ABSTRACT
Transient sh spawning aggregations (tFSAs) are critical life-history phenomena where sh migrate to specic locations at predictable times of year to reproduce en masse. In the Wider Caribbean region, 37 species of sh from 10 families are now known to form tFSAs. Although tFSAs likely occur at times and in places that maximize reproductive success, little is known about the complex suite of interacting environmental patterns and ecological processes that dictate the timing and locations of tFSAs. This review synthesizes the latest advances in the study of tFSAs in the Wider Caribbean to (1) illustrate the current state of knowledge; (2) highlight gaps in our understanding of the geography and ecology of aggregation sites; and (3) suggest future research needs and conservation strategies. We have compiled multidisciplinary data on 108 tFSAs across 14 states and territories in the Wider Caribbean and reviewed the full range of approaches and technologies applied to study tFSAs. Existing research and associated hypotheses are grouped and examined by data type. We propose a multitier research framework that provides an incremental approach to information gathering at individual sites and suites of sites. We advocate applying the framework to facilitate consistent and coordinated data collection and monitoring across a Wider Caribbean network of tFSAs.
