CEDONews

Noticias

A journal of the Northern Gulf of California, its islands & surrounding Sonoran Desert

2002

DeiCEDQ

Una revista del Golfo de California Norte, sus is/as y el Desierto Sonorense circundante

2002

Vol. 10 No. 1

Biodiversity

Biodiversidad

in the Northern Gulf of California

en el Golfo de California Norte

by: Richard C. Brusca, Ph.D.*

por: Richard C. Brusca, Ph .D.*

The Environment of the Northern Gulf

El Ambiente del Golfo Norte

The first serious collector of marine life in the Sea of Cortez was not a biologist, but a U.S. government Oliva porphyria tidal observer named John Xantus (de Vesey), who was stationed at the tip of the Baja California peninsula from1859 to 1861. Fifty years later, marine organisms were trawled in the Southern Gulf by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross. Both the Xantus and the Albatross collections reside today at the Smithsonian Institution. However, it was in 1940 that marine biology in the Gulf had its birth, with the remarkable pioneering expedition of Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck aboard the Western Flyer, a purse seiner out of Monterey, California (Hedgpeth 1978). The biology (and philosophy) of that amazing voyage is chronicled in "The Log from the Sea of Cortez" (Steinbeck and Ricketts 1941). The expedition was repeated by J. Laurens Barnard (of the Smithsonian Institution) and the author in 1975 (Brusca 1993). Subsequent expeditions from (continued on page 20)

El primer coleccionista de vida marina en el Mar de Cortes no fue un bi61ogo, sino un observador de mareas del gobierno de los EE.UU. de nombre John Xantus (de Vesey) , quien estuvo radicado en el extrema sur de Ia peninsula de Baja California desde 1859 a 1861. Cincuenta afios mas tarde, en Ia parte sur del Golfo, organ ismas marinas fueron capturados par arrastre par el barco a vapor Albatross de Ia Comisi6n de Pesca de EE.UU. Tanto Ia colecci6n de Xantus como Ia del Albatross se encuentran hoy dia en Ia Smithsonian Institution. Sin embargo, en 1940 fue que naci61a biologia marina en el Golfo, con Ia notable expedici6n pionera de Ed Ricketts y John Steinbeck Large and attractive species abordodel such as (top to bottom} the chinchorrero tent olive, staghorn coral (here Western Flyer inhabited by the hermit crab Manucomplanus varians) , de Monterrey, and the cowrie are threatened California by naive tourist-collectors , (Hedgpeth and by ruthless commercial 1978). La shell collectors who take them alive and in large numbers (y biologia Cypraea isabella for sale in shell shops. I filosofia) de ese Grandes y atractivas especies como (arriba hasta abajo} esta concha de oliva, el coral sorprendente de cuerno de venado, aqui habitado por el cangrejo hermitaiio Manucomplanus varians, viaje se relata y Ia "cowrie" estan en peligro por los turistas y por coleccionistas comerciales quienes las recogen vivas y las venden en grandes cantidades en las tiendas de conchas. en ellibro "The (A. Kerstitch)

(cont. en Ia p. 20)

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Una revista del Golfo de California Norte, sus islas y el Desierto Sonorense circundante

vouo No.1

Noticias del CEDO

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CEDO, A.C. MESA DIRECTIVA

CEDO, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Comite Ejecutivo: lng. Daniel Luna .. .. ... .... .... .. ... Presidente Lie. Jesus A. Ramfrez .. ........ Vice-Presidente Prof. Octavia Ortega ............ . Tesorero Rosa Z. de Rendon ........ .. .. .. Secretario C.P. Lorenzo Cuadras .... .. ... .. Comisario Minerva N. de Piquero .... ... .... .Suplente Vocales: Carlos Canes, Fernando Gonzalez, Maria Guadalupe Lourdes Gonzalez, Esthela Hernandez, Guillermo Munro, Angel Quintana, M. en C. Peggy J. Turk Boyer Asociadas: M. en A. Richard E. Boyer, lng. Carlos Flores, Arq. Fausto Soto

Executive Committee: Brooke Gebow... ....... .. ..... President Melissa Hays ... ............... Vice President Anne Roediger.... ... ..... ... .. Treasurer Carol Bribach .... ....... .. ... . Secretary Robert Gay. ...... .. ......... .... Member-at-large Steve Cornelius ............ ... Member-at-large Members: Dr. George Binney, Marty Eberhardt, Dr. Francis Gilbert, William Gonzalez, Dr. Katrina Mangin , Dr. Larry Stern, Gerard Tsonakwa. Associates: Dr. Morton Aronoff, Dr. Richard Brusca, Dr. Ed and Jo Berger, Dr. Carlos Huerta, Dr. Larry Marshall, Michael McNulty, Will Nelson, Dr. Don Thomson, Mario Vedrich, Dr. Nicholas P. Yensen Emeritus: Carl and Beth Hodges, Jeanette Clifton

