Search Results (116)

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition caused by abnormal contact between the femur head and the acetabulum, which damages the labrum and articular cartilage. While the prevalence and the type of impingement may vary across human groups, the variability among populations with short height or with a high prevalence of overweight has not yet been explored. Latin American studies have rarely been conducted in reference to this condition, including the Mayan and mestizo populations from the Yucatan Peninsula. Objective: We aimed to describe the prevalence of morphological changes in femoroacetabular impingement by measuring radiological angles in abdominopelvic tomography studies in a sample of patients from a population with short height. Methods: In this prospective study, patients with programmed abdominopelvic tomography unrelated to femoroacetabular impingement but with consistent symptoms were included. Among the 98 patients, the overall prevalence of unrelated femoroacetabular impingement was 47%, and the pincer-type was the most frequent. The cam-type occurred more frequently among individuals with taller stature compared to their peers. Alpha and Wiberg angles predicted cam- and pincer-type, respectively, with over 0.95 area under the curve values in ROC analyses. The inter-rater agreement in the study was >91%. Conclusions: In a patient population from Yucatan, Mexico, attending ambulatory consultations unrelated to femoroacetabular impingement, an overall morphological changes prevalence of 47% was observed. Angle measurements using tomographic techniques can be used to predict cam- and pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement. Average stature was observed to be shorter in patients with cam-type femoroacetabular impingement, but body mass index did not vary between groups. Full article

This paper presents a meta-analysis of mangrove area in Mexico, using linear mixed models to assess trends from 1970 to 2020. The objective is to highlight the changes in the extent of these vital ecosystems over the past five decades. The analysis reveals a concerning decline of approximately 163.33 hectares per year from 1970 to 2005. Although a rebound was observed starting in 2016—likely due to effective conservation efforts—these ecosystems continue to decline overall. The states that have shown a consistent decline in mangrove area include Campeche, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Colima, and Jalisco. Threats to mangroves vary significantly by region. In the North Pacific, the expansion of aquaculture farms has contributed to over 60% of mangrove loss. In contrast, the Yucatán Peninsula faces challenges from urban development, oil exploitation, and road expansion. Additionally, tourism activities have severely impacted the states of Colima, Jalisco, Guerrero, and Quintana Roo. In the Gulf of Mexico, the primary threats include aquaculture, transportation routes, and hydraulic infrastructure. Based on these findings, seven action strategies for the ecological restoration of mangroves are proposed. These strategies, drawn from successful case studies and existing literature, include: comprehensive restoration initiatives, expansion of research and data sources, updates to current regulations, regulation of anthropogenic activities, inter-institutional coordination, education and awareness-raising efforts, and continuous monitoring and evaluation. Full article

The present work is focused on developing and implementing a minimally invasive methodology for material characterization of traditional pottery from Yucatan, México. The developed methodology, which combines elemental (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)) and molecular (fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS)) spectroscopic analytical techniques, allowed for the characterization of contemporary pottery objects manufactured following traditional recipes in the town of Uayma, Yucatán, México and raw materials associated with the pottery manufacturing process. The results allowed us to detect and estimate the number of selected elements and helped to infer the presence of complex materials such as iron oxides, aluminosilicates, and calcium carbonate. Additionally, the analysis indicated two pottery groups separated by their elemental and molecular composition, corresponding to the sources of raw materials employed by the potters. It confirmed the absence of toxic compounds in ceramic objects, a significant concern for potters, as some objects are intended for domestic use. The research findings provide reassurance about the safety of these products. Full article

Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, an endangered, fast-moving arboreal primate species with a large home range and a high degree of fission–fusion dynamics, are challenging to survey in their natural habitats. Our objective was to evaluate how different flight parameters affect the detectability of spider monkeys in videos recorded by a drone equipped with a thermal infrared camera and examine the level of agreement between coders. We used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the impact of flight speed (2, 4, 6 m/s), flight height (40, 50 m above ground level), and camera angle (−45°, −90°) on spider monkey counts in a closed-canopy forest in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Our results indicate that none of the three flight parameters affected the number of detected spider monkeys. Agreement between coders was “substantial” (Fleiss’ kappa coefficient = 0.61–0.80) in most cases for high thermal-contrast zones. Our study contributes to the development of standardized flight protocols, which are essential to obtain accurate data on the presence and abundance of wild populations. Based on our results, we recommend performing drone surveys for spider monkeys and other medium-sized arboreal mammals with a small commercial drone at a 4 m/s speed, 15 m above canopy height, and with a −90° camera angle. However, these recommendations may vary depending on the size and noise level produced by the drone model. Full article

