Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Significant wave height (SWH) in shallow waters is assessed by generating two wave hindcasts; the first uses ERA-Interim wind fields and the second one from ERA5 to quantify the improvement of the ERA5 surface winds on the SWH representativeness, both in deep and shallow waters along the Chilean coastline. Additionally, wind field predictions from the Global Forecast System (GFS) were used to assess the representativeness of shallow waters. Oceanographic buoys were used to validate SWH in deep waters, while Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCPs) was equipped to measure waves in shallow waters. Energy spectrums coupling Wavewatch III and Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) models were transferred to evaluate the performance of shallow water simulations. In general, the SWH from both wave hindcasts showed good performance. Nonetheless, those forced by ERA5 presented a better qualitative comparison of sea state temporal variability, which increased the correlation coefficients (>0.9), coefficients of determination (>0.8), and minor errors (RMSE, MAE, and BIAS) compared to oceanographic buoys and ADCPs. Additionally, in simulations forced by GFS, the temporal variability of the waves in shallow waters was successfully reproduced. Nevertheless, an increase in the RMSE, MAE, and BIAS error was statistically verified compared to ERA-Interim and ERA 5.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acute toxicity of the commercial herbicides Karmex® (diuron: DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) and Herbipol® (glyphosate: N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) on the megalopae of Callinectes sapidus and measure their relative abundance in the association of larval and postlarval species of crustaceans from the estuary of the Jamapa River, Veracruz. Collections were made overnight using white light traps. Likewise, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, and salinity were measured in situ. It was found that the association of larvae and postlarvae consisted of Macrobrachium acanthurus, M. olfersii, Potimirim mexicana, megalopae of C. sapidus and Armases ricordi, and zoeas of Brachyura. In total, 559 and 1057 C. sapidus megalopae were collected in November and March 2019, respectively. Dissolved oxygen was 6 and 7 mg L-1, pH was 7 and 8, the temperature was 26 and 27°C, total dissolved solids were 700 and 1500 ppm, and salinity was 0.70 and 16 in November and March, respectively. Using Probit analysis, a 96 h LC50 of diuron (Karmex®) was 7.69 ± 1.07 mg L-1 in March and 6.64 ± 0.93 mg L-1 in November. The LC50 for glyphosate (Herbipol®) was 247.83 ± 34.54 mg L-1 in March and 288.18 ± 38.66 3 mg L-1 in November. The blue crab C. sapidus is tolerant to a wide range of physicochemical factors; however, it is sensitive in the postlarval stages, like other species of crustaceans, to the herbicides diuron and glyphosate, for which the megalopae can be used in ecotoxicological studies.

The isopods of the family Cymothoidae are ectoparasites crustaceans that infest a wide variety of saltwater fish. This paper documented the first occurrence of Nerocila acuminata (Schiödte & Meinert, 1881) parasitizing the shortnose guitarfish Zapteryx brevirostris (Müller & Henle, 1841) (Rhinobatiformes, Rhinobatidae) in the southern Atlantic Ocean. This report can be an available tool to create a parasitology database for a species of conservation interest. It will also provide scientific data that can help the understanding of the biological factors acting in healthy populations and thus support the efforts made to preserve and conserve the species.

There are very little data on Central America and the Western Caribbean elasmobranch populations. Here we present the first results of standardized fisheries-independent monitoring of sharks and rays in Panama's Bocas del Toro Archipelago over four consecutive years. Using baited remote underwater videos (BRUVs), underwater visual census (UVC), and scientific longline, we provide baseline data on the composition, relative abundance, distribution, and demographics of seven shark species and six rays observed during the study. Observations differed among methods and habitats, with BRUVs (n = 148) more effective for assessing shark diversity and abundance and UVC (n = 108) more effective for assessing ray abundance. Nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) were the most commonly observed species overall (frequency of occurrence = 30.4 and 18.9%, respectively). Depth, temperature, and protected area status significantly affected the relative abundance of sharks and rays based on UVC and BRUV data. The use of scientific longlines (n = 55) highlighted the lagoon habitat as a potential nursery site for blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus), with juvenile (average total length = 113 cm) individuals representing 58% of longline captures. The results provide a current baseline for elasmobranch communities that can further aid in the conservation and management of these species nationally and regionally.

Sea cucumbers (holothuroids) play a major role in coastal environments; their detritivore conduct favors oxygen penetration in the sediments and the disposal of pathogens on the sea floor. This study determined holothuroid diversity in the rocky intertidal zone of Matanchén Bay, Mexico. Sampling campaigns were carried out in January, March, May, and July 2018. Linear transects (10 m length and 1 m width) perpendicular to the coastline in rocky areas (0-3 m depth) were established, where the density (ind m-2) and proportion (%) of sea cucumbers were estimated. Organisms were photographed, examined live, and preserved in 70% alcohol for subsequent identification utilizing ossicle characterization. Our results show the presence of four sea cucumber species: Holothuria (Halodeima) inornata Semper, 1868, Holothuria (Selenkothuria) lubrica Selenka, 1867, Holothuria (Selenkothuria) portovallartensis Caso, 1954, and Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) viridiaurantia Borrero-Pérez & Vanegas-González, 2019. The average density per species was 0.208, 0.108, 0.017, and 0.025 ind m-2) and proportion (%) of sea cucumbers were estimated. Organisms were photographed, examined live, and , respectively; each species' proportion was 58.1, 30.2, 4.7, and 7.0%, respectively. Due to the above values, we found that the number and spatial distribution of sea cucumber species vary in Matanchén Bay.

