Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae).

The family Acanthuridae is a key component of coral reef ecosystems as it controls macroalgae biomass buildup. During routine monitoring of benthic communities in the Mexican Caribbean, we observed unusual behaviour of a group of Acanthurus chirurgus, which were feeding on a tuna head left on site by travel tour personnel. This phenomenon has been documented in other herbivorous fish species, especially in places where tourism is a major coastal activity. Although many Acanthurus seek additional sources of protein by feeding on detritus, it is unusual for them to feed directly on fish flesh. Acanthurus chirurgus will incorporate proteins from animal tissues whenever the opportunity arises. Such opportunities occurred rarely in the past, but have become more frequent recently, related to increasing tourism activities where flesh is used as bait to attract the surrounding fauna.

Ciguatera in Mexico (1984⁻2013).

Historical records of ciguatera in Mexico date back to 1862. This review, including references and epidemiological reports, documents 464 cases during 25 events from 1984 to 2013: 240 (51.72%) in Baja California Sur, 163 (35.12%) in Quintana Roo, 45 (9.69%) in Yucatan, and 16 (3.44%) cases of Mexican tourists intoxicated in Cuba. Carnivorous fish, such as snapper (Lutjanus) and grouper (Epinephelus and Mycteroperca) in the Pacific Ocean, and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and snapper (Lutjanus) in the Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea), were involved in all cases. In the Mexican Caribbean, a sub-record of ciguatera cases that occurred before 1984 exists. However, the number of intoxications has increased in recent years, and this food poisoning is poorly studied in the region. Current records suggest that ciguatera fish poisoning in humans is the second most prevalent form of seafood poisoning in Mexico, only exceeded by paralytic shellfish poisoning (505 cases, 21 fatalities in the same 34-year period). In this study, the status of ciguatera in Mexico (epidemiological and treatment), and the fish vectors are reviewed. Dinoflagellate species Gambierdiscus, Ostreopsis, and Prorocentrum are related with the reported outbreaks, marine toxins, ecological risk, and the potential toxicological impact.

Lipophilic toxins in cultivated mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Baja California, Mexico.

Here, we report different lipophilic toxins (LTs) detected by LC-MS/MS in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected through 2012 in Todos Santos Bay, northwest Baja California, Mexico. The concentration of okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin 2 (DTX2), and pectenotoxin 2 (PTX2) reached 500 µg kg(-1) during July and increased to 1647 µg kg(-1) in October. These toxins were associated with the presence of Dinophysis fortii and Dinophysis acuminata and a strong stratification of the water column. Other LTs present were yessotoxins, with a maximum concentration of 1080 µg kg(-1) in June. Cyclic imines (13-desmethyl spirolide and gymnodimine) and azaspiracid 1 were also detected in the mussels but at low concentrations. Diarrhetic toxins concentrations evaluated by LC-MS/MS were compared with the results of two mouse bioassay protocols. Positive results were obtained with both MBA protocols in several samples that presented toxicities below 160 µg OA-eq kg(-1), as estimated by LC-MS/MS results whereas other samples returned negative MBA results in samples with concentrations above this level. Therefore, analytical methods need to be applied to confirm the presence of regulated LTs. This is the first report of LTs in mussels cultivated in Mexico. The occurrence of these toxins represents an emerging problem in the region.

Planktonic cyanobacteria of the tropical karstic lake Lagartos from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

