Movement and population dispersal of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) across the Eastern Tropical Pacific inferred from carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses.

The dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is a globally distributed marine predator that supports one of the most important coastal fisheries along the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), but its spatial movements in this area are poorly understood. Stable isotope values (δ C and δ N) of white muscle from dolphinfish (n=220) captured at different locations across the ETP (i.e., Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and oceanic areas) were normalized to copepod baseline stable isotope values to estimate dolphinfish trophic position, movements, and population dispersal. Movement or residence patterns were inferred from the difference in δ N values (Δ N ‰) between copepods and dolphinfish muscle. Baseline corrected isotope values (δ C and δ N ) of dolphinfish muscle were used to estimate isotopic niche metrics and infer population dispersal across isoscapes. Values of δ C and δ N differed between juvenile and adult dolphinfish and across the ETP. Trophic position estimates ranged from 3.1 to 6.0 with a mean of 4.6. Adults and juveniles had similar trophic position estimates while isotopic niche areas (SEA ‰ ) of adults were greater relative to juveniles in every location. Adult dolphinfish showed "moderate movement by some individuals" in all locations based on Δ N values, except for Costa Rica where adults were classified with "high degree of movement by some individuals" while juveniles showed "limited movement" in all areas except Mexico. Population dispersal based on Δ N values showed "moderate" and "high" dispersal for adults and "no dispersal" for most juveniles, except for Mexico. This study provides insight into potential dolphinfish spatial mobility across an area of interest for multiple nations, which can help to improve stock assessments and management of the species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.