A review of temperature and oxygen tolerance studies of tunas pertinent to fisheries oceanography, movement models and stock assessments

The upper and lower bounds of individual species geographic ranges appear to relate to their physiological temperature tolerances.

“Despite these adaptations, the upper and lower bounds of individual species geographic ranges appear to relate to their physiological temperature tolerances (Brill 1994, Brill & Lutcavage 2001).”

Temperature and oxygen affect important biological processes and thus determine the spatial distribution of tunas.

“Temperature and oxygen affect important biological processes and thus determine the spatial distribution of tunas (Barkley et al., 1978;Boyce et al., 2008;Brill, 1994;Strama et al., 2012).”

There have been several studies using alternative techniques, datasets and models, providing comprehensive descriptions of the habitat preferences of tunas in the past.

“There have been several studies using alternative techniques, datasets and models, providing comprehensive descriptions of the habitat preferences of tunas in the past (see Boyce et al., 2008;Brill, 1994;Brill and Lutcavage, 2001;Sund et al., 1981).”

Temperature and oxygen are important variables determining tuna habitat.

“temperature and oxygen are considered to be important variables determining tuna habitat (Brill, 1994;Li et al., 2012).”

Tuna populations may be a good indicator of the effect of climate change on global fisheries.

“their populations may be a good indicator of the effect of climate change on global fisheries”

Major tuna species can be classified into tropical (skipjack and yellowfin), intermediate (bigeye) and temperate tunas (albacore, Atlantic bluefin and southern bluefin) according to their thermal range and distribution.

“According to their thermal range and distribution [14, 18], these major species can be classified into tropical (skipjack and yellowfin), intermediate (bigeye) and temperate tunas (albacore, Atlantic bluefin and southern bluefin).”

Tropical tunas are found in waters with temperatures higher than 18°C, although they can dive to colder waters.

“Tropical tunas are found in waters with temperatures higher than 18°C (although they can dive to colder waters), whereas temperate tuna are found in waters as cold as 10°C or colder, but can also be found in tropical waters [14, 18].”

Temperate tuna are found in waters as cold as 10°C or colder, but can also be found in tropical waters.

“Tropical tunas are found in waters with temperatures higher than 18°C (although they can dive to colder waters), whereas temperate tuna are found in waters as cold as 10°C or colder, but can also be found in tropical waters [14, 18].”

Tuna distributions are highly conditioned by sea temperature.

“Tuna distributions are highly conditioned by sea temperature”