Ontogenetic shifts in home range size of a top predatory reef-associated fish

Summary: This research quantifies how the spatial ecology of Caranx ignobilis, a key apex
predator on tropical reefs, changes throughout its ontogeny. Using acoustic telemetry, the
study demonstrates a significant increase in home range size with age and body size,
suggesting that conservation strategies must account for ontogenetic habitat shifts. The
authors argue that static marine protected areas (MPAs) may inadequately protect larger,
more mobile individuals and propose dynamic or size-structured spatial management. The
results offer valuable insights for designing ecologically representative MPAs that reflect life-
stage-specific habitat requirements for effective conservation of large reef predators.

Read Article | Download PDF