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INVESTIGADORES ASOCIADOSI RESEARCH ASSOCIATES Dr. Richard Brusca, Dr. Jennifer Burnaford, Steve Cornelius, M. en C. Richard Cudney Bueno, Dr. Paul Dayton, Dr. Exequiel Escurra, Dr. Richard Felger, Dr. Lloyd Findley, Dr. Karl Flessa, Ora. Jaqueline Garcia, Dr. Ed Glenn , Dr. Phil Hastings, Dr. Inocencio Higuera, Dr. Gretchen Hoffman, Dr. Miguel Lavin, Dr. Katrina Mangin, Dr. Eric Mellink, Dr. Pete Raimondi, Jennifer Rupnow, Dr. William Shaw, Dr. Steve Shuster, Dr. Donald A. Thomson, Dr. Carlos Valdes , Ora. Elisa Villalpando , Dr. Nicholas P. Yensen

MIEMBROS INSTITUCIONALES I INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS University of Arizona Arizona State University Centro de lnvestigaci6n en Alimentaci6n y Desarrollo (ClAD)

Humanities & Sciences Institute (Phoenix) Biosphere 2 Center, an affiliate of Columbia University Reservas: Pinacate, Alto Golfo de California y Islas del Golfo de California

Origins Society (Tucson) University of Texas at El Paso University of California, Santa Cruz Pima Commuity College El Paso Community College

MIEMBROS ESPECIALES CONTRIBUYENTESISPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR MEMBERS Rodger & Jeanette Clifton Dr. Lawrence & Jackie Stern

Dr. Mort & Ruth Aronoff Edward & Elinore Boyer Joe McShane & Jan Marshall

Carl & Beth Hodges Las Conchas Homeowners Assoc.

Mario & Arlene Vedrich Dr. George Binney

SOC/OS PATROCINADORESIFUNDING PARTNERS David & Lucile Packard Foundation, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, National Severe Storm Laboratory, International Sonoran Desert Alliance, the Robidoux Foundation, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, World Wildlife Fund- Gulf of California Program, Environmental Defense Fund, Global Green Fund, Tides Foundation, Baja California Preservation Fund of the International Community Foundation, University of California-MEXUS, G. Binney Foundation

DOCENTES y VOLUNTARIOS I DOCENTS and VOLUNTEERS Marge and Bob Abens , Peggy Clark, Rodger and Jeanette Clifton, Bernice and Dave Cohen , Roger and Miki Harmon, Harry anq Lois Hussey, Carol Lyons, Josefina Martinez, Nancy and Ed Prochaska, Angel Quintana, Jeanne Reeves , Florence Richardson , Bob and Jean Samsel , Don and Nancy Schmidli, Gary and Patti Springer, Lauri and Dennis Wilson , June Woodman, Marine Awareness and Conservation Society

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CEDO News

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A journal of the Northern Gulf of California, its islands and the surrounding S6noran Desert

vo1.10 No.1

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Tabla de Contenido I Table of Contents Vol. 10 No. 1

2002

Publicado porI Published by: CEDO Intercultural, 11/30/2002 impreso por I printed by: Creative Printers, Tucson AZ

PRODUCCION DE LA REVISTA/ NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION

BIODIVERSIDAD EN EL GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA NORTE/ BIODIVERSITY IN THE NORTHERN GULF.. ... ...... .... ... .. ...... Richard C. Brusca

Editores/Editors: P.J. Turk Boyer R.E. Boyer K. Castaneda Brooke Gebow

NOTA DE LA DIRECTORA: BIODIVERSIDAD/............... .... .... ............ ............... ...... DIRECTOR'S NOTE: BIODIVERSITY ..... .......... ...... .... ...... . Peggy J. Turk Boyer

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LA VAQUITA ....................... ........................... L. Flores-Skydancer, P. J. Turk Boyer

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LOS REPTILES Y ANFIBIOS DEL PINACATE/................ ........................................ REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THE PINACATE. ..... Carlos Castillo Sanchez

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HUMEDALES DEL ALTO GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA.. ........ ............. ....... ........ .. ... 12 WETLANDS OF THE UPPER GULF OF CALIFORNIA/ .......... Edward P. Glenn 13

Traductores I Translators: P.J. Turk Boyer R.E. Boyer K. Castaneda Y.Gray F. Maldonado