The tropical karstic lakes on the Mexican Caribbean Sea coast are numerous. However, there is an enormous gap of knowledge about their limnological conditions and micro-algae communities. In the present study, surface water samples were collected monthly from November 2007 to September 2008 to provide taxonomical composition and biovolume of planktonic cyanobacteria of the lake Lagartos from State of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Water temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and soluble reactive silica (SRSi) levels were also analyzed. A total of 22 species were identified. Chroococcales and Oscillatoriales dominated the phytoplankton assemblages during the study period. Chroococcus pulcherrimus, Coelosphaerium confertum, Cyanodyction iac, Phormidium pachydermaticum and Planktolyngbya contorta were recorded for the first time in Mexico. A surplus of DIN (mean value of 42.7 microM) and low concentrations of SRP (mean value of 1.0 microM) promoted the enhanced growth and bloom formation of cyanobacteria. The mean biovolume was 3.22 x 10(8) microm3/mL, and two biovolume peaks were observed; the first was dominated by Microcystis panniformis in November 2007 (7.40 x 10(8) microm3/mL), and the second was dominated by Oscillatoriaprinceps in April 2008 (6.55 x 10(8) microm3/mL). Water quality data, nitrates enrichment, and trophic state based on biovolume, indicated that Lagartos is a hyposaline, secondarily phosphorus-limited, and eutrophic lake, where the cyanobacteria flora was composed mainly by non-heterocystous groups.

Planktonic Cyanobacteria of the tropical karstic lake Lagartos from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico / Las cianobacterias planctónicas del lago tropical cárstico Lagartos de la Península de Yucatán, México

The tropical karstic lakes on the Mexican Caribbean Sea coast are numerous. However, there is an enormous gap of knowledge about their limnological conditions and micro-algae communities. In the present study, surface water samples were collected monthly from November 2007 to September 2008 to provide taxonomical composition and biovolume of planktonic cyanobacteria of the lake Lagartos from State of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Water temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and soluble reactive silica (SRSi) levels were also analyzed. A total of 22 species were identified. Chroococcales and Oscillatoriales dominated the phytoplankton assemblages during the study period. Chroococcus pulcherrimus, Coelosphaerium confertum, Cyanodyction iac, Phormidium pachydermaticum and Planktolyngbya contorta were recorded for the first time in Mexico. A surplus of DIN (mean value of 42.7µM) and low concentrations of SRP (mean value of 1.0µM) promoted the enhanced growth and bloom formation of cyanobacteria. The mean biovolume was 3.22X10(8)µm³/mL, and two biovolume peaks were observed; the first was dominated by Microcystis panniformis in November 2007 (7.40X10(8)µm³/mL), and the second was dominated by Oscillatoria princeps in April 2008 (6.55X10(8)µm³/mL). Water quality data, nitrates enrichment, and trophic state based on biovolume, indicated that Lagartos is a hyposaline, secondarily phosphorus-limited, and eutrophic lake, where the cyanobacteria flora was composed mainly by non-heterocystous groups.

Los lagos cársticos tropicales en la costa del Caribe mexicano son numerosos. Sin embargo, existe un enorme desconocimiento acerca de sus condiciones limnológicas y de las comunidades de microalgas que se desarrollan en ellos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue estudiar las condiciones limnológicas en las que crecen las poblaciones de cianobacterias planctónicas del lago Lagartos, Quintana Roo, México. Las recolectas se realizaron de forma mensual entre noviembre 2007 y septiembre 2008. Las especies fueron identificadas y su biovolumen determinado. Se midieron in situ la temperatura del agua, pH, conductividad y salinidad. También, se analizaron las concentraciones de fósforo reactivo soluble (SRP), nitrógeno inorgánico disuelto (DIN) y sílice reactivo soluble (SRSi). Se identificaron 22 especies de cianobacterias. Chroococcus pulcherrimus, Coelosphaerium confertum, Cyanodyction iac, Phormidium pachydermaticum y Planktolyngbya contorta fueron nuevos registros para México. Un exceso de DIN (valor promedio de 42.7µM) y bajas concentraciones de PRS (valor promedio de 1.0µM) promovieron la proliferación de cianobacterias. El biovolumen presentó dos picos: el primero en noviembre 2007, dominado por Microcystis panniformis (7.40X10(8)µm³/mL) y el segundo en abril 2008, representado por Oscillatoria princeps (6.55X10(8)µm³/mL). Los datos de calidad del agua, el enriquecimiento por nitratos y el estado trófico basado en el biovolumen, indican que Lagartos es un lago hiposalino, eutrófico, con limitación secundaria por fósforo, donde los crecimientos masivos de cianobacterias sin heterocitos fueron recurrentes.