Vol. 36 (2026): Volumen 36
Artículos de investigación

Urban mangroves in resistance: the case of the Urias-Infiernillo estuarine system in Mazatlan, Sinaloa

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  • AIMEE CERVANTES ESCOBAR,
  • Rafael Hernández-Guzmán,
  • Arturo Ruiz-Luna
AIMEE CERVANTES ESCOBAR Posdoc-CIAD
Rafael Hernández-Guzmán SECIHTI - Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo.
Arturo Ruiz-Luna

Published 2026-09-23

Copyright (c) 2026 Aimée Cervantes Escobar, Rafael Hernández-Guzmán, Arturo Ruiz-Luna

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

CERVANTES ESCOBAR, A., Hernández-Guzmán, R., & Ruiz-Luna, A. (2026). Urban mangroves in resistance: the case of the Urias-Infiernillo estuarine system in Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Acta Universitaria, 36, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.15174/au.2026.4765

Abstract

The extent and vegetation condition of mangroves in the Urías-Infiernillo estuarine system, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, were analyzed using remote sensing techniques with satellite images (1990-2025). Coverage was estimated through unsupervised classification and condition through the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), classified into four types according to quartile distribution (Type 1: poorest condition; Type 4: best condition). Results showed an average surface area of 964 ha (±62.9 ha), with a minimum of 876 ha (2000) and maximum of 1,082 ha (2020). Types 2 and 3 (intermediate condition) predominated. Type 1 was initially distributed in Infiernillo, subsequently expanding toward the interior margins of Urías, adjacent to aquacultural, agricultural, and urban activities.The mangroves maintained stable surface area with moderate fluctuations (~5% variability), although they showed considerable reductions (>5%) in 2000 and 2025. The results demonstrate the resilience of these urban mangroves but warn of their vulnerability in areas of anthropogenic contact.

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