In this work, electrical resistivity tomography was carried out together with physical hydrogeology techniques to evaluate the karst aquifer in the northwest region of the Yucatán Peninsula in a study area near the western edge of the Ring of Cenotes of the Chicxulub Crater. In addition, based on a systematic compilation of open-access data of water levels reported for the peninsular aquifer, maps of groundwater isolines and groundwater flows were generated using IDW interpolation, Empirical Bayesian Kriging, and the Flow Net method. From these results, a shallow aquifer is observed, with the presence of heterogeneities such as possible dissolution conduits and/or flooded caverns, approximately 20 m below ground level, formed by the dissolution processes of limestone rocks. On a regional scale, the geomorphological influence of the Ring of Cenotes on groundwater flows was observed. In general, the flow directions observed from these maps coincide with those conceptualized for this region of the peninsular aquifer. Nevertheless, some differences were observed depending on the interpolation method used. Our results contribute to hydrogeological studies carried out in the periphery of this ring, where the vulnerability of the aquifer to anthropogenic contamination has been highlighted due to the intrinsic features of the karst environment. Full article

Comprehensive morphometric and hydrometeorological studies on Bacalar Lagoon, Mexico’s largest tropical karstic lake and a significant aquatic system of the Yucatán Peninsula, are lacking. This study provides a detailed analysis of its bathymetry, morphometry, and hydrometeorological characteristics. The lake’s main basin stretches more than 52.7 km in length, with widths varying from 0.18 km to 2.28 km. It has a volume of 554.4 million cubic meters, with an average depth of 8.85 m, reaching depths of up to 26 m in the north and featuring sub-lacustrine dolines in the south, with depths of 38 m, 48.5 m, and 63.6 m. The study reveals seasonal variations in surface water temperature, closely linked to air temperature (r = 0.89), and immediate responses of water levels to hydrometeorological events. Water level fluctuations also exhibit seasonal patterns that are correlated with regional aquifer conditions, with a lag of 2 months after seasonal rainfall. Interannual variability in rainfall and water levels was observed. From 2010 to 2012, rainfall consistently remained below its mean climatic value, due to a prolonged La Niña event, while the exceptionally wet conditions in 2020 were also associated with La Niña. Extreme and anomalous hydrometeorological events, such as those following tropical storm Cristobal in 2020, revealed the fragility of Bacalar Lagoon, causing a notable transformation in lake color and transparency, shifting it from its typical oligotrophic state to eutrophic conditions that lasted longer than a year. These color changes raise questions about the factors impacting ecological health in tropical karstic regions. Additional factors affecting water quality in the BL in 2020, such as deforestation, coastline changes, and urban growth, warrant further investigation. Our study can serve as a starting landmark. Full article

Even though the role of ecosystem services is known, the identification and assessment of water-related services is usually absent or often less represented as an ecosystem service. Progress in water quality indicator definition and compliance with regulations has been made; however, the relationship between water quality degradation and benefits to individuals and ecosystems remains little recognized. Here, we present an assessment of water quality and identification of ecosystem services in south-east Mexico. This study was performed within the geohydrological reserve zone of the Ring of Sinkholes, Yucatán Peninsula. Thirteen ecosystem services provided by the aquifer were identified. Water quality was evaluated in sinkholes based on national and international norms, considering different sinkhole uses. Results show a dynamic system, without saltwater intrusion and good to excellent water quality. The research demonstrates the relationship between ecosystem services and water quality, showing pressure in services related to uses for aquatic life protection and to a lesser extent those related to consumption. Current productive activities showed no pressure at this time. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) exhibited a significant difference in parameters and campaigns, but not between sinkholes. A long-lasting monitoring program for water quality is necessary to accurately evaluate the status of ecosystem services provided by the aquifer. Moreover, it is necessary to assess aquifers as ecosystems with economic, ecologic and socio-cultural importance. Effective water governance requires a balance of interests between all parties, within a legal and institutional framework. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus infections are prevalent in healthcare and community environments. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is catalogued as a superbug of high priority among the pathogens. This Gram-positive coccus can form biofilms and produce toxins, leading to persistent infection and antibiotic resistance. Limited effective antibiotics have encouraged the development of innovative strategies, with a particular emphasis on resistance mechanisms and/or virulence factors. Medicinal aromatic plants have emerged as promising alternative sources. This study investigated the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antihemolysis properties of three different chemotypes of Lippia origanoides essential oil (EO) against susceptible and drug-resistant S. aureus strains. The chemical composition of the EO was analyzed using GC-MS, revealing high monoterpene concentrations, with carvacrol and thymol as the major components in two of the chemotypes. The third chemotype consisted mainly of the sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene. The MIC values for the two monoterpene chemotypes ranged from 62.5 to 500 µg/mL for all strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype showed activity against seven strains at concentrations of 125–500 µg/mL, which is the first report of its anti-S. aureus activity. The phenolic chemotypes inhibited biofilm formation in seven S. aureus strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype only inhibited biofilm formation in four strains. In addition, phenolic chemotypes displayed antihemolysis activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 58.9 ± 3.8 to 128.3 ± 9.2 µg/mL. Our study highlights the importance of L. origanoides EO from the Yucatan Peninsula, which has the potential for the development of anti-S. aureus agents. Full article

