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Depth distribution and temperature preferences of wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) off Baja California Sur, Mexico

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Abstract

The depth distribution and temperature preferences of wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) were quantified in the eastern North Pacific using archival tags. One hundred and eight data-loggers were deployed on wahoo (105–165-cm fork length) from 2005 to 2008 at three locations off of the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico (Alijos Rocks, 25°00′N/115°45′W; Magdalena Bay Ridge, 25°55′N/113°21′W; Hurricane Bank, 16°51′N/117°29′W). Twenty-five tagged individuals (23%) were recaptured within close proximity (<20 km) of their release sites. Collectively, depth and temperature data from 499 days revealed a predominant distribution within the upper mixed layer, with an average (±SD) depth of 18 ± 4 m during the day and 17 ± 6 m at night. Wahoo spent 99.2% of the daytime and 97.9% of night above the thermocline, and the greatest depth achieved by any fish was 253 m. Mean dive duration (3.8 ± 2.9 vs. 2.3 ± 0.8 min) and the vertical rate of movement (3.8 ± 1.3 vs. 3.0 ± 0.5 m min−1) were greater at night when compared to day. Ambient temperatures obtained from tag records ranged from 11.1 to 27.9°C, with an average of 25.0 ± 1.1°C. These data identify the importance of the warm, upper mixed layer for the wahoo. High recapture rates proximal to the deployment sites suggest seasonal site fidelity and reveal the economic importance of this resource to both commercial and recreational fisheries of the region.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Tom Pfleger and Family, and the George T. Pfleger Foundation for their generous support for this project. Special thanks are offered to Captain Tommy Rothery and the crew of the F/V Polaris Supreme for their assistance during the tagging cruises. We also thank Captain Tommy Fullam, Victoria Wintrode, Lorraine Bohnet, Harry Okuda, and Dan Fuller for their help on various aspects of this work. We also thank Dr. Leonel Romero for his assistance with the graphic illustrations and Dr. J. Donley for her valuable comments on this manuscript. We thank COFAA-IPN for the support offered for one of the co-authors. All experiments were performed under the permits DGOPA13308.210905, DGOPA09974.260906, and DGOPA08071.310708 authorized by CONAPESCA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research, 315 N. Clementine, Oceanside, CA, 92054, USA

    Chugey A. Sepulveda & Scott A. Aalbers

  2. Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas-IPN. Av. IPN s/n Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096, La Paz, BCS, México

    Sofia Ortega-Garcia

  3. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

    Nicholas C. Wegner

  4. University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, 02747-2300, USA

    Diego Bernal

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  1. Chugey A. Sepulveda
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  3. Sofia Ortega-Garcia
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  4. Nicholas C. Wegner
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  5. Diego Bernal
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Correspondence to Chugey A. Sepulveda.

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Communicated by S. Garthe.

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Sepulveda, C.A., Aalbers, S.A., Ortega-Garcia, S. et al. Depth distribution and temperature preferences of wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) off Baja California Sur, Mexico. Mar Biol 158, 917–926 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1618-y

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