The sewage contains toxic chemical compounds that secondary treatment plants do not eliminate, and chlorine is usually added for disinfection before discharge. Chlorine reacts with sewage compounds forming other toxic compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of treated sewage from a secondary treatment plant using Danio rerio embryos. Three types of treated sewage were tested, one disinfected with chlorine gas (dCl2), another with sodium hypochlorite (dClO), and the plant discharge, which is a mixture of the two sewage disinfection methods (mCl) with a proportion of 70% of dCl2 and 30% of dClO. To estimate the median lethal dilution treated sewage was diluted with dechlorinated tap water at 20, 40, 60, and 80%. Two additional points were made with pure treated sewage and pure dechlorinated tap water. Embryos were exposed 1 h after fertilization (hpf) to 144 hpf. The dCl2 and the mCl were lethal at 60 and 72 hpf, respectively, while the dClO did not show lethality. The embryos exposed to the mCl showed heart failure and slower blood circulation. Those exposed to dCl2 showed teratogenic effects such as pericardial edema and spinal curvature, while those exposed to dClO presented malformations such as incomplete eye development and otolith formation absence.

The infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) is a highly pathogenic virus that affects the aquaculture of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and can cause mortality rates that exceed 90% in the juvenile stage. This study aims to know the distribution and frequency of IPNV presentation in trout production farms in the seven main producing states of the species in Peru. Prevalence values of IPNV have been identified in the states of Cusco (4.05%), Puno (3.81%), and Huancavelica (0.23%). These results showed the distribution and epidemiology of the IPNV that, until 2019, was absent in the country. Likewise, it represents the need to implement prevention and control measures against the virus to reduce the risk of dissemination to free states of IPNV. Finally, improving sanitary management against IPNV reduces its economic and productive impact on rainbow trout aquaculture in Peru.

The production of fingerlings on a large scale is one of the biggest challenges for grouper aquaculture development. Groupers may be more susceptible to skeletal anomalies due to their complex skeleton formation ontogenesis. Such anomalies are normally associated with inadequate larviculture protocols for marine fish. The present study aimed to record the occurrence of skeletal anomalies in dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus. Different degrees of kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis were identified. After the larviculture period (60 days), 42% of the dusky grouper presented skeletal anomalies. Therefore, we have concluded that the current protocol for the dusky grouper larviculture must be re-examined, especially to determine a more appropriate water flow in the tanks.

The presence of juvenile Branchiostoma elongatum captured in plankton samples from the north-central coast of Chile during February-March of consecutive years (2013-2020) is described. Its low abundance showed interannual variation as well as its frequency of occurrence. Its geographical distribution was preferably coastal. It covered the entire sampling area (1-20 nm from the coast) longitudinally, and specimens were captured between the extreme north of the sampling area and 30°20’S. The lowest abundances were found in years of negative thermal anomalies (2017-2018) and the highest mainly in neutral conditions (2013-2015).

In 2014, an unexpected and unusual warm patch of ocean water was discovered in the northeast Pacific Ocean (PO) that moved south, reaching the Mexican coasts; this patch, returning in 2019, was nicknamed "the Blob". This paper aimed to assess the impacts of this phenomenon on the sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (CHLA) levels in the Gulf of California (GC), a high-productivity region. Daily satellite images of SST and CHLA with a spatial resolution of 1 km/pixel were obtained for 2014, 2017, and 2019 from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Two disc-shaped areas of around 25 km in diameter were selected in the southern portion of the GC to assess the variability of both parameters quantitatively. An additional site was selected in the PO for comparison and, thus, to better characterize and have a complete vision of these events. The results showed that in the PO, during the periods in which the Blob occurred, the SST values were higher concerning the neutral year (2017), and the levels of CHLA were very low (barely 0.15 mg m-3). Within the GC, the results showed the presence of a strong seasonal variability, with maximum values of SST (>30°C) and the lowest concentrations of CHLA (<2 mg m-3) during the summer, with maximum concentrations of CHLA (~10 mg m-3) observed during the winter months. Contrary to expectations, no dramatic changes in SST and CHLA were observed during the years impacted by the Blob. This apparent absence of negative impacts could be related to different mechanisms in the gulf that "protect" to avoid climate disruptions. The presence of complex geomorphology and hydrodynamic processes at different scales induce mixing and fertilizing of the euphotic layer. Could these factors protect the southern gulf from the negative impacts of the Blob?