Near-global spawning strategies of large pelagic fish

Abstract

Knowledge of spawning strategies of large pelagic fish could provide insights into their underlying evolutionary drivers, but large-scale information on spawning is limited. Here we use a near-global larval dataset for 15 large pelagic fish to build habitat suitability models and use these as a proxy for spawning grounds.We found considerable consistency in spawning in time and space, with 10 taxa spawning in spring/summer and 11 taxa spawning off Northwest Australia. Considering the vast ocean area where these large pelagic fish could spawn, these results suggest that the evolutionary benefits of co-locating spawning in terms of advantageous larval conditionsoutweigh the benefits of segregated spawning in terms of reduced competition and lower larval predation. The knowledge that many large-pelagic fish taxa co-locate their spawning could inform marine management through fisheries measures to protect spawners, and the placement of marine protected areas.