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The coexistence of marine sensitive areas with the oil industry requires robust preparedness and rapid response capabilities for monitoring and mitigating oil spill events. Scientifically proven satellite-based methods for the visual detection of oil spills are widely recognized as effective, low-cost, transferable, scalable, and operational solutions, particularly in developing economies. Following meticulous design and implementation, we adopted and executed a relatively low-cost operational monitoring and alert system for oil spill detection over the ocean surface and alert issuance. We analyzed over 1500 satellite images, issuing over 70 warning reports on oil slicks and spills in the southern Gulf of Mexico. To assess the system's efficiency and performance, we leveraged data from three major oil spill incidents in the study region during June and July of 2023 in the study region, covering a maximum area of 669 km 2 and tracked for 12 to 24 days. We documented the evolution of these oil spills by integrating satellite sensing data with on-site Lagrangian drifting buoys, a network of high-frequency radars, and citizen reports to validate the outcomes of this system. We generated timely technical information on the spill's evolution, informing decision-makers and local community leaders to strengthen their mitigation response capabilities. Additionally, we developed a robust database with spectral and spatiotemporal features of satellite-detected oil, thereby contributing to advancing the scientific understanding of sea surface dynamics related to natural and anthropogenic oil sources. This study also highlights immediate-, medium-, and long-term research agendas and establishes a reference for a sustained, transferable, and operational oil spill monitoring system., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The family Sigalionidae is characterized, among other features, by including scale worms with large bodies. However, among sigalionids, the subfamilies Sthenelanellinae, Pholoinae, and Pisioninae stand out by their small representatives with few segments and fragile bodies. In the Tropical Northwestern Atlantic, which includes part of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, these subfamilies have been rarely studied, with few species recorded, and questionable records. This contribution aims to improve the knowledge of sthenelanellins, pholoins, and pisionins in the region through a faunistic study based on material from two Mexican scientific collections: the Reference Collection of Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BIOMARCCA) and the Reference Collection of Benthos (ECOSUR) of El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Pisione wolfi is confirmed from the Tropical Northwestern Atlantic, and three new species are described: Sthenelanella pechi sp. nov., S. sarae sp. nov. and Taylorpholoe anabelae sp. nov. A key to all Sthenelanella and Taylorpholoe species is also included., Competing Interests: The author declares that he has no competing interests., (© 2023 Cruz-Gómez.)

We assessed microplastics (MPs) contamination in water, sediments, and tissues (gills, digestive tract, and muscle) of two intertidal crab species with different ecological traits and commercial importance (Menippe mercenaria and Callinectes sapidus), from a coastal lagoon in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. There were significant differences between MP abundances in the abiotic matrices and between crab species. The burrower, sedentary and carnivorous M. mercenaria bioaccumulates 50 % more MPs than the free-swimming, omnivorous C. sapidus. However, no differences were observed between species' tissues. Fragments were the predominant shape in the tissues of both species, with the exception in the digestive tract of M. mercenaria. We identified polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate in water samples and Silopren® in sediment. In both crab species, Silopren and polyethylene predominated. Differences in ecological traits resulted in different bioaccumulation patterns in intertidal crabs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that might influence the present study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Until now, four species of the genus Chondrochelia Guţu, 2016 have been recorded from America. Using morphological and molecular data, we were able to recognize and describe two new species, Chondrochelia caribensis sp. nov. from the Mexican Caribbean and Chondrochelia winfieldi sp. nov. from the Gulf of Mexico. We found significant genetic divergence values between species based on the nucleotide sequences of cytochrome oxidase subunit I to support the morphological data. Also, the range of distribution of two species: Chondrochelia mexicana (Jarquín-González, García-Madrigal & Carrera-Parra, 2015) and Chondrochelia ortizi (Jarquín-González, 2016), were expanded within their described geographic regions. In contrast, the supposed distribution of the Brazilian C. dubia in the Mexican Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico was rejected. Additionally, Chondrochelia algicola (Harger, 1878) was redescribed based upon type material. Minute details and ornamentation of some structures of three species were examined using SEM., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 Jarquín-González and Carrera-Parra.)

