After more than 15 years without confirmed signsA population of axolotls from the Altiplano region has been rediscovered in the state of Querétaro, in central Mexico. The finding, confirmed by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), represents a significant turning point for the species. conservation of this species of an endangered salamander.
The research group located up to fifty copies in an artificial lake in the municipality of Amealco de Bonfil, within a private agricultural property. The relative isolation of the location, combined with the water conditions, has allowed that this population remains off the scientific radar for more than a decade.
An unexpected discovery in Amealco de Bonfil
The axolotl population of the Altiplano (Ambystoma velasci) was detected in a artificial lake used for agricultural irrigation near the community of San Ildefonso, in Amealco de Bonfil. It is a body of water nestled in a private property with restricted accesswhere human presence is limited and activities are concentrated on cultivation.
The first counts carried out by the UNAM team point to around 50 individualsThis confirms the existence of a stable population at the site. The specimens are located in an environment that, although not a natural lake, has functioned as unnoticed refuge for the species in a region where it was practically considered extinct.
The lake's geographic isolation, coupled with the fact that its water is primarily used for agriculture, has reduced direct pressure on the ecosystem. This has allowed it to maintain its natural state. relatively stable conditions of temperature, oxygen and water quality, key factors for axolotls to complete their life cycle.
According to researchers, the location of the find in an agricultural area presents a delicate scenario: on the one hand, it has protected the animals from urban pressure; on the other, it forces reconciling cultivation and conservation practices if the goal is to guarantee the permanence of the population over time.
Detailed census of the population and health status
The scientific team carried out a detailed biological census of the specimens found. In each axolotl, parameters such as approximate age, sex, weight, body measurements and general health status were recorded, in order to understand the population structure and its viability in the medium term.
To avoid counting the same organism multiple times, the researchers used a method of individual identification based on stains on the left side of each animal. These marks function as a kind of "fingerprint" that allows individuals to be recognized without the need to physically mark them, thus reducing stress and risk to the animals.
Scientists point out that the following have been observed in the lake: different age groups, from juveniles to adults, which indicates that there is active playback in the area. This fact is especially relevant because it suggests that the body of water not only acts as a temporary refuge, but as a functional habitat capable of supporting all phases of the axolotl's life cycle.
In addition, aspects related to behavior, the distribution of animals within the lake, and the possible presence of predators or species with which they share the ecosystem have been assessed. All this information will be used to design management strategies adapted to the reality of the site.
How was the water and habitat quality verified?
After confirming the presence of the species, the specialists carried out a detailed analysis of the physical and chemical conditions of the body of waterParameters such as dissolved oxygen, acidity (pH), electrical conductivity, temperature and the amount of suspended and dissolved solids were measured, in addition to the presence of different bacteria.
This data allows us to understand what factors have made it possible The persistence of the population for years without being detected. Unlike other areas of the Altiplano where severe pollution has been documented, in this lake the water quality values ​​are, in general, more favorable for the survival of sensitive amphibians such as the axolotl.
The team also assessed the potential load of total and fecal coliform bacteriaThese analyses, which have exceeded regulatory limits in other bodies of water in the region, are crucial for determining the level of pressure exerted by human activity and for proposing sanitation measures if necessary.
In addition to water, characteristics of the immediate environment were studied: vegetation cover, soil type, intensity of agricultural use, and the existence of potential sources of contamination. All this information forms part of a database that will be used to Compare this shelter with other historical sites where the species used to live and which today show a more pronounced deterioration.
Who is behind the investigation
The project is led by specialists from Ambiental Microbiology Laboratory from the Faculty of Higher Studies Iztacala (UNAM), led by the scientist Diego de JesĂºs Chaparro HerreraThe team includes biologists specializing in herpetology, wetland ecology, and water quality, who have joined forces to document the rediscovery.
During the expedition, the following were used: direct observation methods combined with sampling techniques in bodies of water in the Altiplano where the presence of the axolotl was suspected. Although in this case the discovery occurred in an artificial lake, it is part of a broader prospecting strategy in different areas of the central part of the country.
The results obtained not only confirm the existence of this population, but also redesign the distribution map of the species, which in recent years was considered highly restricted to certain areas of the states of Mexico and Hidalgo. The reappearance in Querétaro demonstrates that there are still populations that had gone unnoticed during previous monitoring.
The investigation has a plan of at least four years of continuous workIn the first phase, priority will be given to collecting ecological and health data; in later stages, the objective will be to implement concrete actions for the conservation and restoration of the habitat, taking advantage of the experience accumulated in other projects with axolotls in Mexico.
An emblematic and threatened amphibian
The axolotl of the Highlands is a salamander endemic to central MexicoHistorically associated with cold-water environments in temperate forests, grasslands, and mountain streams, it has been recorded in states such as Querétaro, Hidalgo, Puebla, Guanajuato, Morelos, and Veracruz, although in recent decades its presence has been reduced to a few isolated areas.
The species is classified as in danger of extinctionprimarily due to habitat degradation. Among the most frequent threats are deforestation, urban sprawl, pollution of rivers and lakes, overexploitation of water, and changes in land use, especially in the mountain ecosystems of the central part of the country.
Its scientific name, Ambystoma velasciIt pays homage to the Mexican naturalist and painter JosĂ© Velasco GĂ³mez, a key figure in the study of biodiversity. In addition to its ecological importance, the axolotl of the Altiplano has a strong component cultural and scientific, as it is a model organism for research on tissue regeneration and embryonic development.
In many places where these salamanders once lived, recent water analyses have revealed high levels of bacteria and contaminantsas well as the presence of introduced species that compete for food or feed on axolotls. Therefore, the survival of a viable population in a relatively isolated agricultural environment is especially significant.
Outstanding challenges and possible protection measures
Despite the good news, experts insist that the The axolotl of the Altiplano remains in a critical situationThe discovery of these specimens does not mean that the species is out of danger, but rather that there is still room for action if the few remaining refuges in the region are protected.
One of the proposals on the table is to promote the recognition of the area where the artificial lake is located as Protected Natural AreaThis type of arrangement would allow for the allocation of public resources and the establishment of clear rules regarding water use, the types of crops grown, and the activities that can be carried out in the surrounding areas without compromising the ecosystem.
Researchers indicate that this population could function as umbrella speciesThat is, to serve as an argument for protecting not only the axolotl, but also other plants and animals that share the same habitat. In this way, conservation policies would have a broader effect on local biodiversity.
The proposed measures include the pollutant controlThese actions include improved irrigation water management, reduced discharges into the lake, and the implementation of environmental education programs for farmers and nearby communities. The participation of municipal, state, and federal authorities is considered essential for the continuity of these efforts.
What happened in Amealco de Bonfil shows that, even after years without records, some threatened species They can continue to resist in discreet corners of the landscapeThe reappearance of the axolotl in the highlands of Querétaro is interpreted as a wake-up call about the fragility of mountain ecosystems and, at the same time, as a window of opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between science, administrations and local population in the protection of the last aquatic refuges in central Mexico.
