A total of 595 faecal samples from raptorial birds, either captive or free-living, residing in GREFA Wildlife Hospital were bacteriologically examined using various selective media and an Automated Diagnostic Assay System for Salmonella detection. Serotype and phage type of the strains identified as Salmonella was determined. In the captive group, of the 285 samples examined, 21 (7.36%) were positive for Salmonella. Serotyping revealed that most of the individuals were infected by Salmonella serotype Havana. This result suggested that there could be a source of contamination in the Hospital although it could not be established. In the wild free-living group, over 310 samples examined (4.19%) were positive for Salmonella. The Salmonella isolates showed a major variety of serotypes: Enteritidis, Adelaide, Brandenburg, Newport, Typhimurium, Hadar, Saintpaul and Virchow. Most of them are similar to those commonly described in isolates from human and domestic animals. These results indicate that wild birds could be involved in the dissemination of Salmonella in humans or domestic animals or vice versa.

Seeding exotic grasses remains a common practice to increase forage production for cattle in northern Mexico. Even while interest in wildlife conservation and management has been increasing since the late 1990s because of the economic value of wildlife for sport hunting, cattle production still represents an important part of the ranch income. Our objective was to review the available information on exotic grasses and its effect on native rangelands and wildlife. To obtain the information included in this article, we reviewed the published information and personal information and observations. Ranchers need to balance and make commitments to optimize cattle and wildlife economic output. In general, the negative perception of biologists, ranchers, and the general public toward exotic grasses is less pronounced than in the United States even when the ecological benefits of maintaining healthy native rangelands is well‐understood. Differences in primary productivity and domestic animal production between exotic and native grasses are well‐documented; however, information on impacts of exotic grasses on wildlife is extremely limited. The preservation of native rangelands is important; however, exotic grasses will continue to be seeded in northern Mexico as long as cattle production remains an important economic activity. Exotic grasses in many cases will be impossible to eradicate; therefore, management will be necessary to ensure optimization of habitat for livestock and wildlife species. In this context many research questions need to be answered to optimize domestic livestock production and maintain healthy wildlife populations. Governments, non‐governmental organizations, and other entities interested in conservation should combine efforts and develop incentive programs for ranchers to preserve native rangelands in Mexico and to avoid seeding exotic grasses. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.

Livestock is an economic activity, dedicated to the breeding of animal species to take advantage of them and of its derivative products, as well as of livestock exploitation itself. However, when relating it to the sustainable use of natural resources in Northwest Mexico, there can be seen some situations that need to be addressed. The present study aims to analyze the production and conservation status of natural resources of beef cattle activity in the cow-calf system in Sonora, Mexico. The diagnosis was based on aspects of regionalization of livestock, the specific characteristics and issues of the systems, and the productive status of rangelands. The results showed that, despite the existence of signs of wildlife utilization and the importance of protecting the habitat status for livestock development in the state of Sonora, Mexico, it is important to implement a series of actions in order to increase the sustainable productivity of soil, soil water resources, the recovery of vegetation cover, improvement of livestock management practices, needs of research and technology transfer, as well as institutional linkage and training of professional human resources.

Invasion of exotic grasses into grasslands dominated by native plants changes fire cycles and reduces biodiversity. Brush management practices that create soil disturbance, such as aeration, may potentially result in invasion of exotic grasses and replacement of native vegetation. We tested the hypothesis that a long-term effect of aeration and prescribed burning is an increase in exotic grasses. The study was conducted at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in the western south Texas plains where four treatments were evaluated: aeration, warm-season burn, aeration followed by a warm-season burn, and no treatment (control). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates. We estimated percentage canopy cover of exotic grasses, native grasses, forbs, litter, bare ground, and woody and succulent plants in 2007. There was a multivariate main effect among treatments for the dependent variables absolute canopy cover of exotic grasses, native grasses, forbs, litter, and bare ground (Wilks's Lambda F 15,179.84 5 2.78, P 5 0.001). Variables that contributed to the significant overall effect included litter (F 3,69 5 4.32, P 5 0.008) and native grasses (F 3,69 5 6.11, P 5 0.001). The multivariate main effect of treatment was significant (Wilks's Lambda F 9,180.25 5 2.04, P 5 0.038) for the relative canopy cover of herbaceous species. Relative cover of exotic grasses was 31% higher (P 5 0.024) in control than in the prescribed burn treatment. Native grasses relative cover was 30% higher (P 5 0.003) in prescribed burn than in the control treatment. We did not detect differences among treatments in the percentage of total woody and succulent plants canopy cover (P 5 0.083). Under the environmental conditions at the time of the study, aeration and/or prescribed burning do not increase exotic grasses. Resumen La invasión de zacates exóticos en pastizales dominados por plantas nativas modifica los ciclos del fuego y reducen la biodiversidad. Las prácticas de manejo de arbustivas que crean disturbios al suelo, tales como aeración, potencialmente pudieran causar la invasión de zacates exóticos y reemplazar la vegetación nativa. Se examinó la hipótesis de que el efecto a largo plazo de la aireación y quema prescrita es un incremento de zacates exóticos. El estudio se realizó en el Chaparral Wildlife Management Area en las planicies del oeste del sur de Texas, donde se evaluaron cuatro tratamientos: aireación, quema de verano, aireación seguida de una quema de verano y sin tratamiento (control). El diseñ o experimental fue de bloques completamente al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Se estimaron porcentajes de cobertura aérea de zacates exóticos, zacates nativos, hierbas, mantillo, suelo desnudo y plantas arbustivas y suculentas en 2007. Se encontró un efecto multivariado para las variables dependientes de cobertura aérea absoluta de zacates exóticos, zacates nativos, hierbas, mantillo y suelo desnudo entre tratamientos (Wilks's Lambda F 15, 179.84 5 2.78, P 5 0.001). Las variables que contribuyeron al ...

Se define como reconversión de cultivos al cambio de producto o actividad que representa mayor rentabilidad económica y viabilidad social para el productor agrícola, al mismo tiempo que da un mejor uso del suelo, mejora la fertilidad del mismo y rompe con el ciclo biológico de plagas y enfermedades. En las zonas árido-desérticas, donde se produce el 70% de los alimentos agrícolas a nivel mundial, entre los factores adversos de tipo abiótico, se destaca el de la salinidad, el cual se agudiza conforme pasa el tiempo, mermando la producción de los cultivos convencionales. En este tipo de ambientes árido-salinos, las especies vegetales nativas son halotolerantes tolerando salinidades que varían de 2 a 55 g/L de agua. Algunas especies presentan tener una importancia agroindustrial como lo es la halófita Salicornia bigelovii, la cual puede ser utilizada para forraje, alimento humano, productos cosmetológicos, producción de biocombustibles, comprimidos a base de biomasa seca para la creación de escritorios, libreros, entre otros. La producción de Salicornia, demanda aguas salobres o agua de mar, la cual es un recurso que puede ser extraído de los litorales costeros o bien de tierras firmes continentales. El escalamiento de su producción depende de por tanto de la intensificación de nuestro conocimiento sobre diversos aspectos de su biología, fisiología, bioquímica e interacción con microorganismos benéficos que contribuyan a un mejor desarrollo y mejorada productividad de este recurso, sin alterar el medio ambiente