Fish Fauna of Lake Chapala

Moncayo‐Estrada, Rodrigo; Buelna-Osben, Héctor René

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0545-7_10

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Economic activities have created increasing pressure on the whole ecosystem prompting representatives from the concerned fishing communities to solicit an assessment of the health risk posed by industrial sewage discharges and agricultural practices (e.g., slash and burn). Previous reports of fish mercury concentrations (0.05-1.84 μg/g wet weight), some exceeding international guidelines (0.5-1.0 ppm), have raised serious concerns about health risks to families who rely on fish from the lake for their subsistence [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methylmercury exposure in a subsistence fishing community in Lake Chapala, Mexico: an ecological approach

et al. 2010

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BackgroundElevated concentrations of mercury have been documented in fish in Lake Chapala in central Mexico, an area that is home to a large subsistence fishing community. However, neither the extent of human mercury exposure nor its sources and routes have been elucidated.MethodsTotal mercury concentrations were measured in samples of fish from Lake Chapala; in sections of sediment cores from the delta of Rio Lerma, the major tributary to the lake; and in a series of suspended-particle samples collected at sites from the mouth of the Lerma to mid-Lake. A cross-sectional survey of 92 women ranging in age from 18-45 years was conducted in three communities along the Lake to investigate the relationship between fish consumption and hair mercury concentrations among women of child-bearing age.ResultsHighest concentrations of mercury in fish samples were found in carp (mean 0.87 ppm). Sediment data suggest a pattern of moderate ongoing contamination. Analyses of particles filtered from the water column showed highest concentrations of mercury near the mouth of the Lerma. In the human study, 27.2% of women had >1 ppm hair mercury. On multivariable analysis, carp consumption and consumption of fish purchased or captured from Lake Chapala were both associated with significantly higher mean hair mercury concentrations.ConclusionsOur preliminary data indicate that, despite a moderate level of contamination in recent sediments and suspended particulate matter, carp in Lake Chapala contain mercury concentrations of concern for local fish consumers. Consumption of carp appears to contribute significantly to body burden in this population. Further studies of the consequences of prenatal exposure for child neurodevelopment are being initiated.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methylmercury exposure in a subsistence fishing community in Lake Chapala, Mexico: an ecological approach

et al. 2010

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“…The presence of fish in Lake Chapala supports traditional fisheries activities in the region and more than 2000 fishermen work on this lake . Before 1990 the average annual capture of fish was of 13,710 tons, a value that has declined by a factor of ten, attributed to the large infestation of water hyacinth which made fishing difficult but was also probably due to decreased fish abundance .…”

Section: The Lerma‐chapala Basinmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…In addition to water quality sampling, water quality in the Lerma basin has been measured using fish as a proxy. The Lerma‐Chapala basin has high endemism and supports both commercial and subsistence traditional fisheries . To measure water quality on the Lerma river, between 1985 and 1993 a total of 116 different sites were sampled for fish species occurrence and compared with their occurrence prior to 1985.…”

Section: The Lerma‐chapala Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…33 Before 1990 the average annual capture of fish was of 13,710 tons, 36 a value that has declined by a factor of ten, 36 attributed to the large infestation of water hyacinth which made fishing difficult but was also probably due to decreased fish abundance. 42 Lake Chapala used to have 39 fish species: 27 were native to the lake while 12 were exotic 36 ; however, due to the degration of water quality in the lake, by 1998 the presence of only 27 species (19 native and 8 exotic) was confirmed 36 .…”

Section: Lake Chapalamentioning

confidence: 99%

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A tale of Mexico's most exploited—and connected—watersheds: the Basin of Mexico and the Lerma‐Chapala Basin

Carrera-Hernández

2017

WIREs Water

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Water management policies and their impacts for both the Basin of Mexico and the Lerma-Chapala basin-where nearly 25% of Mexico's inhabitants are found-are described. This work shows that the prevailing water management policy has been the augmentation of water supply and neither policies have focused on water savings nor management of water demand. The effects of the large extraction rates on both basins have caused drying-up of streams due to drawdown rates that reach 2.5 m/year with an associated land subsidence in different cities in these basins. Water management in Mexico needs to change from a water supply approach to a water efficiency approach, where water needs to be efficiently used. Water management will only improve when policies consider both technical and social perspectives.

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“…The lamprey Lampetra spadicea, once a common species, formerly migrated from Lake Chapala to spawn in upper portion of the Duero River drainage (Lyons et al, 1994), but this migration is now largely blocked. No individuals of this lamprey have been found in the lake or the river in over 30 years and the species may be extinct (Moncayo-Estrada and Buelna Osben, 2001;Lyons, unpublished data). Elimination of migration barriers will be another focus of management actions.…”

Section: Index Of Biotic Integrity and Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status and Trends in Biotic Integrity in a Sub‐Tropical River Drainage: Analysis of the Fish Assemblage Over a Three Decade Period

Moncayo‐Estrada

Lyons²,

Ramírez-Herrejón

et al. 2014

River Research & Apps

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We characterized the biotic integrity of the sub‐tropical Duero River, Mexico, comparing current and past index of biotic integrity (IBI) scores with results of an environmental quality index (EQI), inventorying abiotic characteristics and human impacts, and documenting ecosystem changes over the last three decades. We sampled the fish community and measured environmental variables during the dry season of 2009 at 19 sites. We compared 2009 findings with fish data obtained in 1986 and 1991 at nine of the sites. The correlation between the IBI and EQI was high (r2 = 0.79, p = 0.0002), indicating that the IBI accurately characterized environmental condition. Thirteen sites were degraded (68%) based on IBI scores, three were fair (16%) and three had good conditions (16%). Based on the EQI, 12 sites were classified as poor (63%), two as fair (11%) and five as good (19%). A cluster analysis of nine abiotic variables and the IBI values yielded three groups: six sites with good integrity and environmental quality, eight with high chemical oxygen demand and four with high total dissolved solids. A discriminant analysis (square canonical correlation: 0.922, and Wilks' lambda significance: 0.001) identified biochemical oxygen demand, distance to vegetation and total dissolved solids as the main predictors. Compared to 1986 and 1991, 2009 IBI values and ratings had declined significantly (multiple response permutation procedure A = 0.16, p = 0.0005), indicating a trend of environmental deterioration, with scores and ratings at 7 of 9 sites lower in 2009. One site had declined from good to fair, one from good to poor, five from fair to poor, one had remained fair and one had remained good. Degradation was related to excessive human water use, reduced river flows, increased wastewater discharge, deforestation, erosion, and invasive species, and mismanagement of preserved sites (springs), all of which highlight an urgent need to reverse declining environmental conditions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Fish Fauna of Lake Chapala

Cited by 10 publications

References 17 publications

Methylmercury exposure in a subsistence fishing community in Lake Chapala, Mexico: an ecological approach

Methylmercury exposure in a subsistence fishing community in Lake Chapala, Mexico: an ecological approach

A tale of Mexico's most exploited—and connected—watersheds: the Basin of Mexico and the Lerma‐Chapala Basin

Status and Trends in Biotic Integrity in a Sub‐Tropical River Drainage: Analysis of the Fish Assemblage Over a Three Decade Period

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