Oiling scenarios following spills vary in concentration and usually can affect large coastal areas. Consequently, this research evaluated different crude oil concentrations (10, 40, and 80 mg L -1 ) on the nearshore phytoplanktonic community in the southern Gulf of Mexico. This experiment was carried out for ten days using eight units of 2500 L each; factors monitored included shifts in phytoplankton composition, physicochemical parameters and the culturable bacterial abundance of heterotrophic and hydrocarbonoclastic groups. The temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations measured were within the ranges previously reported for Yucatan Peninsula waters. The total hydrocarbon concentration (TPH) in the control at T0 indicated the presence of hydrocarbons (PAHs 0.80 μg L -1 , aliphatics 7.83 μg L -1 and UCM 184.09 μg L -1 ). At T0, the phytoplankton community showed a similar assemblage structure and composition in all treatments. At T10, the community composition remained heterogeneous in the control, in agreement with previous reports for the area. However, for oiled treatments, Bacillariophyceae dominated at T10. Hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria were associated with oiled treatments throughout the experiment, while heterotrophic bacteria were associated with control conditions. Our results agreed with previous works at the taxonomic level showing the presence of Bacillariophyceae and Dinophyceae in oil-related treatments, where these groups showed the major interactions in co-occurrence networks. In contrast, Chlorophyceae showed the key node in the co-occurrence network for the control. This study aims to contribute to knowledge on phytoplankton community shifts during a crude oil spill in subtropical oligotrophic regions., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The Sabellariidae has been scarcely studied in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and there are 18 species recorded out of 140 species known in the world. This work aims to improve the knowledge of the sabellariids in the northwestern tropical Atlantic region, provide standardized descriptions, and generate taxonomic identification keys. Sabellariids from three scientific collections were revised: Reference Collection of Laboratorio de Poliquetos, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Chetumal, Collection of Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Cambio Climtico, ECOSUR, Campeche and Invertebrate Zoology Collection of Florida Natural History Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville. Three new species are described: Idanthyrsus bastidai n. sp. and I. mikeli n. sp. from Venezuela, and Sabellaria salazari n. sp. from the Yucat Peninsula. In addition, new records of S. floridensis Hartman, 1944, S. vulgaris Verrill, 1873, and Phragmatopoma caudata Kryer in Mrch, 1863 are provided.

This study investigates the community composition, structure, and abundance of sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) in surficial sediments of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico (NWGoM) along a bathymetric gradient. For these purposes, Illumina sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene beta subunit (dsrB gene) were performed. Bioinformatic analyses indicated that SRM community was predominantly composed by members of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes across all the samples. However, Actinobacteria, Thermodesulfobacteria, and Chlorobi were also detected. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that unassigned dsrB sequences were related to Deltaproteobacteria and Nitrospirota superclusters, Euryarchaeota, and to environmental clusters. PCoA ordination revealed that samples clustered in three different groups. PERMANOVA indicated that water depth, temperature, redox, and nickel and cadmium content were the main environmental drivers for the SRM communities in the studied sites. Alpha diversity and abundance of SRM were lower for deeper sites, suggesting decreasing sulfate reduction activity with respect to water depth. This study contributes with the understanding of distribution and composition of dsrAB-containing microorganisms involved in sulfur transformations that may contribute to the resilience and stability of the benthic microbial communities facing metal and hydrocarbon pollution in the NWGoM, a region of recent development for oil and gas drilling.