ACERCA DEL CLIMA I WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS ................ Richard E. Boyer 33 THE MYSTERY OF THE HOHOKAM I .... .. .. .. .... .... ................ .. ........ .. .... .. .. ........ 37 EL MISTERIO DEL HOHOKAM ........................................... William K. Hartmann 36 THE FLAT-TAILED HORNED LIZARD/ FALSO CAMALEON COLA PLANA. .... ............... ................. ...... Ramses Ramirez 42 POLLITOS DE GAVIL.AN PESCADOR I OSPREY CHICKS ... Richard E. Boyer 43

Diseno y Producci6n/ Design & Production: R.E. Boyer P.J . Turk Boyer

CALENDAR OF EVENTS I CALENDARIO DE EVENTOS ... ............. ........... ........ 4 7 UN BUEN AMIGO: RICH RICHARDSON I A GOOD FRIEND: RICH RICHARDSON .................................................... .................. 48

PERSONAL DE CEDO I CEDO STAFF Directores I Directors: Peggy J. Turk Boyer, Richard E. Boyer; Gerente I Manager: Daniel Bercovich Ortega Personal Profesional I Professional Personnel: Kenia Castaneda de Garcia, Katie Cullen, Olegario Morales Personal de Proyectos I Project Personnel: Rocio Brambilia, Rocio Covarubias, Richard Cudney Bueno, Ramses Ramirez Personal Auxiliar I Support Staff: Lucinda Davis, Felipe Maldonado, Julio Cesar Serna Morales, Alma Guadalupe Valdenebro Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans , Inc. P.O. Box 44208 Tucson, Az 85733-4208 or P.O. Box 249, Lukeville, AZ. 85341 USA E-Mail : [email protected] Tel/Fax in the US: 520-320-5473 www.cedointercultual.org Centro Intercultural de Estudios de Desiertos y Oceanos, A. C. Apdo. Postal #53 Puerto Penasco, Son, Mexico C.P. 83550 Correo electr6nico: [email protected] Tel/Fax: 638-38-20113 o 638-38-20115

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Una revista del Golfo de California Norte, sus islas y el Desierto Sonorense circundante

vo1.1o No.1

Noticias del CEDO

Director's Note

Biodiversity:

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The Spice of Life by: Peggy J. Turk Boyer *

"Variety, the spice of life" nicely describes the enrichment that comes with diverse ideas, cultures, people, and experiences . Diversity adds spice to natural systems as well. Known as biodiversity, variety in living systems is exhibited on several levels. The variety of genes in a population is known as genetic diversity. Species diversity, at the next level, is the most common expression of biodiversity. The diversity of habitats or landscapes that form the backdrop for these living creatures is known as environmental diversity. These three levels of biodiversity (genetic, species, and environmental) are interconnected, and each one influences the other. A rocky intertidal habitat, for instance, with irregular nooks and crannies among its tide pools and rocks, will support more kinds of sea anemones, starfish, and crabs than a more homogenous rocky reef or sand flat. Likewise a species that varies genetically in its ability to tolerate temperatures may have a greater chance of surviving in a changing environment than one that exhibits little variability. Such variation and adaptability may become important in the face of rising sea temperatures, especially in a shallow sea such as the Northern Gulf of California. The sunstar Heliaster kubinijii and other echinoderms in the Gulf and in the western Pacific Ocean have already shown a sensitivity to warming sea temperatures in the form of a bacterial infection. It presents itself as white mucous that appears to eat away at its arms, which fall off, one at a time, until the starfish disintegrates (see CEDO News 1987, Vol. 1 No. 1). Biodiversity has become an

The sunstar, Heliaster kubinijii, was considered to be a "keystone' predator in the rocky intertidal of the Gulf of Calif?rnia. This photo gives an idea of its abundance in the 1970s. I La estrella del sol , Heliaster kubinijii, estaba cons1derada como "depredador clave' de Ia zona intermareal en el Golfo de California . Esta foto da un idea de su abundancia en los 1970s. (E. Boyer)

important indicator of environmental health. A diverse system is thought to be more stable and capable of adapting to change. Examination of the role of the Gulf of California sunstar in the rocky intertidal illustrates this point well. Studies of this sunstar at Puerto Penasco led to development of the keystone predator concept. Marine ecologist Robert Payne proposed that by eating a variety of prey species such as barnacles, mussels, and snails, the sunstar Heliasterhelps keep each population in check and thus plays a key role in maintaining the diversity of the community. Subsequent studies formulated a slightly different role. After a decade of unusually warm sea temperatures in the 1970s caused massive sunstar dieoffs, it almost disappeared from the Gulf of California intertidal zones. Studies by Ed Boyer of species diversity before and after the sunstar's disappearance showed little change in its prey population abundance. Boyer proposed that the sunstar's role is more like one leg of a table and when this leg was removed the table (diversity) wobbled a bit but didn't completely collapse. Several other predatory snails appear to keep the prey species in check, also functioning as legs on the table, keeping it stable. In addition to is critical role in providing ecosystem services such as climate

