Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations

Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) are the most abundant marlin in Central American waters and are a species of socioeconomic and ecological importance with sport fishing generating millions of dollars (USD) and thousands of jobs each year. Concurrently, sailfish are caught as bycatch in pur...

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Main Authors: Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway, Samir Harshad Patel, Gabriela Blanco, Samuel J. Friederichk, Stephen Morreale, Frank V. Paladino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Fish Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frish.2024.1476026/full
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author Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway
Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway
Samir Harshad Patel
Gabriela Blanco
Samuel J. Friederichk
Stephen Morreale
Frank V. Paladino
Frank V. Paladino
author_facet Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway
Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway
Samir Harshad Patel
Gabriela Blanco
Samuel J. Friederichk
Stephen Morreale
Frank V. Paladino
Frank V. Paladino
author_sort Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway
collection DOAJ
description Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) are the most abundant marlin in Central American waters and are a species of socioeconomic and ecological importance with sport fishing generating millions of dollars (USD) and thousands of jobs each year. Concurrently, sailfish are caught as bycatch in purse seine and longline fishing gear potentially threatening the stability of the population and sportfishing community. In this study, Wildlife Computers Mk10 satellite transmitters were deployed on sailfish (n = 6) which relayed real time Argos satellite locations and post-release light-derived geolocation positional estimates. The two location recording methods produced similar tracking intervals—deployment date until the final location date—(Argos: 33.0 ± 13.5 d; GPE: 32.0 ± 11.2 d), and detection days—number of days the transmitter recorded a location—(Argos: 7.8 ± 6.0 d; GPE: 12.3 ± 8.5 d). In total, displacement distances from initial tagging to final (Argos) location ranged from 339.92 to 985.59 km and crossed 6 different Exclusive Economic Zones. During migrating, sailfish exhibited alternating with-current and against-current movements, a pattern that was consistent in both the upwelling and non-upwelling seasons. Despite the known fluctuations associated with seasonal upwelling in the eastern Pacific, sailfish experienced relatively stable microenvironments with average temperature variability remaining within 2°C. Behavioral modification to achieve this consistency could be through depth use (48 ± 28 m vs. 37 ± 47 m), though this mechanism alone seems unlikely to fully explain their ability to mitigate environmental dynamics. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these behavioral adaptations and the ecological factors that contribute to sailfish resilience. Additionally, strengthened protection measures are critical to ensure the conservation of sailfish in Costa Rica, including elimination of all commercial sale.
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spelling doaj-art-9da60c012b734e3c9270b45b6f7f57c82025-01-21T08:36:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Fish Science2813-90972025-01-01210.3389/frish.2024.14760261476026Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locationsChelsea E. Clyde-Brockway0Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway1Samir Harshad Patel2Gabriela Blanco3Samuel J. Friederichk4Stephen Morreale5Frank V. Paladino6Frank V. Paladino7Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United StatesThe Leatherback Trust, Edificio Los Yoses, San José, Costa RicaCoonamessett Farm Foundation, East Falmouth, MA, United StatesCentro Para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR) National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United StatesDepartment of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United StatesThe Leatherback Trust, Edificio Los Yoses, San José, Costa RicaPacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) are the most abundant marlin in Central American waters and are a species of socioeconomic and ecological importance with sport fishing generating millions of dollars (USD) and thousands of jobs each year. Concurrently, sailfish are caught as bycatch in purse seine and longline fishing gear potentially threatening the stability of the population and sportfishing community. In this study, Wildlife Computers Mk10 satellite transmitters were deployed on sailfish (n = 6) which relayed real time Argos satellite locations and post-release light-derived geolocation positional estimates. The two location recording methods produced similar tracking intervals—deployment date until the final location date—(Argos: 33.0 ± 13.5 d; GPE: 32.0 ± 11.2 d), and detection days—number of days the transmitter recorded a location—(Argos: 7.8 ± 6.0 d; GPE: 12.3 ± 8.5 d). In total, displacement distances from initial tagging to final (Argos) location ranged from 339.92 to 985.59 km and crossed 6 different Exclusive Economic Zones. During migrating, sailfish exhibited alternating with-current and against-current movements, a pattern that was consistent in both the upwelling and non-upwelling seasons. Despite the known fluctuations associated with seasonal upwelling in the eastern Pacific, sailfish experienced relatively stable microenvironments with average temperature variability remaining within 2°C. Behavioral modification to achieve this consistency could be through depth use (48 ± 28 m vs. 37 ± 47 m), though this mechanism alone seems unlikely to fully explain their ability to mitigate environmental dynamics. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these behavioral adaptations and the ecological factors that contribute to sailfish resilience. Additionally, strengthened protection measures are critical to ensure the conservation of sailfish in Costa Rica, including elimination of all commercial sale.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frish.2024.1476026/fullcosine similarityfisheriessatellite telemetrymigrationgeolocation positional estimatesCosta Rica
spellingShingle Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway
Chelsea E. Clyde-Brockway
Samir Harshad Patel
Gabriela Blanco
Samuel J. Friederichk
Stephen Morreale
Frank V. Paladino
Frank V. Paladino
Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations
Frontiers in Fish Science
cosine similarity
fisheries
satellite telemetry
migration
geolocation positional estimates
Costa Rica
title Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations
title_full Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations
title_fullStr Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations
title_full_unstemmed Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations
title_short Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real-time Argos locations
title_sort pacific sailfish istiophorus platypterus in the eastern pacific ocean association with ocean currents and seasonal effects of upwelling using real time argos locations
topic cosine similarity
fisheries
satellite telemetry
migration
geolocation positional estimates
Costa Rica
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frish.2024.1476026/full
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