Association of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) with thermo-biological frontal systems of the eastern tropical Pacific.

ABSTRACT: Satellite tracking of 27 whale sharks in the eastern tropical Pacific, examined in relation to environmental data, indicates preferential occupancy of thermo-biological frontal systems. In these systems, thermal gradients are caused by wind-forced circulation and mixing, and biological gradients are caused by associated nutrient enrichment and enhanced primary productivity. Two of the frontal systems result from upwelling, driven by divergence in the current systems along the equator and the west coast of South America; the third results from wind jet dynamics off Central America. All whale sharks were tagged near Darwin Island, Galápagos, within the equatorial Pacific upwelling system. Occupancy of frontal habitat is pronounced in synoptic patterns of shark locations in relation to serpen

SUBMITTER: Ryan JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5576648 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature