Marine Ecology Progress Series
MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.
Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)
Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)
Average Time in Review216 days (2024)
Total Annual Downloads2.985.917 (2025)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13637
copiedRegional-scale variability in the movement ecology of marine fishes revealed by an integrative acoustic tracking network
- Claudia Friess
- Susan K. Lowerre-Barbieri
- Gregg R. Poulakis
- Neil Hammerschlag
- Jayne M. Gardiner
- Andrea M. Kroetz
- Kim Bassos-Hull
- Joel Bickford
- Erin C. Bohaboy
- Robert D. Ellis
- Hayden Menendez
- William F. Patterson III
- Melissa E. Price
- Jennifer S. Rehage
- Colin P. Shea
- Matthew J. Smukall
- Sarah Walters Burnsed
- Krystan A. Wilkinson
- Joy Young
- Angela B. Collins
- Breanna C. DeGroot
- Cheston T. Peterson
- Caleb Purtlebaugh
- Michael Randall
- Rachel M. Scharer
- Ryan W. Schloesser
- Tonya R. Wiley
- Gina A. Alvarez
- Andy J. Danylchuk
- Adam G. Fox
- R. Dean Grubbs
- Ashley Hill
- James V. Locascio
- Patrick M. O’Donnell
- Gregory B. Skomal
- Fred G. Whoriskey
- Lucas P. Griffin
ABSTRACT: Marine fish movement plays a critical role in ecosystem functioning and is increasingly studied with acoustic telemetry. Traditionally, this research has focused on single species and small spatial scales. However, integrated tracking networks, such as the Integrated Tracking of Aquatic Animals in the Gulf of Mexico (iTAG) network, are building the capacity to monitor multiple species over larger spatial scales. We conducted a synthesis of passive acoustic monitoring data for 29 species (889 transmitters), ranging from large top predators to small consumers, monitored along the west coast of Florida, USA, over 3 yr (2016-2018). Space use was highly variable, with some groups using all monitored areas and others using only the area where they were tagged. The most extensive space use was found for Atlantic tarpon Megalops atlanticus and bull sharks Carcharhinus leucas. Individual detection patterns clustered into 4 groups, ranging from occasionally detected long-distance movers to frequently detected juvenile or adult residents. Synchronized, alongshore, long-distance movements were found for Atlantic tarpon, cobia Rachycentron canadum, and several elasmobranch species. These movements were predominantly northbound in spring and southbound in fall. Detections of top predators were highest in summer, except for nearshore Tampa Bay where the most detections occurred in fall, coinciding with large red drum Sciaenops ocellatus spawning aggregations. We discuss the future of collaborative telemetry research, including current limitations and potential solutions to maximize its impact for understanding movement ecology, conducting ecosystem monitoring, and supporting fisheries management.
KEYWORDS
Claudia Friess (Corresponding Author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Susan K. Lowerre-Barbieri (Co-author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville,FL 32653, USA
Gregg R. Poulakis (Co-author)
- Charlotte Harbor Field Laboratory, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission, Port Charlotte, FL 33954, USA
Neil Hammerschlag (Co-author)
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
Jayne M. Gardiner (Co-author)
- Division of Natural Sciences, New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA
Andrea M. Kroetz (Co-author)
- Riverside Technology, Inc. for NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center,Panama City, FL 32408, USA
Kim Bassos-Hull (Co-author)
- Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
Joel Bickford (Co-author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Erin C. Bohaboy (Co-author)
Robert D. Ellis (Co-author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Hayden Menendez (Co-author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
William F. Patterson III (Co-author)
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville,FL 32653, USA
Melissa E. Price (Co-author)
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (USGS-WARC), Gainesville, FL 32653, USA
Jennifer S. Rehage (Co-author)
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Colin P. Shea (Co-author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Matthew J. Smukall (Co-author)
- Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, South Bimini, Bahamas
Sarah Walters Burnsed (Co-author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Krystan A. Wilkinson (Co-author)
- Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
- Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
Joy Young (Co-author)
- Tequesta Field Laboratory, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,Tequesta, FL 33469, USA
Angela B. Collins (Co-author)
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
- University of Florida IFAS Extension, Florida Sea Grant, Palmetto, FL 34221, USA
Breanna C. DeGroot (Co-author)
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA
Cheston T. Peterson (Co-author)
- Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
Caleb Purtlebaugh (Co-author)
- Senator George Kirkpatrick Marine Laboratory, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission, Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA
Michael Randall (Co-author)
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (USGS-WARC), Gainesville, FL 32653, USA
Rachel M. Scharer (Co-author)
- Charlotte Harbor Field Laboratory, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission, Port Charlotte, FL 33954, USA
Ryan W. Schloesser (Co-author)
- Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
Tonya R. Wiley (Co-author)
- Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Palmetto, FL 34221, USA
Gina A. Alvarez (Co-author)
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Andy J. Danylchuk (Co-author)
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Adam G. Fox (Co-author)
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
R. Dean Grubbs (Co-author)
- Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St. Teresa, FL 32358, USA
Ashley Hill (Co-author)
- Lynker Technologies for NOAA, National Ocean Services, Office of Response and Restoration, Marine DebrisDivision, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
James V. Locascio (Co-author)
- Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
Patrick M. O’Donnell (Co-author)
- Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Naples, FL 34113, USA
Gregory B. Skomal (Co-author)
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, New Bedford, MA 02744, USA
Fred G. Whoriskey (Co-author)
- Ocean Tracking Network, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
Lucas P. Griffin (Co-author)
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA