Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to Alaska
Taxonomic confusion and limited data have impeded species-level biogeographic analyses of the world’s largest bony fishes, ocean sunfishes (Molidae; ‘molids’), in many ecosystems. However, recent advances in molid taxonomy and the emergence of photo-based community-science platforms provide an oppor...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1482873/full |
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| author | Tor Mowatt-Larssen Tierney M. Thys Jackie Hildering Eric J. Caldera Ellen E. Biesack Jan R. McDowell Marianne Nyegaard Marianne Nyegaard |
| author_facet | Tor Mowatt-Larssen Tierney M. Thys Jackie Hildering Eric J. Caldera Ellen E. Biesack Jan R. McDowell Marianne Nyegaard Marianne Nyegaard |
| author_sort | Tor Mowatt-Larssen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Taxonomic confusion and limited data have impeded species-level biogeographic analyses of the world’s largest bony fishes, ocean sunfishes (Molidae; ‘molids’), in many ecosystems. However, recent advances in molid taxonomy and the emergence of photo-based community-science platforms provide an opportunity to revisit species-level biogeography. In this study, we use crowd-sourced images of 1,213 ocean sunfishes to determine if molid morphology visible in citizen-science images permits reliable species determination. From the ensuing data, we describe patterns in molid size structure and species composition from 1,178 molids observed in the Alaska and California Current Systems (ACS and CCS, respectively). Molids <1 m total length (TL) were commonly reported in the CCS, particularly off the central coast of California, suggesting this area may function as a molid nursery. Molids >1 m TL were more commonly observed in both the CCS and cooler ACS, which suggests larger molids occupy a larger thermal range (ontogenetic habitat expansion) than smaller individuals. Overall, Mola mola was the most frequently observed species in both the ACS and CCS; however, the persistent occurrence of Mola tecta in both current systems suggests a range extension for this otherwise Southern Hemisphere species. The species identity of six M. tecta specimens from California and Alaska were verified with genetic analysis. Finally, two Mola alexandrini confirmed in the southern portion of the CCS represent the first records of this species in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-380c3177a6d84407b202b2565b598a1b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-380c3177a6d84407b202b2565b598a1b2025-01-08T11:06:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-01-011110.3389/fmars.2024.14828731482873Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to AlaskaTor Mowatt-Larssen0Tierney M. Thys1Jackie Hildering2Eric J. Caldera3Ellen E. Biesack4Jan R. McDowell5Marianne Nyegaard6Marianne Nyegaard7Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United StatesDepartment of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, United StatesMarine Education and Research Society, Port McNeill, BC, CanadaDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesVirginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United StatesVirginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United StatesAuckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, Natural Sciences, The Domain, Auckland, New ZealandOcean Sunfish Research Trust, Auckland, New ZealandTaxonomic confusion and limited data have impeded species-level biogeographic analyses of the world’s largest bony fishes, ocean sunfishes (Molidae; ‘molids’), in many ecosystems. However, recent advances in molid taxonomy and the emergence of photo-based community-science platforms provide an opportunity to revisit species-level biogeography. In this study, we use crowd-sourced images of 1,213 ocean sunfishes to determine if molid morphology visible in citizen-science images permits reliable species determination. From the ensuing data, we describe patterns in molid size structure and species composition from 1,178 molids observed in the Alaska and California Current Systems (ACS and CCS, respectively). Molids <1 m total length (TL) were commonly reported in the CCS, particularly off the central coast of California, suggesting this area may function as a molid nursery. Molids >1 m TL were more commonly observed in both the CCS and cooler ACS, which suggests larger molids occupy a larger thermal range (ontogenetic habitat expansion) than smaller individuals. Overall, Mola mola was the most frequently observed species in both the ACS and CCS; however, the persistent occurrence of Mola tecta in both current systems suggests a range extension for this otherwise Southern Hemisphere species. The species identity of six M. tecta specimens from California and Alaska were verified with genetic analysis. Finally, two Mola alexandrini confirmed in the southern portion of the CCS represent the first records of this species in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1482873/fullcitizen sciencespecies identificationontogenetic habitat shiftrange extensionhoodwinker sunfishmolid identification guide |
| spellingShingle | Tor Mowatt-Larssen Tierney M. Thys Jackie Hildering Eric J. Caldera Ellen E. Biesack Jan R. McDowell Marianne Nyegaard Marianne Nyegaard Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to Alaska Frontiers in Marine Science citizen science species identification ontogenetic habitat shift range extension hoodwinker sunfish molid identification guide |
| title | Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to Alaska |
| title_full | Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to Alaska |
| title_fullStr | Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to Alaska |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to Alaska |
| title_short | Hook, line, and social media: crowd-sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes, Molidae) from California to Alaska |
| title_sort | hook line and social media crowd sourced images reveal size and species patterns of ocean sunfishes tetraodontiformes molidae from california to alaska |
| topic | citizen science species identification ontogenetic habitat shift range extension hoodwinker sunfish molid identification guide |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1482873/full |
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