control, water filtering, production of atmospheric gases etc., biodiversity is a source of employment and enjoyment for people all over the planet. Nature's life forms provide us with food, fiber, medicines, and the basis for myriad everyday products. Exploitation of diverse fisheries remains the economic mainstay for the communities in the Northern Gulf and coastal communities throughout the world. Before Vitamin A was produced synthetically, its harvest from the liver of Gulf of California sharks was a major World War 11-era activity at Puerto Penasco. Lowly sponges hold important anti-viral compounds. Imagine what must lie undiscovered in life's diversity. On the enjoyment side, the growth in ecotourism activities in the Northern Gulf, such as is offered through CEDO and the La Ruta de Sonora Ecotourism Association, is proof that people enjoy the wonders of natural and cultural diversity. These activities help sustain our organizations and support non-destructive ways to use the environment. The 2001-2002 years were designated as International Biodiversity Observation Years (I BOY) by an international team of organizations known as Diversitas (For more infor(continued on page 6)

CEDO News

vo1.10 No.1

Nota de Ia Directora

Biodiversidad: El Condimento de Ia Vida por: Peggy J. Turk Boyer *

"Variedad, el condimento de Ia vida" bellamente describe el enriquecimiento proveniente de diversidad de ideas, culturas, personas y experiencias. La diversidad agrega tambien especia a los sistemas naturales. Conocida como biodiversidad, variedad en los sistemas vivientes, se exhibe en diferentes niveles. La variedad de genes en una poblacion es conocida como diversidad genetica. Diversidad de especies, en el siguiente nivel, es Ia expresion mas comun de biodiversidad. La diversidad de habitats o panoramas que forman el entorno de estas criaturas vivientes es conocida como diversidad ambiental. Estos tres niveles de biodiversidad , (genetica, de especies yambiental) se encuentran interconectadas, y cada una tiene influencia en las otras. Un habitat intermareal rocoso, par ejemplo, con huecos y rendijas irregulares en sus charcas de marea y sus rocas, dara soporte a mas especies de anemonas, estrellas de mar, y jaibas, que un arrecife mas homogeneo o una planicie de arena. De Ia misma forma, una especie que varia geneticamente en su habilidad para tolerar temperaturas puede tener una mejor oportunidad de sobrevivir en un ambiente cambiante que una que exhiba poca variabilidad. Tales variaciones y adaptabilidades pueden llegar a ser importantes frente a temperaturas ascendentes en el mar, especial mente uno tan somero como Ia parte Norte del Golfo de California. La estrella de sol, Heliaster kubinijii y otros echinodermos en el Golfo yen el Oceano Pacifico Oriental ya mostraron sensibilidad al calenta-miento del mar, en Ia forma de una infeccion bacteriana un moco anco que parece diluir sus brazos, los cuales caen, uno a uno, hasta que toda Ia

A journal of the Northern Gulf of California, its islands and the surrounding Sonoran Desert

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estrella se desintegra. (Ver Noticias de en Ia abundancia de las poblaciones CEDO 1987, Vo/1 No. 1.) de su presa. Boyer propane que el La biodiversidad se ha convertido en papel de Ia estrella sol es mas como un indicador importante de Ia salud amuna pata de una mesa, cuando se biental. Se piensa que un sistema diquita esta pata, Ia mesa (diversidad), verso es mas estable y capaz de se tambalea pero nose cae. Varios otros depredadores aparecen y adaptarse al cambia. Examinar el papel mantienen el control de las especies de Ia estrella de sol del Golfo de California ilustra muy bien este punta. Estudios presa, funcionando tambien de esta estrella en Puerto Penasco como patas para Ia mesa, manteniendola estable. condujeron al desarrollo del concepto "predador clave". El ecol·:::. · ' , Adem as de su papel l': crftica en proveer ago marino Robert Paine propuso que al comer · servicios a ecosisteuna variedad de esmas como control HELIASTER climatica, filtracion pecies presa, tales como los bal\ de agua, produccion de gases anos, mejilIones y atmosferfcas, cara,.,. etc. , Ia ales, biodiversidad es Caracol de Tinta Nudosa fuKnobby Dye Snail l

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