A fundamental understanding of the impact of petrochemicals and other stressors on marine biodiversity is critical for effective management, restoration, recovery, and mitigation initiatives. As species-specific information on levels of petrochemical exposure and toxicological response are lacking for the majority of marine species, a trait-based assessment to rank species vulnerabilities to petrochemical activities in the Gulf of Mexico can provide a more comprehensive and effective means to prioritize species, habitats, and ecosystems for improved management, restoration and recovery. To initiate and standardize this process, we developed a trait-based framework, applicable to a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate species, that can be used to rank relative population vulnerabilities of species to petrochemical activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Through expert consultation, 18 traits related to likelihood of exposure, individual sensitivity, and population resilience were identified and defined. The resulting multi-taxonomic petrochemical vulnerability framework can be adapted and applied to a wide variety of species groups and geographic regions. Additional recommendations and guidance on the application of the framework to rank species vulnerabilities under specific petrochemical exposure scenarios, management needs or data limitations are also discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Shelf and deep-water soft-bottom macrofauna were explored in the western Gulf of Mexico in terms of species and functional trait assemblages. Their variation was analysed as functions of depth and time, and the relationship with sea-bottom environmental conditions was examined to disentangle their association with potential environmental drivers. Four consecutive cruises (two per year, at the end of the dry and rainy seasons) were performed during 2016-2017 at 27 fixed stations distributed from 42 to 3565 m depth. Changes in macrofauna composition were tested considering species and functional trait assemblages. Environmental variables associated with sediment features (i.e., grain structure, organic matter, pH, redox), oceanographic conditions (i.e., temperature, dissolved oxygen, particulate organic carbon flux) and potential contaminants (i.e., hydrocarbons and metals) were analysed to identify potential drivers that would shape the structure of macrofauna assemblages. The results suggest that the structures of both species and functional trait assemblages change according to depth and show temporal variation in composition at seasonal and interannual scales. The effect of temporal variation represented about 12% of total variation in the assemblages (11.4 for species and 12.5% for functional-traits). Different patterns of spatial and temporal variation between shelf and deep benthic communities were observed. Variation in species assemblages on the shelf were related to the variation in lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the fine sand ratio. In the deep benthos, particulate carbon flux showed high correlation with the spatial and temporal variation in species assemblage. In the deep benthos the changes in the species assemblage between the dry and the rainy seasons and the interannual variation were highly correlated with particulate organic carbon input in the area., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The invasion of the western Atlantic by the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) is a serious threat to the ecological stability of the region. The early life history of the lionfish remains poorly understood despite the important role that larval supply plays reef fish population dynamics. In this study, we characterized patterns in the horizontal and vertical distributions of larval lionfish collected in the western Caribbean, US Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico from 19 ichthyoplankton surveys conducted from 2009-2016. Using generalized additive models (GAMs), we assessed the relative effects of spatiotemporal and environmental variation on the distribution of lionfish larvae. We also examined otoliths to determine larval ages and report the first larval growth rate estimates for this species. Lionfish larvae were present at 7.8% of all stations sampled and our model suggests that lionfish presence is related to sea surface temperature and the lunar cycle. Year and location also strongly affected the larval distribution, likely reflecting the ongoing expansion of the species during our sampling timeframe. Much of the variation in larval lionfish presence remained unexplained, and future studies should incorporate additional environmental factors to improve model predictions. This study improves our understanding of the lionfish life cycle and accentuates the need for further research into the early life history of this invasive species. The design and implementation of effective long-term lionfish control mechanisms will require an understanding of their entire life history., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Since the 1980s, there has been growing concern in the Mexican Atlantic regarding high catches of neonate and juvenile sharks in small-scale fisheries. Fishery-dependent data from 1993 to 1994 and 2007 to 2017 and fishers' ecological knowledge from 2017 were used to identify nursery areas for scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini, in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Catch records and fishing areas of neonates, YOYs, juveniles and adults of S. lewini (N = 1885) were obtained from calcareous and terrigenous regions in the western Yucatan Peninsula. The results suggest that a nursery for scalloped hammerhead is found in the terrigenous region, characterized by relatively shallow and turbid waters due to rivers' discharges. Neonates and YOYs (96% and 86% of their total records, respectively) were commonly found there over the years in May-August in multiple fishing areas identified by fishers, although mainly between isobaths 10-30 m. The enforcement of management measures is necessary because the nursery is located in a region with intense fishing effort., (© 2020 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

In the southern Gulf of Mexico, the bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo, is one of the most frequently captured species in landings of small-scale fisheries. Based on the analysis of two fishery-dependent sampling periods (1993-1994 and 2007-2014), this study aimed to determine reproductive parameters and identify temporal differences between the two time periods. In the first sampling period, 776 males and 352 females with a size range of 28.0-120.0 cm total stretched length (L T ) were analysed, and in the second sampling period, 387 males and 432 females with a size range of 28.0-122.0 cm L T were analysed. The size at 50% maturity in the second sampling period was significantly different between sexes, 82.6 cm L T for females and 73.8 cm L T for males (no estimation was possible for the first sampling period). The size at 50% maternity was not different between sampling periods, 97.3 cm L T for the first sampling period and 99.0 cm L T for the second sampling period. Litter size varied from 3 to 19 embryos and the average was not statistically different in both periods, 10.1 (S.D. = 3.8) for the first sampling period and 11.3 (S.D. = 3.5) for the second sampling period. The female reproductive cycle is asynchronous, and it seems to be annual, with a gestation period of 5-6 months, and a consecutive ovarian cycle and gestation period. Temporal (between sampling periods) and latitudinal (southern Gulf versus northern regions) variations occur in the synchronicity of the reproductive cycle, temporal variation in the relationship between maternal length and litter size, and latitudinal variation in average size of mature sharks., (© 2020 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

