Ontogenetic shifts in home range size of a top predatory reef-associated fish (Caranx ignobilis): implications for conservation

Defining the home range of vulnerable species is critical for designing effective spatial management strategies. However, animal ranges often change with ontogeny, and quantifying associated temporal changes particularly challenging mobile marine species. Here, we investigated how space use a top predatory reef-associated fish (giant trevally Caranx ignobilis ) scales body size. Fish were tagged acoustic transmitters passively tracked >3 yr at tropical island atoll in Republic Seychelles. A sheltered environment was juvenile (<60 cm fork length, FL) that exhibited shift location area as they matured into adults. Small (60-100 large (>100 adult appeared to favour shallow coral reefs reef drop offs whilst sharing similar core location. Large utilized greater diversity habitat types had significantly (p < 0.05) annual dispersal distances (mean = 35.29 km, max 91.32 km) than small adults 13.72 21.55 km). Additionally, 209.74 km 2 larger juveniles 38.73 (77.32 there significant 0.02) relationship between length Furthermore, took up 34 mo 18.54 mo) utilize full extent their range. The expansion size throughout ontogeny should be taken account when plans C. .