Mexican trouts - the need for Mexican trouts - the need for status surveys and researchstatus surveys and research

Dean A. Hendrickson-Univ. Texas, AustinDean A. Hendrickson-Univ. Texas, Austin

Lloyd T. Findley-CIAD, GuaymasLloyd T. Findley-CIAD, Guaymas

Héctor Espinosa Pérez-IBUNAMHéctor Espinosa Pérez-IBUNAM

•Sierra Madre Occidental•Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango•Rios Yaqui, Guzman, Mayo, Fuerte, Sinaloa, Culiacan, San Lorenzo, Presidio

(from Behnke. 1992. Native Trout of Western North America)

HistoryHistoryNeedham and GardNeedham and Gard

1936-371936-37Baja CaliforniaBaja California

1952 1952 Durango - Needham, Lattin, Durango - Needham, Lattin,

Weitzmann & Solorzano - Rios San Weitzmann & Solorzano - Rios San Lorenzo & PresidioLorenzo & Presidio

HistoryHistory

1953 - Flechsig & Moller - Rios 1953 - Flechsig & Moller - Rios Culiacán, Sinaloa, Fuerte (Verde) - Culiacán, Sinaloa, Fuerte (Verde) - Guadalupe y Calvo areaGuadalupe y Calvo area

1955 - Needham & Rupp - Yaqui 1955 - Needham & Rupp - Yaqui and Guzmánand Guzmán

HistoryHistory

1948 - A.S. Leopold - Yaqui (single collection)1948 - A.S. Leopold - Yaqui (single collection)

1960’s - R.R. Miller et al. - Yaqui, Mayo (various collections)1960’s - R.R. Miller et al. - Yaqui, Mayo (various collections)

1975 - C.H. Lowe, L.T. Findley, D.W. Owens, et al. - Mayo & 1975 - C.H. Lowe, L.T. Findley, D.W. Owens, et al. - Mayo & Yaqui (various collections)Yaqui (various collections)

HistoryHistory

1978 - Hendrickson, W.L. 1978 - Hendrickson, W.L. Minckley et al. - Yaqui (10 Minckley et al. - Yaqui (10 sites) & Mayo. First specimen sites) & Mayo. First specimen of rainbow trout in Yaqui in of rainbow trout in Yaqui in México, though trout culture México, though trout culture had clearly existed in the basin had clearly existed in the basin for many years before.for many years before.

1980’s - 1997 - 1980’s - 1997 - Hendrickson, Findley, Hendrickson, Findley, Espinosa, Mayden, Espinosa, Mayden, Tomelleri, Kuhajda, Tomelleri, Kuhajda, Nielsen, Jensen, and Nielsen, Jensen, and others. Various others. Various expeditions.expeditions.

What do we know?What do we know?• O. chrysogasterO. chrysogaster (Mexican golden trout) is (Mexican golden trout) is

sister to rest of genussister to rest of genus• Yaqui / Mayo / Guzmán forms undescribedYaqui / Mayo / Guzmán forms undescribed• Yaqui / Mayo / Guzman genetically Yaqui / Mayo / Guzman genetically

distinctive from other speciesdistinctive from other species• Guzmán apparently same as Yaqui Guzmán apparently same as Yaqui

(Bavispe)(Bavispe)• Some evidence for N & S Yaqui forms (S Some evidence for N & S Yaqui forms (S

form shared with Mayoform shared with Mayo• MANY questions remainMANY questions remain• MANY threatsMANY threats

LoggingLogging

LoggingLogging

•Early 1990’s mega-scale Early 1990’s mega-scale logging infrastructure project logging infrastructure project proposed (World Bank funding).proposed (World Bank funding). Impact studies began, Impact studies began, none directly related to aquatic systems. Project fell through none directly related to aquatic systems. Project fell through after several years, apparently due to economic issues.after several years, apparently due to economic issues.

•Road buildingRoad building continues, increasing access and human continues, increasing access and human population pressures in formerly remote areas. Tourism population pressures in formerly remote areas. Tourism following access.following access.

•Milling and other lumber processingMilling and other lumber processing often done in remote often done in remote areas with apparently areas with apparently little regard for impactslittle regard for impacts..

•stream sterilizationsstream sterilizations due to sawdust as early as 1930’s due to sawdust as early as 1930’s

•A. S. LeopoldA. S. Leopold - logging and other (e.g. predator removal) - logging and other (e.g. predator removal) impactsimpacts

Bosque ModeloBosque ModeloSustainable forestry developmentSustainable forestry development

Canadian international networkCanadian international network

•Improve forest future through Improve forest future through improved managementimproved management

•Biodiversity conservationBiodiversity conservation

•Create alternatives to Create alternatives to employment in logging industryemployment in logging industry

•Environmental educationEnvironmental education

•New technologies for natural New technologies for natural resource research & managementresource research & management