The recent expansion of the invasive lionfish throughout the Western Hemisphere is one of the most extensively studied aquatic invasions. Molecular studies have improved our understanding of larval dispersal, connectivity, and biogeographical barriers among lionfish populations, but none have included Mexican localities, an important area for the larval dispersal of Pterois volitans through the Western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Here, we present a genetic analysis of lionfishes collected along Mexican coasts, examining their connectivity with other Caribbean localities (Belize, Cuba, Puerto Rico) and the role of ocean currents on population structure. We collected 213 lionfish samples from seven locations comprising four countries. To evaluate genetic structure, mitochondrial control region and nuclear inter-simple sequence repeat markers were used. We found that lionfish collected along Mexican coasts show a similar haplotype composition (H02 followed by H01 and H04) to other Caribbean locations, and the H03 rare haplotype was not found. Haplotype composition in the southwest Gulf of Mexico suggests a discontinuity between the southern and northern areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The southern area clustered more strongly to the Caribbean region, and this is supported by the complexity of water circulation in the semi-enclosed region of the Gulf of Mexico. Mitochondrial genetic diversity parameters show small values, whereas nuclear markers produce medium to high values. Only nuclear markers highlighted significant genetic differentiation between the southwest Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region, confirming a phylogeographic break between both regions. Separate analysis of Caribbean locations indicates restricted larval exchange between southern and northern regions of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, potentially in response to regional oceanographic circulation., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Snappers from the southern Gulf of Mexico (SGM) and Mexican Caribbean (CAR) were examined for parasitic nematodes to determine their richness, composition, and infection parameters (prevalence and mean intensity). From February 2016 to March 2018, 431 individuals of 8 snapper species were collected in 6 localities. In all, these fishes were parasitized by 2,275 individual nematodes belonging to 13 taxa: Terranova sp. was found in 7 of 8 host species and showed the highest prevalence (23%), while the rest had lower values (<10%). Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus) harbored the highest species richness (10 species), followed by Lutjanus apodus (Walbaum) (8 species). Most localities were similar in terms of species richness but differed in the specific composition. Eight nematode taxa represent new host records for the family Lutjanidae (Gill), thus increasing to 22 the nematode taxa in the SGM and CAR. There is a potential risk to public health due to the presence of nematodes with zoonotic potential (as Anisakis sp.) and the habit in the region of eating raw fish (cebiche).

Gammaropsis elvirae sp. nov. is described and illustrated here, as a new species of the family Photidae Boeck, 1871, occurring on sites widely distributed in the soft-sediment habitats from the Yucatan shelf, southern Gulf of Mexico. This new species differs from all other congeners by a unique set of characteristics: lateral cephalic lobes rounded; outer lobes of lower lip with one cone on each lobe; gnathopod 1 propodus longer than carpus; gnathopod 2 propodus enlarged with small convoluted processes on posterior margin and palmar angle undefined; gnathopod 2 dactylus short, less than one half in length of propodus; dense setation on basis, carpus, and propodus of gnathopod 2; epimeral plates 1-3 rounded; inner ramus of uropods 1-3 longer than outer ramus; and telson emarginated. Ecological comments on spatial distribution and associated environmental variables are included, as well an identification key to the genus in tropical America.

Aetobatus narinari represents a fisheries target in Southern Gulf of Mexico, and it is currently considered a Near Threatened species by the IUCN red list. The information available of this batoid fish includes some biological and fishery aspects; nevertheless, little is known about the factors influencing on fishing operations and catches. In order to evaluate the effect of environmental factors and the fishing effort allocation by vessels on the target fishery of A. narinari in this area, a daily basis sampling was carried out on four small-scale vessels, from January to July 2009 (the entire fishing season), in two fishing localities (Campeche and Seybaplaya). A total of 896 rays were recorded from 280 fishing trips. A General Linear Model was used to predict the factors effect on the probability that fishing operations occurred, and on the probability for captures of at least one or three or five rays per vessel-trip. The probability that fishing operations occurred off Campeche was predicted by the lunar cycle, with the highest probability in the new moon period (66%) and a probability smaller than 35% for the other periods. The probability that fishing operations occurred off Seybaplaya was predicted by wind velocity, with higher probabilities at low wind velocity than at high wind velocity, and a 50% probability of fishing operations at 12-15 km/h. Catch rates off Seybaplaya were predicted by the vessel's factor (the effect of fishing effort allocation), the North wind season and sea surface temperature. The probability for captures of at least one and three rays per vessel-trip was predicted by the vessel's factor and the North wind season. One vessel had higher catch probability (83% for at least one ray and 43% for at least three rays) than the others (69 and 70% for at least one ray and 26% for at least three rays), and during the North wind season the catch probability was higher (96% for at least one ray and 72% for at least three rays) than out of that season (68% for at least one ray and 21% for at least three rays). The probability for capture at least five rays per vessel-trip was predicted by the sea surface temperature and the North wind season. At 23 degrees C the catch probability was of 49% and the probability gradually diminished to 4% at 28 degrees C, and during the North wind season the catch probability was higher (40%) than out of that season (7%). This study shows that some environmental factors and fishermen perceptions and experience (fishing effort allocation) influence on the catch rate of A. narinari, and that these factors must be considered in future studies on elasmobranch fisheries, mainly when comparisons between catch rates among seasons or regions are analyzed.

