Satellite tracking the world's largest jelly predator, the ocean sunfish, Mola mola, in the Western Pacific

摘要: article i nfo Twelve ocean sunfish, Mola mola, were tagged with pop-up satellite archival tags off the coast of Kamogawa, Japan during spring 2001 and 2003-2006. Transmitted data obtained from seven tags. An eighth tag was recovered provided a highly detailed four-month dataset which several recognizable diving patterns emerged. This M. mola spent considerable time at surface, possibly warming itself. These apparent basking events punctuated by regular deep dives below thermocline to depths as great 600 m temperatures low 2 °C. The vast majority occurred day, relatively little vertical movement night. Geolocation estimates possible between release for five individuals. No large, basin-scale movements most molas remaining close their initial tagging location over six nine month period. Seasonal some corresponded regional shifts in oceanography. Northward Kuroshio Current into Kuroshio-Oyashio transition zone Oyashio summer months coincided an increase temperature reduction chlorophyll concentrations waters near central Japan. In fall, returned inshore Molas are targeted incidentally captured fishermen these waters, information presented here is vital effective fisheries management forecast changes behaviors associated environmental variability. Published Elsevier B.V.