Movements and behaviors of swordfish in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans examined using pop‐up satellite archival tags

摘要: Swordfish are highly specialized top-level predators that have been challenging to study. In this paper, data from 31 pop-up satellite archival tags attached swordfish (i) the eastern Pacific, (ii) central and (iii) western North Atlantic-Caribbean were analyzed. Common across locations was a pronounced diel vertical pattern with daytime hours spent primarily below thermocline nighttime in warmer waters, close surface. One exception periodic basking events which most common cooler waters off California. Maximum depths significantly correlated light penetration as measured by diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm. Temperature did not appear influence depths, tolerated both extremely low temperatures (4� C) rapid dramatic temperature changes (>20� C). Pacific where fish typically remained surface mixed layer. contrast, warm tropical Atlantic case, much deeper. all areas, depth increased around full moon. Given parallels between movement patterns of those deep sound scattering layer we suggest distribution patterns, especially during daytime, influenced largely resource availability. At night, when targeted fisheries, ambient movements. Understanding can help evaluate gear vulnerability, improve population assessments, potentially reduce fisheries bycatch.