Abstract: In a study of the benthic polychaete fauna of the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, several specimens of the terebellid polychaete Scionides reticulata (Ehlers) were found to host endoparasitic copepods that represent an undescribed species of the rare cyclopoid genus Entobius Dogiel, 1948. The new species, E. scionides sp. n., can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters including a genital region without constrictions, three-segmented antennules, a reduced antenna with a blunt terminal process, reduced ornamentation of endopods of legs 1-4 and its relatively small size (2.3-2.7 mm). It is the smallest species of the genus. Comments on immature females are also provided, but males of this species remain unknown. It has a high prevalence (53%) in populations of the terebellid S. reticulata in the southern Gulf of Mexico, but it is absent from the Caribbean. This is the first occurrence of this copepod genus in the Americas. The finding of the new species of Entobius in S. reticulata confirms the strict specificity of most members of the genus and expands the host range of this copepod genus. A key for the identification of the species of Entobius is provided.

Seagrass meadows are highly productive and ecologically important habitats in estuaries and coastal lagoons, and contain a variety of faunal communities, from which the caridean shrimps are a dominant component. The purpose of this work was to analyze the environmental parameters of water and sediments, with the biological components in seagrass epifaunal communities, from the Western Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. For this, density and diversity of caridean shrimps were analyzed and correlated with environmental parameters and seagrass biomass, and zoogeographic affinities were determined. The spatial distribution of caridean shrimps was recorded for 12 localities with Halodule wrightii and Thalassia testudinum monospecific seagrass meadows. A total of 72158 individuals of 16 taxa were collected. Among results, the Hippolytidae resulted the most abundant group (92.3%) with eight species, and was followed by Palaemonidae with 7.6% of the abundance and seven species, and the Alpheidae with only one genus. From the total of collected carideans, a 37.3% was found in H. wrightii and 62.7% in T. testudinum. The dominant species were Hippolyte zostericola (12.39ind./m2), Tozeuma carolinense (9.5ind./m2), Thor dobkini (4.84ind./m2) and Palaemonetes vulgaris (4.87ind./m2). The zoogeographic distribution of the carideans presented two groups: species of the Virginian-Carolinean province representing its Southern limit (43.75%) and species of the Brazilian-Caribbean province representing its Northern limit (56.25%). The species H. zostericola, T. carolinense, P. vulgaris, P. pugio and P. intermedius are widely distributed along the Western Atlantic coast. This study has base line information for seagrass habitats, the community of epifaunal carideans and their ecological affinities, previous to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) occupies the tropical coastal waters of the Greater Antilles and Caribbean, extending from Mexico along Central and South America to Brazil. Historically, manatees were abundant in Mexico, but hunting during the pre-Columbian period, the Spanish colonization and throughout the history of Mexico, has resulted in the significantly reduced population occupying Mexico today. The genetic structure, using microsatellites, shows the presence of two populations in Mexico: the Gulf of Mexico (GMx) and Chetumal Bay (ChB) on the Caribbean coast, with a zone of admixture in between. Both populations show low genetic diversity (GMx: N(A) = 2.69; H(E) = 0.41 and ChB: N(A) = 3.0; H(E) = 0.46). The lower genetic diversity found in the GMx, the largest manatee population in Mexico, is probably due to a combination of a founder effect, as this is the northern range of the sub-species of T. m. manatus, and a bottleneck event. The greater genetic diversity observed along the Caribbean coast, which also has the smallest estimated number of individuals, is possibly due to manatees that come from the GMx and Belize. There is evidence to support limited or unidirectional gene flow between these two important areas. The analyses presented here also suggest minimal evidence of a handful of individual migrants possibly between Florida and Mexico. To address management issues we suggest considering two distinct genetic populations in Mexico, one along the Caribbean coast and one in the riverine systems connected to the GMx.