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The “mosco” (Hemiptera: Corixidae and Notonectidae) of Lake Cuitzeo, Mexico: an unusual inland water fishery

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Abstract

Lake Cuitzeo is Mexico’s second-largest lake (~ 425 km2). The West Basin is shallow, seasonally astatic and alkaline, and it contains saltwater; it is in this extreme environment that there are fisheries maintained by local fishermen that are based on non-conventional products. These products include the “mosco” (hemipteran water boatmen and backswimmers: Corixidae and Notonectidae), which has become the most important “non-conventional resource” owing to high catch rates and its contribution to the local economy; its uses include its sale as pet food for songbirds and ornamental fishes. No other commercial fisheries of adult Hemiptera are known worldwide. This study records, for the first time, the species composition of the “mosco”, which was investigated through monthly sampling for twelve months at three sites in the West Basin. Seven species of aquatic Hemiptera were found: 5 species of the family Corixidae [Graptocorixa sp. (Hungerford), Corisella mercenaria (Say), Corisella edulis (Champion), Trichocorixa parvula (Champion) and Krizousacorixa azteca (Jaczewski)], and 2 species of the family Notonectidae [Buenoa scimitra (Bare) and Notonecta irrorata (Uhler)]. The seven species are new records for Lake Cuitzeo. Corixidae were more abundant than Notonectidae, at a ratio that varied from 2.3:1 to 34.2:1. Abundance peaks of up to 339 ind. m−2 were recorded during the cold and dry season, from October/November until January, along with the highest salinity and lowest water temperatures. Graptocorixa sp. was the most abundant and widely distributed species in the West Basin, followed by Krizousacorixa azteca. The characteristics of the West Basin, such as its temporality and elevated salinity and pH, have favored the explosive development of this group, probably because these “extreme” conditions are unfavorable for competitors and predators.

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Acknowledgements

The first author appreciates the economic support provided in part by the SIMORELOS-CONACYT, Caribbean Tropical Pet Food, S.A. de C.V. A special recognition goes to the late Rita Sumano and Eduardo Jarquín, PIs of the “Evaluación de especies comerciales no convencionales del Lago de Cuitzeo, Michoacán: estrategia para su explotación, semicultivo y comercialización” project. We acknowledge the laboratory facilities provided by the School of Biology, UMSNH, and Enrique Kato for advice on the identification of species. We thank Ann Grant not only for reviewing the English language but also for her invaluable comments that greatly improved this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Biología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Sonia González-Santoyo

  2. Grupo de Investigación en Limnología Tropical, FES Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. de los Barrios No.1, Los Reyes Iztacala, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico

    Javier Alcocer & Luis A. Oseguera

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  1. Sonia González-Santoyo
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  2. Javier Alcocer
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  3. Luis A. Oseguera
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Correspondence to Javier Alcocer.

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González-Santoyo, S., Alcocer, J. & Oseguera, L.A. The “mosco” (Hemiptera: Corixidae and Notonectidae) of Lake Cuitzeo, Mexico: an unusual inland water fishery. Limnology 21, 119–127 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-019-00590-2

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