIBNOR, CEDO, EDF de México, INAPESCA and CONAPESCA

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%)

cont. on page 26

ONLY 1 SPECIES PROTECTED (TOTOABA) AND ONLY 1 SPECIES MANAGED (CORVINA) IN UPPER GOC

FAST FACTS:

>50

PEAK CAPTURE YEAR SINCE MONITORING BEGAN (2008) CAPTURE WEIGHT IN ENTIRE GOC: 1.1 BILLION KG OR... EMPIRE STATE

BUILDINGS

4

1

50%

THE WEIGHT OF

SPECIES

GOC PRODUCES ABOUT

OF MEXICO’S TOTAL FISHERY CATCHES

>460%TOTAL AMOUNT OF FISH IN CP GREW FROM 1999 - 2009

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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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2013 Fisheries monitoring program in San Felipe began

2014 Participated in revision of fishery scorecards

Presented results in Mexican Consulate with US and Mexican authorities

Completed first valuation of fisheries in the Upper Gulf of California

CONANP & PROFEPA begin using GCMP corvina data to design management and enforcement programs

cont. from page 25

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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Mangroves

2007 Began mangrove project

2008 Estimated $37,500 per hectare in fisheries product

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 = resulted in publication, see pg 49

P P

Mangroves

One hectare of coastal mangrove in the Gulf of California provides 37,500 USD, translating to 1.648 trillion USD per year.

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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

2013 Took first core sample to estimate carbon sequestration

2014 Mangrove data collected by CONABIO is directly linked to dataMares

Estimated the value of Mexican waterfowl wintering habitats for the US waterfowl hunting industry

Core sampling continued in mangroves on the Baja California Peninsula, Sinaloa and Nayarit

Natural Numbers episode on mangroves completed and released

1,648 billion USD

ANNUAL VALUE OF GLOBAL MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM

ONE HECTARE OF MANGROVE IN THE GOC ANNUALLY PROVIDES FISHERIES 37,500 USD

FAST FACTS:

THE WEIGHT OF

PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

1 billion kg

OF FISH & CRAB COME FROM MANGROVES, EQUAL TO...

1HA = 37,500 USD

2

P

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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.

Manta Rays

2013 CITES approved regulation of trade in Manta ray and Manta alfredi products

Pilot expedition to Bahia de Banderas

Tagging and stable isotope analysis suggest population structure

Manta Rays

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

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.

33

2014 Proyecto Manta officially launched

Confirmed presence of manta subpopulations in Mexico via genetic techniques and additional tagging

Establishment of field station in Bahia de Banderas with Instituto Tecnológico de Bahia de Banderas

FAST FACTS:

50,000+195

OCEANOGRAPHIC SAMPLESNUMBER OF DAYS TAG STAYED ON MANTA (LONGEST DOCUMENTED IN GCMP)

GLOBALLY EACH YEAR IN TOURISM REVENUES - 10 MILLION USD JUST IN MEXICO

MANTA RAYS GENERATE

143 MILLION USD

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

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.

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.

34

35

Sardines

1982 Monitoring established and coordinated by Dr. Enriqueta Velarde

2004 Predictions of sardine fishery catches using seabird ecology

2009 Interactions between sardine fishery and seabirds reproductive success

2011 Marine Stewardship Council certified the GCSF as sustainable despite lack of management plan

P = resulted in publication, see pg 49

P

SardinesCaught 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

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.

37

2012 Natural Numbers episode on sardines and Isla Rasa completed and released to the public

2013 Warning of sardine fishery declines using seabird diets

2014 Sardine fishery catches in the GOC begin to fall dramatically

Revista QUO features the scientific facts about the importance of sardine populations

50,000+9.5 billion

50 THOUSAND + VIEWS OF NATURAL NUMBERS VIDEO

CATCH (IN KG) IN GOC,1990-2010

FAST FACTS:

5

MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COLLABORATING

PP

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 1990-

2000, 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

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.

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.

38

Fisheries Exploitation Without Strategy

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.

3,000 tons

of fish can be caught in one

night

60 tonsof sardines

captured by a fishing boat in

one night

of the catch is used to produce fishmeal to feed chickens, pigs, cows and fish from hatcheries.

10.5 million tonsof 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.

50 shipsengaged in sardine fishing in the Gulf

of California

85%

The Gulf of California800,000 tons

of sardines were captured.

The Gulf of MexicoIn 2008 the

maximum catch in sardines was

reached.

SOURCE: Revista QUO

data Mares

2006 First idea with a name “Virtual Gulf”

2009 First meeting with programmers, GIS experts and researchers

2011 Construction of dataMares platform begins

2013 Beta version launched

data Mares

Work. Finish. Publish. Release.

41

230+>3 million

>3.5 million

FISHERY RESOURCESFISHERY RECORDS

DATA POINTS

FAST FACTS:

RECEIVES DATA

7

4

FROM

GLOBAL IMAGES PER DAY

DATABASES

NEW DATA POINTS 100/yr

TRACKERS

300,000/yr

CONAPESCA

NEW DATA POINTS

20,000/yr

PROMONITOR

NEW DATA POINTS

2014 Exhibited at the Int. Marine Conservation Congress (Scotland)

Presented at the Int. Conference on Marine Data and Info Systems (Italy)

“Geospatial and Ecosystem Monitoring” Lab launched at SIO

13 years of CONAPESCA Mexican fisheries landings and 16 years of underwater monitoring data available through dataMares

Bringing the marine conservation experience to people around the world to promote research and awareness at no cost.

“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

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

1 2

3 4

Users register and create a profile.

Share publiclyCreate Private project/group

DiscussMetadata

Users can use public data or data stored in private projects or groups to create maps. Maps and other visualizations have metadata.

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.

Users upload data using metadata. Data can be shared publicly or saved to private projects or groups.

43

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.

Ezcurra Lab at Riverside

The

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,

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.

45

26 4

RESEARCH PAPERS IN TOP JOURNALS BOOKS

FAST FACTS:

7

BOOK CHAPTERS

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 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.

The work of the Ezcurra Lab has contributed significantly to the ongoing debate in Mexico about environmental conservation, climate change, and social justice...

46

Partners & CollaboratorsAmigos para la Conservación de Cabo Pulmo, A.C.

Brown University

Cabo Pulmo Divers

Centro Ecológico del Estado de Sonora (CEDES)

Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE)

Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR)

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 (SEPESCA-B.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

Universidad de Vallarta

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

University of California, Riverside (UCR)

University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)

University of Texas

Walton Family Foundation

World Wildlife Fund-Gulf of California Program (WWF)

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.

48

49

2011Aburto-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. Mascareñas-Osorio, 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. Aburto-Oropeza. (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.

2012Aburto-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. Aburto-Oropeza, A. Bolaños, A., and E. Sala. (2012). The shallow-water fish assemblage of Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica: structure and patterns in an isolated, predator-dominated 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.1755-263X.2012.00303.x

Rubio-Cisneros, N., O. Aburto-Oropeza and E. Ezcurra. (2012). Para romper círculos viciosos en los sistemas ecológico-

Publications

50

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.

2013Álvarez-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 market-driven 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

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

2014Erisman 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. Hernández-Trujillo, 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

51

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:10.1080/10871209.2013.819536

Sánchez-Rodríguez A., M. Moreno-Báez M., O. Aburto-Oropeza, 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): 2173-2182. 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

2015Aburto-Oropeza, O., E. Ezcurra, J. Moxley, A. Sánchez-Rodríguez, 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).

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