Environmental influence on the seasonal movements of satellite-tracked ocean sunfish Mola mola in the north-east Atlantic

摘要: Determining the habitat use of mobile marine species is important for understanding responses to climate change and aids implementation management conservation measures. Inference preferred use has been greatly improved by combining satellite-based oceanographic data with animal tracking techniques. Although there have several satellite-tracking studies on ocean sunfish Mola mola, limited information available about either horizontal or vertical environmental preferences. In this study, both geographical movements diving behaviour were explored together factors influencing species’ space in north-east Atlantic. Habitat selection electronic-tagged (n = 22 individuals; 0.6–1.4 m total length, TL) was investigated using geolocations from Argos-linked pop-up satellite archival transmitters. Satellite (up 171 days, mean 66 days) revealed seasonal movements: northward spring–summer southward cooler months. Sunfish spent extended periods three focal areas, Gulf Cadiz, Iberia Alboran gyre, which are characterised presence frontal features elevated primary production. modelling that sea surface temperature thermal gradients significantly influenced distribution. Diving profiles, extending a maximum depth 704 m, different depth-use patterns not linked region water column stratification. Overall, size-related movement pattern detected larger individuals (>0.92 m travelling further, exploiting greater ranges spending more time at than smaller fish. Ocean Atlantic displayed movements, primarily driven preferences, into higher latitudes summer. Moreover, fish also occupied productive areas long periods, presumably foraging opportunities. Lastly, showed considerable variability likely reflect planktonic prey distributions.