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

ABSTRACT: 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 random

SUBMITTER: Williams SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5717634 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature