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Modeling the Eco-physiology of Pelagic Fishes and Sharks with Archival and Pop-up Satellite Archival Tags (PSATs)

Related PFRP projects:
Developing Biochemical and Physiological Predictors of Long Term Survival in Released Blue Sharks and Sea Turtles

Pop-Off Satellite Archival Tags to Chronicle the Survival and Movements of Blue Sharks Following Release from Longline Gear

Evaluating Biochemical and Physiological Predictors of Long Term Survival in Released Pacific Blue Marlin Tagged with Pop-up Satellite Archival Transmitters (PSATs)


Progress Reports (PDF): FY2010, FY 2009, FY 2008, FY 2007, FY 2006

Project Overview
Recent efforts employing electronic tags on several species of pelagic fishes have yielded a large amount of data, including long-term measurements of body temperature, water temperature, swimming depths, and horizontal movements. Inherent in these data are valuable information concerning the effects of oceanographic conditions on behavior. Long term tagging data have opened up the possibility for learning more about the physical, physiological and behavioral events governing the vertical and horizontal distribution of pelagic fishes (Block et al. 1997; Brill et al. 1999; Lutcavage et al. 2000; Holland et al. 1992; Block et al. 2001; Marcinek et al. 2001; Musyl et al. 2003; Sibert et al. 2003). The availability of simultaneously collected parameters by archival tags and pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) make conclusions and predictions about common effects of oceanographic conditions and specific gear vulnerability on fish movements more robust.

Individual based modeling (IBM), recently completed on the bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) shows the utility of such an approach. The model takes into account the non-steady state conditions the fish experiences - it's a two dimensional environment - as well as specific anatomical and physiological features. Further, it is anticipated that visual and olfactory abilities might also be incorporated into the model. For example, a testable hypothesis in sharks is that variation in sizes of olfactory lobes in different species of sharks might be related to extent of diving pattern and activity. Therefore, with a combination of biological and physico-chemical factors, the model allows for important conclusions and (or) predictions regarding the effect of oceanographic conditions on behavior and will be species specific.

Project researchers propose to use available data from archival and PSAT* tags to develop IBMs to describe the eco-physiology of different species of large pelagic fishes and sharks. This project will complement data already collected on a number of pelagic species and will be linked to existing PFRP projects by Musyl, Brill, and Moyes. Thus the study will be a collaboration between the University of Hawaii/JIMAR/PFRP, VIMS/ National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Dept. of Zoophysiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark. The ultimate goal is to develop model(s), which will be applicable to many different pelagic fish and shark species. Using these models researchers can evaluate the possible importance of specific oceanographic parameters in an unbiased fashion, which will allow for intra- and inter-species comparison. (Contact project PIs for an example of this modeling approach.)

*At this time, because of specific data requirements (i.e., raw data points of temperature and pressure [depth] acquired in time series), the modelling approach can not accommodate satellite data compiled as frequency histograms.

Project researchers have compiled an enormous amount of PSAT data suitable for eco-physiological modeling approach, including data on several billfish, shark and tuna species. PSAT data have been successfully recovered from 71 PSATs representing 11 different species for a combined total of 6,490 days at-liberty (or ca. 18 years) with an average of 91 days/PSAT. Prof. Malte and his students will work closely with Musyl and Brill and other PSAT collaborators to develop testable hypotheses with the PSAT data and will explore the time series of PSAT data from different physiological, anatomical and oceanographic perspectives. The ultimate goal is to gain insights into the autecology and thermal preferences of pelagic fish species. It is anticipated that IBMs developed by the project will be incorporated into habitat-based stock assessment models to further refine indices of species abundance, availability and vulnerability. As such, the tools developed herein will provide valuable information into ecological questions regarding fisheries interactions to different types of gear as they pertain to management scenarios.

Year 1 funding for this 3-year project estimated to be available mid-2005.

References:
Block, B. A., Keen, J. E., Castillo, B., Dewar, H., Freund, E. V., Marcinek, D. J., Brill, R. W., and Farwell, C. (1997). Environmental preferences of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) a the northern extent of its range. Mar.Biol. 130, 119-132.
Block, B. A., Dewar, H., Blackwell, S. B., Williams, T. D., Prince, E. D., Farwell, C. J., Boustany, A., Teo, S. L. H., Seitz, A., Walli, A., and Fudge, D. S. (2001). Migratory movements, depth preferences, and thermal biology of atlantic bluefin tuna. Science 293, 1310-1314.
Brill, R. W., Block, B. A., Boggs, C. H., Bigelow, K. A., Freund, E. V., and Marcinek, D. J. (1999). Horizontal movements and depth distribution of lager adult yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) near the Hawaiian islands, recorded using ultrasonic telemetrry: implications for the physiological ecology of pelagic fishes. Mar.Biol. 133, 395-408.
Holland, K. N., Brill, R. W., Chang, R. K. C., Sibert, J. R., and Fournier, D. A. (1992). Physiological thermoregulation in bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). Nature 358, 410-412.
Lutcavage, M. E., Brill, R. W., Skomal, G. B., Chase, B. C., Goldstein, J. L., and Tutein, J. (2000). Tracking adult north atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the northwestern Atlantic using ultrasonic telemetry. Mar.Biol. 137, 347-358.
Marcinek, D. J., Blackwell, S. B., Dewar, H., Freund, E. V., Farwell, C., Dau, D., Seitz, A. C., and Block, B. A. (2001). Depth and muscle temperature of pacific bluefin tuna examined with acustic and pop-up satellite archival tags. Mar. Biol. 138, 869-885.
Musyl, M.K., Brill, R.W., Boggs, C.H., Curran, D.S., Kazama, T.K. and Seki, M.K. (2003). Vertical movements of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) associated with islands, buoys, and seamounts near the main Hawaiian Islands from archival tagging data. Fish. Oceanogr. 12, 152-169.
Sibert, J.R., Musyl, M.K. and Brill, R.W. (2003). Horizontal movements of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) near Hawaii determined by Kalman filter analysis of archival tagging data. Fish. Oceanogr. 12, 141-151.

 

Project Investigators:
Dr. Michael Musyl
National Marine Fisheries Service
Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center
Honolulu Laboratory
Kewalo Research Facility
1125-B Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 USA
Phone (808) 592-8305
FAX (808) 592-8300
email: mmusyl@honlab.nmfs.hawaii.edu

Dr. Hans Malte
University of Aarhus
Department of Biological Sciences
Zoophysiology Department
Bygning 131, Room 220
C.F. Mollers Allé
8000 Aarhus C.
DENMARK
Phone (45) 8942 2596
FAX (45) 8619 4186
email: hans.malte@biology.au.dk

Dr. Richard Brill
Virginia CMER Program Director
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Gloucester Point, VA 23062 USA
Phone (804) 684-7773
FAX (808) 592-8300
email: rbrill@vims.edu

 

 

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This page updated September 29, 2010