• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.17-30
• /
• 2019

Intensive agricultural development in Mexicali valley, Baja-California, Mexico, has induced tremendous strain on the limited water resources. Agricultural water consumption in the valley mainly relies on diversions of the Colorado River, but their water supply is far less than the demand. Hence, the use of groundwater for irrigation purposes has gained considerable attention. To account for these changes, it is important to evaluate surface water and groundwater conditions based on historical water use. This study identified the effects of agricultural activities on groundwater levels and groundwater recharge in the Mexicali valley (in irrigation unit 16) by a comprehensive MODFLOW Farm process (MF-FMP) numerical modeling. The MF-FMP modeling results showed that the water table in the study area is drawn downed, more in eastern areas. The inflow-outflow analysis demonstrated that recharge to the aquifer occurs in response to agricultural supplies. In general, the model provides MF-FMP simulations of natural and anthropogenic components of the hydrologic cycle, the distribution and dynamics of supply and demand in the study area.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.63-74
• /
• 2022

Perennial stipitate kelps are globally distributed and individual species can inhabit broad latitudinal ranges, expressing notably longevous persistence. Despite the foundational role kelps provide to their communities, little is known about the variability in persistence of the stipitate kelps at local spatial scales. We studied the population persistence of Eisenia arborea, a heat- and wave force-tolerant perennial stipitate kelp with a distributional range extending from British Columbia to south of the range limit of all other northeast Pacific kelps, in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Persistence characteristics for E. arborea among sites were compared and used to test the hypothesis that stand persistence varied at local spatial scales around Isla Natividad, a Pacific island off the Baja California peninsula with documented spatiotemporal environmental heterogeneity. Collected individuals around the island were "aged" using the previously validated age estimation technique of counting annual cortical dark rings. After detecting no significant differences among sites in the covariation between estimated ages for collected individuals and stipe length, we utilized in-situ population-level stipe length measurements to more rapidly predict age structures within six stands around the island. Predicted age structures, and associated stand densities, revealed persistence characteristics and density varied at local scales and a strong positive relationship existed between stand density and stand mean and maximum ages. We speculate that stands responded differently to deterministic influences (e.g., the 2014-2016 marine heatwave and / or competition with Macrocystis) resulting in heterogenous local persistence of this foundation species.

• Ocean Science Journal
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.191-193
• /
• 2006

Two specimens of Lutjanus inermis, the most unusual species of the genus in the tropical eastern Pacific region, were collected at La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico in November 2005, 400 km northward from the type locality. The golden snapper can be recognized by its long anal fin, and its yellowish peduncle and caudal fin that sometimes present a reddish phase. Present it record is the first documented and verified report supported by voucher specimens of L. inermis inside the Gulf of California since its original description in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, setting the northern geographic limit to the Cortes Province.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1563-1567
• /
• 2017

Objective: The influence of substituting steam-flaked corn (SFC) for dry rolled corn (DRC) on feedlot cattle growth performance and dietary net energy when cattle are allowed either ad libitum or 2-h restricted access to the finishing diet was evaluated. Methods: Treatment effects were tested using 96 crossbred steers ($251{\pm}2kg$) during the initial 56 d of the finishing phase. Cattle were blocked by weight and randomly assigned within blocks to 16 pens (4 pens/treatment). Bunk space was sufficient (41 cm/head) to allow all steers access to the feed bunk at the same time. Treatments consisted of two finishing diets containing (dry matter basis) 77.1% corn grain processed by dry rolling (density = 0.50 kg/L) or steam flaking (density = 0.36 kg/L). Cattle were fed twice daily at 06:00 and 14:00 h, allowing for approximately 5% residual. In the case of restricted feeding, steers were allowed access to feeders for 1 h following each feeding, after which residual feed was withdrawn. Results: There were no treatment interactions on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), gain efficiency (G:F), or dietary net energy (NE). Restricting feed access time reduced (p<0.01) feed intake, and hence, ADG. Substitution of SFC for DRC increased (p<0.01) ADG, feed efficiency (G:F), and estimated dietary NE, without affecting DMI. Based on tabular net energy of maintenance ($NE_m$) value (2.18 Mcal/kg) for DRC, the estimated $NE_m$ value for SFC using the replacement technique, averaged 2.44 Mcal/kg; an improvement of 10.7%. The ratio of observed-to-expected dietary NE was not affected by feed access time. Conclusion: Substitution of SFC for DRC in finishing diets for feedlot cattle enhanced ADG, gain efficiency, and the NE value of the diet. Although restriction of feed access time depressed DMI and ADG, it did not affect the comparative benefit of steam flaking toward enhancement of ADG, G:F, and dietary NE.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.209-216
• /
• 2019

