Occurrence of ocean sunfish, Mola mola near fronts in the western English Channel

Sims, D.W. and Southall, E.J. (2002) Occurrence of ocean sunfish, Mola mola near fronts in the western English Channel. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 82 (5). pp. 927-928. ISSN 0025-3154

Full text available as:

PDF - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF viewer.
73 Kb

DOI: 10.1017/S0025315402006409

Official URL: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=MBI

Abstract

Surface occurrence of ocean sunfish (Mola mola) was recorded during summer (May–September) in the western English Channel off Plymouth over a six-year period between 1995 and 2001. Fifteen individuals of between 0.5–0.7 m estimated total length were sighted during 1651 hours of observation. Nearly all sightings (93%) occurred in June and July in water between 13 and 17°C. Sunfish were mostly associated with frontal and stratified water masses (86%) rather than in cooler, mixed water.

Item Type:Article
Keywords:Geographical distribution; migrations; new records; seasonal distribution; water temperature; marine fish
Status:Published
Subjects:Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QL Zoology
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
ID Code:2437
Deposited On:11 June 2008

NMBL Staff Only: edit this record

Marine & Ocean Science ePrints Archive @ Plymouth is maintained by NMBL Contact Information