Environmental influences and ontogenetic differences in vertical habitat use of black marlin (Istiompax Indica) in the southwestern Pacific

S M Williams; Bonnie J Holmes; S R Tracey; J G Pepperell; M L Domeier; M B Bennett

doi:10.1098/rsos.170694

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Environmental influences and ontogenetic differences in vertical habitat use of black marlin (Istiompax Indica) in the southwestern Pacific

Journal article

Open access

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Environmental influences and ontogenetic differences in vertical habitat use of black marlin (Istiompax Indica) in the southwestern Pacific

S M Williams, Bonnie J Holmes, S R Tracey, J G Pepperell, M L Domeier and M B Bennett

Royal Society Open Science, Vol.4(11)

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170694

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Abstract

billfish

diving behaviour

ontogeny

physiology

telemetry

The black marlin (Istiompax indica) is a highly migratory billfish that occupies waters throughout the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific. To characterize the vertical habitat use of I. indica, we examined the temperature-depth profiles collected using 102 pop-up satellite archival tags deployed off the east coast of Australia. Modelling of environmental variables revealed location, sea-surface height deviation, mixed layer depth and dissolved oxygen to all be significant predictors of vertical habitat use. Distinct differences in diel movements were observed between the size classes, with larger size classes of marlin (greater than 50 kg) undertaking predictable bounce-diving activity during daylight hours, while diving behaviour of the smallest size class occurred randomly during both day and night. Overall, larger size classes of I. indica were found to use an increased thermal range and spend more time in waters below 150 m than fish of smaller size classes. The differences in the diving behaviour among size classes were suggested to reflect ontogenetic differences in foraging behaviour or physiology. The findings of this study demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, ontogenetic differences in vertical habitat in a species of billfish, and further the understanding of pelagic fish ecophysiology in the presence of global environmental change.

Details

Title: Environmental influences and ontogenetic differences in vertical habitat use of black marlin (Istiompax Indica) in the southwestern Pacific
Authors: S M Williams (Author) - University of Queensland
Bonnie J Holmes (Author) - University of Queensland
S R Tracey (Author) - University of Tasmania
J G Pepperell (Author)
M L Domeier (Author)
M B Bennett (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Royal Society Open Science, Vol.4(11)
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (R S C) Publications
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170694
ISSN: 2054-5703
Copyright note: Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450843902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries

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