The persistent increase in marine plastic litter has become a major global concern, with one of the highest plastic concentrations in the world’s oceans found in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). In this study, we use marine plastic litter tracking simulations to investigate where marine plastic accumulates, i.e., hotspots, in the WCR and how the accumulation varies on seasonal timescales. We show that most of the marine plastic waste converges on the coastlines shortly after being released into the WCR because of the strong surface current and the predominant easterly winds. Major plastic accumulations take place along (i) the western coastline of the WCR, especially the north–south-oriented coasts of Costa Rica/Nicaragua, Guatemala/Belize/Mexico, and Texas, and (ii) the coastlines of Haiti–Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Relatively low plastic accumulation is found along western Florida, the western Yucatán peninsula, and the leeward and windward Caribbean islands. Accumulation along the western WCR coastlines is modulated primarily by ocean currents and exhibits significant seasonal variabilities due to changes in wind patterns. The accumulation observed on the Haiti–Dominican Republic and Venezuela coastlines is primarily due to the proximity of large, mismanaged plastic waste sources. Finally, we discuss the uncertainty associated with the choices made in defining the different criteria for plastic beaching in the models. Full article

Understanding the process underlying species coexistence is crucial in ecology. This challenge is relevant in tree communities inhabiting contrasting abiotic conditions, such as lowland floodplain and shallow hillslope karstic systems. We examined the influence of topographic variables and spatial factors on the structure of tree communities in the karstic system in Calakmul, Mexico. We measured 7050 trees (diameter at breast height ≥ 3 cm) in 152 circular plots and generated seven topographic variables from a digital elevation model. We employed redundancy analysis and variance partitioning to test the effects of environmental and spatial factors on tree communities. In addition, we used the null Raup–Crick model to uncover the relative importance of the deterministic and stochastic processes driving community assembly. Our study revealed significant floristic distinction between seasonally flooded and upland forests. The topographic wetness index (TWI) contribution to explaining the floristic differentiation in the studied tree assemblages was greater than that of the other topography-related variables. The explanatory power of the environmental and spatial factors varied slightly between datasets. The null model indicated a predominant influence of deterministic over stochastic processes. Our findings reaffirm the role of seasonal flooding as an abiotic filter. Additionally, the TWI can serve to identify flood-prone conditions within shallow depressions. The preservation of adjacent seasonally flooded and upland forests is relevant for the maintenance of tree diversity in the karst of the Yucatan Peninsula, since flooding drives the distribution of species. Full article

Remote sensing is an invaluable research tool for the analysis of marine and terrestrial water bodies. However, it has some technical limitations in waters with oligotrophic conditions or close to them due to the low spectral response of some water parameters to the signal from the sensors to be used. In this work, we use remote sensing to evaluate a set of water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, oxidation–reduction potential, electrical conductivity, salinity, and turbidity) in the Bacalar Lagoon, located in the Mexican Caribbean, which has experienced in recent years a dramatic change from its natural oligotrophic condition to mesotrophic and eutrophic due to anthropogenic contamination. This was accomplished through the correlation and linear regression analysis between reflectance images processed from Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2, with in situ measurements for each physicochemical parameter considered, and the development of statistical models to predict their values in places where only the reflectance values were available. The results of this work indicate the feasibility of using remote sensing to monitor electrical conductivity, salinity, turbidity, and total dissolved solids since their predicted values agree with those reported at various sites within this lagoon. Full article

