Trout Species Of The Sierra Madre
The Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO) includes portions of Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, and Sinaloa, Mexico, and extends into both Arizona and New Mexico. The region is topologically, climatically, and faunistically diverse with elevations to 3348 m, mean temperatures at 10-20°C, and annual precipitation of 250-1100 mm. The geological complexity of the SMO contributes to diverse habitat types and great diversity of life (much of which remains to be discovered and described to science) and the area was recently listed as one of six new high-priority biodiversity hotspots by Conservation International. The great diversity of life to be described in the SMO relates primarily to access. Many factors contribute to limited access to the region. The terrain is very rugged, expansive portions have not been modified from pre-European settlements, many areas are questionable in terms of safety, and some areas are famous for “holdouts” of Native American tribal groups during the U. S. government “removal” to reservations. Hence, travel in areas away from highways is very difficult and at least the aquatic fauna is largely unknown, especially above 1000 m.
On the left is the official logo of the binational, non-profit organization Truchas Mexicanas. The organization is about partnerships in the discovery and conservation of biodiversity. The trout species illustrated are by Joseph R. Tomelleri and include the Mexican Golden Trout, Oncorhynchus chrysogaster (forefront) and an undescribed species of Oncorhynchus newly discovered from Mexico.
These mountains and their streams are home to a fauna of fishes with relationships to other western fish groups. One of these groups is the North American trout species of the genus Oncorhynchus. While these trout are relatively well known to scientists, fisheries managers, and fishermen in the U. S. and Canada, in Mexico native trout are essentially unknown to all but the indigenous people in the area.
Truchas Mexicanas is a binational group of scientists interested in the diversity of species in the SMO and their conservation. This site provides interested persons with exciting information about our 11-year journey studying wild native trout in Mexico.
I hope you enjoy the photos, news and stories. Don’t forget to visit my blog on these topics.
Finally, we need your help as an individual, as a member of an organization, foundation, society, as an employee where you work, or as a passionate lover of trout, aquatic ecosystems, conservation, or biodiversity. For the past 11 years most of the funding supporting this research has come out of the pockets of the collaborators themselves. If you are aware of persons, organizations, or foundations that can find their way to contribute to the continuation of these studies please let us know!
Trout Unlimited generously helped us in 2007 with a $10,000 gift that lasted for two years to aid in the conservation and protection of the newly discovered and undescribed Conchos Trout! To read more about this sponsored project go to the page on Conchos Trout Conservation. We thank TU for this kind and extremely beneficial donation. This is a great start that we hope will prime the pump for other organizations or persons to contribute to our efforts.
Special thanks to Trout Unlimited, the U. S. National Science Foundation, the Government of Mexico, and our collaborators for their continued commitment.
We also thank xxxx and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for providing the necessary permits.
Finally, our journeys have
riverside, ranchers, cabins, xxxx.