Bosque ModeloBosque Modelo

•General coordination (21%)General coordination (21%)•Ecotourism (?%)Ecotourism (?%)•ExtensionExtension and promotion (15%)and promotion (15%)•Pollution control (5%)Pollution control (5%)•Nursery / reforestation (9%)Nursery / reforestation (9%)

•Geographic Info. System (13%)Geographic Info. System (13%)•Trout culture (7%)Trout culture (7%)•Agricultural improvements (5%)Agricultural improvements (5%)

•Tree farming (12%)Tree farming (12%)•Wildlife (T&E birds) (3%)Wildlife (T&E birds) (3%)•Chihuahuan spruce protection Chihuahuan spruce protection and forestry promotion (11%)and forestry promotion (11%)

Bosque ModeloBosque Modelo•Calabazas - Ejido San JuanitoCalabazas - Ejido San Juanito

•El Aparique - Ejido El RanchitoEl Aparique - Ejido El Ranchito

•TrainingTraining of ejiditariosof ejiditarios

•Production & MarketingProduction & Marketing - - both both very successfulvery successful

•Promotion & supportPromotion & support - - “during “during this year we have seen private initiatives this year we have seen private initiatives and tank construction throughout the and tank construction throughout the region”region”

•Before/After impact monitoringBefore/After impact monitoring “there are absolutely no problems originating “there are absolutely no problems originating from operation of hatcheries”from operation of hatcheries”•FutureFuture - - “involving ejiditarios in all “involving ejiditarios in all aspects from start to finish guarantees that aspects from start to finish guarantees that all aspects of this technology will be all aspects of this technology will be perfectly adopted by the local community”perfectly adopted by the local community”

PromotionPromotion

Bella trucha nativa y única de tu región, el aparique, en peligro de extinción, ofrece alimenticia gratis, apoya turismo y es buen indicador de salud de tu ambiente general. Cuidala y no la amenaza por cultivar la trucha arco iris.

Current status?Current status?

Guzman systemGuzman system

•Río Escalariado - tiny, Río Escalariado - tiny, recently logged, very small recently logged, very small population, future very population, future very uncertainuncertain

•Río Seco (Needman and Río Seco (Needman and Gard) - ¿Seco? Needs Gard) - ¿Seco? Needs additional exploration.additional exploration.

•One other population One other population known.known.

Current status?Current status?Yaqui / Mayo systemsYaqui / Mayo systems

•No comprehensive survey No comprehensive survey since 1978, and that was since 1978, and that was mostly focused on lower mostly focused on lower elevations of Yaqui only.elevations of Yaqui only.

•Rainbows have long been Rainbows have long been in culture. Hybrids not yet in culture. Hybrids not yet documented.documented.

•Trout culture and logging Trout culture and logging rapidly expanding, fires rapidly expanding, fires have been recently severe.have been recently severe.

Tri

buta

ry R

ío N

egro

Current status?Current status?

Cas

cada

Bas

asea

chic

Many habitats are highly degraded, erosive, and incised into beds with little shading provided by riparian. Trout are absent from probable historic mid-elevation habitats and some high-elevation historic localities. The recent first drying of Cascada Basaseachic in recorded history is probably related to poor drainage management. Re-invasion after extirpation is often not possible.

Current status?Current status?

Small scale rainbow trout grow-out operations are rapidly becoming commonplace, even in very remote areas.

Tributary Río Candameña

And are highly susceptible to escapes.

Current status?Current status?

Native trouts are often found Native trouts are often found only in uppermost, tiny only in uppermost, tiny headwater streams.headwater streams.

Tributary Río Candameña (Mayo)

And are absent from And are absent from historic habitat in larger historic habitat in larger streams.streams.

Río Verde (Fuerte)

Current status?Current status?

Or, they persist in highly degraded habitats Or, they persist in highly degraded habitats where rainbows probably couldn’t survive where rainbows probably couldn’t survive

(e.g. Agua Blanca, Río Culiacán).(e.g. Agua Blanca, Río Culiacán).

RecommendationsRecommendations

•Status surveys throughout Sierra Madre Occidental Status surveys throughout Sierra Madre Occidental

including Rios San Lorenzo and Presidioincluding Rios San Lorenzo and Presidio

•Further genetic studies (with vouchering of specimens in Further genetic studies (with vouchering of specimens in

major collections)major collections)

•Habitat assessment and requirements studiesHabitat assessment and requirements studies

•Public educationPublic education

•Coordination with fish culture industry and government Coordination with fish culture industry and government

agenciesagencies

•Protected AreasProtected Areas

•Ecotourism (e.g. fly fishing)Ecotourism (e.g. fly fishing)

Paul R. Needham’s Paul R. Needham’s Trail of the Mexican troutTrail of the Mexican trout (1955, (1955, Pacific Discovery VIII(4):18-24) ends with “Maybe … Pacific Discovery VIII(4):18-24) ends with “Maybe … in 1936, a new era was started when trout will be freely in 1936, a new era was started when trout will be freely exchanged between the sister Republics to the mutual exchanged between the sister Republics to the mutual benefit of each.”benefit of each.”