Monitoring and Control Program for Exontic Fishes in Ciénega de Santa Clara at the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve.

Authors: Martha Román, Eduardo Soto

Year: 2025

Abstract

The fish fauna of the Cienega de Santa Clara is almost entirely composed of exotic species, and only one location in the southeast of the marsh maintains a healthy population of the desert pupfish,(Cyprinodon macularius). During 2022 and 2023, an ecosystem restoration project was carried out under the Program for the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems (PROREST) of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas in México (CONANP). The purpose of this project was to know about the distribution of invasive species in the wetland, as well as their interactions with the desert pupfish and the impacts they have on wetland ecosystems in the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Reserve, especially the plecos (Pterygoplichthys sp). Additionally, 10 ejido members were trained in the use and operation of fish trapping methods to promote the permanent implementation of a protocol for the removal of exotic fish for its population control, especially in the Cienega de Santa Clara and the El Doctor wetlands, which are critical habitat for the desert pupfish. For 63 days, work was carried out on trapping exotic species and rehabilitating 35 hectares of wetland areas to reactivate water flow through feeder channels to a pond specifically constructed to serve as a potential reservoir for desert pupfish within an interpretive trail at the CienegaSanta Clara. A total of 65 kilograms of biomass from exotic species were collected and composted in designated compost pits. At the end of the project, 900 meters of channels were improved to better supply water to the afore mentioned reservoir.