New insights to behaviour of North Atlantic albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) observed with pop-up satellite archival tags

Abstract

Pop-up archival satellite tags were deployed on North Atlantic albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) in the first experiment using this technique on this species. New information on movement, habitat use and fish behaviour is presented. Data from five successful tag deployments for periods of up to 106 days revealed consistently shallow nocturnal depth preferences and progressively deeper diurnal depth preferences as seasons unfolded. In situ environmental variables such as chlorophyll-a and mixed layer depth significantly affected vertical depth preferences. Adapted deep diving behaviour to colder water below the mixed layer was also exhibited in the first record of repetitive bounce diving in albacore tuna. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.