Objective: We compare the effects of three different approved sources of supplemental zilpaterol on growth-performance responses and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs. Methods: Twenty four Pelibuey${\times}$Katahdin lambs ($46.75{\pm}2.43kg$) were used in a 33-day feeding trial. Lambs were fed a dry rolled corn-based finishing diet. Treatments consisted of the non-supplemental basal diet (Control) versus the basal diet supplemented with 125 mg zilpaterol/kg of diet (as fed basis) from three commercial sources marketed in Mexico: Zilmax (ZIL), Grofactor, and Zipamix. Results: Compared to controls, zilpaterol (ZH) supplementation did not affect dry matter intake (DMI), but increased carcass adjusted daily weight gain (ADG, 36.7%), gain efficiency (34.2%), and dietary net energy (26.0%), and decreased (23.4%) the ratio of observed:expected DMI. Compared to controls, supplemental ZH increased hot carcass weight (6.4%), dressing percentage (3.2%), m. longissimus thoracis (LM) area (15.6%), and shoulder muscle:fat ratio (28.7%), but decreased kidney-pelvic-heart fat, and fat thickness. Supplemental ZH increased 10.9% and 14.3% whole cut weight of loin and leg, respectively, and the proportion (as percentage of cold carcass weight) of leg (4.3%). These increases were reflected in greater forequarter and hindquarter weights. Lambs fed ZH increased (4.6%) empty body weight (EBW) and reduced (14.7%) liver/spleen weight (as g/kg EBW). Likewise, ZH supplementation tended (p = 0.08) to lower (8.9%) visceral fat. Growth performance, energetic efficiency, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, LM area and whole cuts were not different across supplemental ZH sources. However, compared with non-supplemented controls, only ZIL appreciably decreased carcass fat distribution, including fat thickness, percentage kidney pelvic and heart fat, shoulder fat, and visceral fat. Conclusion: Supplemental ZH increases ADG, gain efficiency, carcass dressing percentage, and LM area. The magnitude of these responses was similar among ZH sources. Nevertheless, compared with non-supplemented controls, only ZIL appreciably decreases carcass fat. The basis for this is uncertain, but indicative that some practical differences in zilpaterol bio-equivalency may exist across commercial sources tested.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.859-863
• /
• 2018

Objective: Since very little information exists about the topic; in this experiment we compare, in a long-term finishing program, the growth-performance responses and carcass characteristics of Holstein steers where non-structural carbohydrate concentration of the diet is reduced from 64% to 51% (dry matter basis). Methods: Sixty Holstein steer calves ($129{\pm}2.2kg$) were blocked by initial weight into five groups and randomly assigned within weight groupings to 10 pens. Calves were fed with a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets containing 51% higher fiber (HF) or 64% lower fiber (LF) nonstructural carbohydrates. Non-structural carbohydrates concentrations were manipulated substituting dried distiller grain with solubles and alfalfa hay for flaked corn. Cattle were weighed every 112 days and at the end of the experiment (day 308) when the cattle were harvested and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Results: Steers fed the HF diet showed improvement (8.8%) in average daily gain (ADG) during the initial 112-d period. This effect was followed by a numerical trend for greater ADG throughout the remainder of the study so that overall ADG tended to be greater (4.9%, p = 0.06) for the HF than for LF. There were no treatment effects on dry matter intake. Gain efficiency and estimated dietary net energy (NE) were greater 8.3% and 5.2%, respectively for HF during the initial 112-d period. Overall (308-d) gain efficiency and estimated dietary NE were similar for both dietary treatments. However, due to differences in tabular dietary NE, the ratio of observed:expected dietary NE tended to be greater (4.1%, p = 0.06) for the HF vs LF diet. There were no treatment effects on carcass characteristics except for a tendency toward a slightly greater (0.5%, p = 0.09) estimated carcass yield. Conclusion: Reducing the non-structural carbohydrate concentration of a conventional steam-flaked corn-based growing finishing diet for Holstein steers can effectively enhance growth performance, particularly during the early growing and late finishing phases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 2014