The stingless bee Melipona beecheii is experiencing colony decline due to floral resource scarcity caused by deforestation. A study was conducted to identify the floral resources used by M. beecheii using honey samples collected in four regions of the state of Campeche, Mexico. A melissopalynological analysis of sixteen collected honey samples identified 69 plant species from 24 families, and established that Fabaceae was the main plant family visited. Based on botanical origin, seven samples were classified as monofloral and nine as multifloral. The predominant species were Bursera simaruba, Lonchocarpus longistylus, Piscidia piscipula, Senna pallida and Senna racemosa. Shannon diversity index values (2.06–2.55) indicated moderate diversity in floral resources and Simpson diversity index values (0.82–0.89) indicated a moderate dominance of plant species in the studied regions. The results suggest M. beecheii is polylectic with some degree of specialization. The plant species identified as predominant in the studied honey samples are candidates for use in strategies intended to conserve the food resources used by M. beecheii on the Yucatan Peninsula. Full article

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs, generally viewed as policies to modernize and increase agricultural production and commercialization, also have social and environmental impacts. Among the first Mexican CCT programs, PROCAMPO is directed toward traditional agriculture and pays farmers for permanent cultivation, ignoring traditional fallow systems. It was implemented nationally in 1994 to counteract the effects of trade liberalization. Its objectives encompassed modernizing and improving agricultural competitiveness and environmental conservation. Here, we analyze PROCAMPO from the perspective of environmental conservation to understand its effects on agricultural practices and forest cover, specifically in the Yucatán Peninsula, where agriculture sustainability was previously achieved via an alternating cycle of multi-crop system (milpa) and forest. We performed an in-depth program analysis, reviewing 51 documents, including scientific literature, technical evaluations, and official records. Research consistently showed direct effects of PROCAMPO on agricultural practices resulting in extensive land use change, including a reduction in crop diversity and the elimination of traditional milpas and fallow. PROCAMPO has impacted conservation by causing high rates of deforestation. Our findings show the need to reorient the design and implementation of agricultural policy to increase agroecosystem resilience and ecological service provision to face climate change. Full article

Dioscorea remotiflora, a perennial climbing herbaceous plant native to Mexico, produces tubers with great nutritional and ethnobotanical value. However, most ecological aspects of this plant remain unknown, which limits its cultivation and use. This is why the objective of this research was to characterize the ecogeography of D. remotiflora as a source to determine its edaphoclimatic adaptability and current and potential distribution. A comprehensive database encompassing 480 geo-referenced accessions was assembled from different data sources. Using the Agroclimatic Information System for México and Central America (SIAMEXCA), 42 environmental variables were formulated. The MaxEnt model within the Kuenm R package was employed to predict the species distribution. The findings reveal a greater presence of D. remotiflora in harsh environments, characterized by arid to semiarid conditions, poor soils, and hot climates with long dry periods. Niche modeling revealed that seven key variables determine the geographical distribution of D. remotiflora: precipitation of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the driest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, November–April solar radiation, annual mean relative humidity, annual moisture availability index, and May–October mean temperature. The current potential distribution of D. remotiflora is 428,747.68 km². Favorable regions for D. remotiflora coincide with its current presence sites, while other suitable areas, such as the Yucatán Peninsula, northeast region, and Gulf of Mexico, offer potential expansion opportunities for the species distribution. The comprehensive characterization of Dioscorea remotiflora, encompassing aspects such as its soil habitats and climate adaptation, becomes essential not only for understanding its ecology but also for maximizing its economic potential. This will enable not only its sustainable use but also the exploration of commercial applications in sectors such as the pharmaceutical and food industries, thus providing a broader approach for its conservation and optimal utilization in the near future. Full article

The screening of rare plants from the Yucatan region and the known native plants in Mexico, that have been successfully introduced worldwide, has been conducted. Based on a literature analysis and a search of English and Spanish scientific information regarding botanical, plant biochemical, and antioxidant potential in databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, as well as the national databases of Mexico (Flora: Yucatan Peninsula (cicy.mx) and Especies endémicas|Biodiversidad Mexicana), rare or underutilized plants from the Yucatan region with antioxidant potential have been selected. The formulas of the most studied secondary metabolites of these selected rare plants are shown. Among the selected rare plants with antioxidant potential, the families Sapidaceae and Anacardiaceae had the highest number of representatives. Additionally, representatives from the families Annonaceae, Moraceae, Malpighiaceae, Solanaceae, Ebenaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, and Leguminosae were also presented. The current scientific data analysis of selected rare plants from the Yucatan region, Mexico, provides significant background for their further use and introduction in not only the Yucatan region of Mexico, but also worldwide. Full article