Forty-eight Pelibuey${\times}$Katahdin male intact lambs ($23.87{\pm}2.84$ kg) were used in an 84-d feeding trial, with six pens per treatment in a $2{\times}2$ factorial design arrangement. The aim of the study was to evaluate the interaction of two dietary energy levels (3.05 and 2.83 Mcal/kg ME) and two dietary protein levels (17.5% and 14.5%) on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass traits. The dietary treatments used were: i) High protein-high energy (HP-HE); ii) High protein-low energy (HP-LE); iii) Low protein-high energy (LP-HE), and iv) Low protein-low energy (LP-LE). With a high-energy level, dry matter intake (DMI) values were 6.1% lower in the low-protein diets, while with low-energy, the DMI values did not differ between the dietary protein levels. Energy levels did not influence the final weight and average daily gain (ADG), but resulted in lower DMI values and higher gain efficiencies. No effects of protein level were detected on growth performance. The observed dietary net energy (NE) ratio and observed DMI were closer than expected in all treatments and were not affected by the different treatments. There was an interaction (p<0.03) between energy and protein level for kidney-pelvic and heart fat (KPH), KPH was higher in lambs fed high energy and high protein diet but not in high energy and low protein diet. The KPH was increased (20.2%, p = 0.01) in high-energy diets, while fat thickness was increased (21.7%, p = 0.02) in high-protein diets. Therefore, it is concluded that dietary energy levels play a more important role in feed efficiency than protein levels in finishing lambs with a high-energy diet (>2.80 Mcal/kg ME). Providing a level of protein above 14.5% does not improves growth-performance, dietary energetics or carcass dressing percentage.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.231-241
• /
• 2018

Genetic continuity of Digenea simplex outside the Atlantic waters remains less studied, despite its long exposure to oriental folk medicine and wide distribution in tropical waters. Mitochondrial COI-5P and plastid rbcL sequences and morphology were investigated for plants from Mexico and additional specimens from Japan. Two new species, Digenea mexicana and Digenea rafaelii, are described for plants that would previously have been recognized as D. simplex in Mexico. D. mexicana grows to 10.5 cm tall and has cylindrical axes, irregular or di-, trichotomous branches, simple to branched determinate branchlets with eight pericentral cells, and tetrasporangia on inflated upper parts of determinate branchlets. It occurs intertidally in Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula. D. rafaelii grows to 5 cm tall and has cylindrical axes, irregular or di-, trichotomous branches, and simple determinate branchlets with ten pericentral cells. It occurs intertidally in the Gulf of California. Both COI-5P and rbcL sequences revealed the genetic discontinuity between D. mexicana and D. rafaelii.

• Ocean Science Journal
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.161-164
• /
• 2008

One specimen of Pteraclis aesticola was collected off San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico ($22^{\circ}54'N$, $109^{\circ}45'W$), in March 2007. Present record is the first reported occurrence of the species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific biogeographic region (Gulf of California to southern Ecuadorian waters). Its large fan-like anal and dorsal fins and its counts of fin rays and vertebrae can distinguish the Pacific fanfish from the other species in the genus. This fish may have not yet been recorded in the region because its presence has been overlooked in the past because of rarity and lack of commercial value.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.90 no.3
• /
• pp.313-323
• /
• 2024

Most of existing buildings in Mexico City are made of reinforced concrete (RC), however, it has been shown that they are very susceptible to narrow-band long duration ground motions. In recent years, the use of dual systems composed by Buckling Restrained Braces (BRB) has increased due to its high energy dissipation capacity under reversible cyclical loads. Therefore, in this work the behavior of RC buildings with BRB is studied in order to know their performance, specifically, the energy distribution through height and response transformation factors between the RC and simplified systems are estimated. For this propose, seven RC buildings with different heights were designed according to the Mexico City Seismic Design Provisions (MCSDP), in addition, equivalent single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems were obtained. Incremental dynamic analyses on the buildings under 30 narrow-band ground motions in order to compute the relationship between normalized hysteretic energy, maximum inter-story drift and roof displacement demands were performed. The results shown that the entire structural frames participate in energy dissipation and their distribution is independent of the global ductility. The results let propose energy distribution equations through height. Finally, response transformation factors between the SDOF and multi degree of freedom (MDOF) systems were developed aimed to propose a new energy-based approach of BRB reinforced concrete buildings.