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McIvor AJ, Williams CT, Rich WA, Knochel AM, Burns NM, Berumen ML. Mark-recapture validates the use of photo-identification for the widely distributed blue-spotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17432. [PMID: 39075077 PMCID: PMC11286851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68302-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to identify individual animals can provide valuable insights into the behaviour, life history, survivorship, and demographics of wild populations. Photo-identification (photo-ID) uses unique natural markings to identify individuals and can be effective for scalable and non-invasive research on marine fauna. The successful application of photo-ID requires that chosen distinguishing markings are unique to individuals and persist over time. In this study, we validate the use of dorsal spot patterns for identifying individual blue-spotted ribbontail rays (Taeniura lymma) in conjunction with traditional tagging methods. Spot patterns were unique among T. lymma with 90.3% of individuals correctly identified using I3S photo-matching software from images taken up to 496 days apart. In comparison, traditional physical tagging methods showed a tag loss rate of 27% and a maximum tag retention period of only 356 days. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of photo-ID as a tool to monitor populations and better understand the ecology of the blue-spotted ribbontail ray without the need for physical tagging. The validation of photo-ID for this widespread species is important as it enables behavioural and demographic changes to be easily tracked in relation to coastal threats such as human development and habitat degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlie J McIvor
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Environmental Protection and Regeneration, Red Sea Global, Umluj, Saudi Arabia.
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Portugal.
| | - Collin T Williams
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Walter A Rich
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anna M Knochel
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, USA
| | - Neil M Burns
- Department of Rural Economy, Environment and Society, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Teixeira-Leite CV, Marcante Santana F, Franco Valle R, Takasuka V, Felix de Góes M, Peruch Bonatelli S, Santos SR, Vianna M. Life-history of the spiny butterfly ray, Gymnura altavela (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes), kept under human care in a marine aquarium. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38986516 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The Rio de Janeiro Marine Aquarium (AquaRio) is the first to successfully maintain and reproduce the spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela), providing unique information about the species' biology. Seven rays were kept in captivity between 2018 and 2023, two captured on the southeastern coast of Brazil and five born in the aquarium. The applied abiotic conditions and nutrition allowed for the survival, growth, and reproduction of these individuals. Growth parameters (asymptotic disk width-DW∞ and growth coefficient-k) were estimated based on the von Bertalanffy model using the Fabens method for males and females separately. The best models estimated DW∞ = 106.47 cm and k = 0.396 for males and DW∞ = 172.2 cm and k = 0.190 for females. Sexual dimorphism was corroborated, with females reaching larger sizes and presenting slower growth rates than males. The estimated k values were higher than those estimated for rays of similar size to G. altavela in the natural environment, probably due to the constant water temperature (around 25.5°C), food abundance, low population density, reduced predation rates, and high water quality in the captive environment. A comparison of the captivity findings with other studies on G. altavela age and growth in the Atlantic and Mediterranean indicates a broad phenotypic plasticity regarding growth. Three G. altavela reproductions were recorded, with size at birth appearing to be a key factor for pup's survival. Behavioral pattern observations associated with reproduction are also described, encompassing chasing and copulation, whereas the species' internal morphology is described through coelomic cavity ultrasound scanning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara V Teixeira-Leite
- Laboratório de Biologia e Tecnologia Pesqueira, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Brazil
- Instituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro-IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Francisco Marcante Santana
- Laboratório de Dinâmica de Populações Aquáticas, Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Serra Talhada, Brazil
| | - Rafael Franco Valle
- Instituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro-IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Veronica Takasuka
- Instituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro-IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Matheus Felix de Góes
- Instituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro-IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Shayra Peruch Bonatelli
- RADIUS-Centro Especializado em Diagnóstico por Imagem Veterinária, Rua José Siqueira, Itajaí, Brazil
| | - Sergio Ricardo Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia e Tecnologia Pesqueira, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Brazil
- Instituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro-IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Vianna
- Laboratório de Biologia e Tecnologia Pesqueira, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Brazil
- Instituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro-IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Gore M, Camplisson E, Ormond R. The biology and ecology of the basking shark: A review. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2023; 95:113-257. [PMID: 37923538 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Here we review the literature on the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus, Gunnerus, 1765), well known as the second largest extant shark (and fish) species globally. Previous reviews were published by Kunzlik in 1988 and Sims in 2008, but in the last 15 years modern electronic and DNA sequencing technologies have resulted in considerable advances in our knowledge of the species' behaviour and ecology. Basking sharks are planktivores and under appropriate conditions spend prolonged periods at the ocean surface feeding on copepod prey that primarily make up their diet, the behaviour that gave rise to their common name. In general, they are migratory and move into higher latitude waters during the summer months, when loose surface-feeding aggregations may form at favoured sites, the best known of which at present occur at hotspots on the west coasts of Britain and Ireland. The species is found circumglobally in temperate waters, but they are also now known on occasion to migrate at depth between northern and southern hemispheres, as well as across oceans within the northern hemisphere. In the past basking shark were more abundant across much of their range, but, consequent on targeted fisheries and in some places intentional eradication, became everywhere scarce, with recent population recovery in the north-east Atlantic being the result of protective measures initiated in the 1990s. Despite their charismatic nature, some of their most fundamental biological processes including copulation, gestation and birth remain largely unknown, due to their migratory and often deep-water lifestyle. In contrast, the deployment of small-scale archival and satellite tags has revealed the details of both broadscale migratory movements and horizontal and vertical foraging behaviours. Recent genetic studies support evidence suggesting a degree of site fidelity in relation to seasonal feeding grounds, which likely explains why in the past local populations have collapsed following periods of intensive fishing. Other recent research using aerial drones and towed cameras has revealed within loose feeding aggregations elements of social behaviour that may have a courtship function as well as enhance feeding efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauvis Gore
- Marine Conservation International, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom; Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Ewan Camplisson
- Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom; School of Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
| | - Rupert Ormond
- Marine Conservation International, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom; Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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Rambahiniarison J, Agustines A, Alexopoulos K, Araujo G, Armstrong AO, Arnold S, Barruga A, Cañete T, Conales S, Delijero K, Enolva NP, Flam AL, Keane E, Labaja J, Legaspi CG, Murie C, Murray R, Oliver SP, Pierce SJ, Ponzo A, Rohner CA, Schifferer R, Snow S, Spakowski M, Stevens GMW, Tilgel T, Wong JNC, Yaptinchay AA, Barr Y. Distribution of the reef manta ray Mobula alfredi and the oceanic manta ray Mobula birostris in the Philippines: a collaborative effort for conservation. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 102:492-503. [PMID: 36451613 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about manta ray population size, structure and connectivity in the Philippines. In collaboration with dive operators, non-governmental organizations and authorities, sightings of manta rays were collated into a single national database. Using in-water photographs and videos gathered through citizen science and dedicated research efforts, this study compiled sightings between 2004 and 2020, showing 22 separate sites throughout the archipelago with manta rays present. A total of 392 individual reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and 107 oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) were identified from the collected footage. Four specific sites in the provinces of Masbate and Palawan together hosted 89% of all identified individuals and accounted for 95% of sightings, highlighting these areas are key aggregation sites. This study also reports the movements of M. birostris within the Philippines, based on photo-identification of three individuals moving 150 km between Cebu and Masbate. Despite the growing number of recreational divers in Daanbantayan and San Jacinto, an 80% decline in M. birostris sightings was observed at these sites. To ensure effective future conservation, it is recommended that efforts focus on the identification and protection of manta ray hotspots and migratory corridors, the creation of a sustainable tourism framework and, most important, the implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce fisheries interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Rambahiniarison
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
- Coastal Oceans Research and Development - Indian Ocean East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Ariana Agustines
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
| | | | - Gonzalo Araujo
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
- Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, UK
| | - Asia O Armstrong
- Project Manta, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Shannon Arnold
- The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Dorset, UK
| | - Aldrin Barruga
- Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape, Department of Environment and Natural Resources V, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Masbate City, Philippines
| | - Titus Cañete
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
| | - Segundo Conales
- Tubbataha Management Office, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines
| | - Kymry Delijero
- World Wildlife Fund Philippines, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines
| | - Nonie P Enolva
- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - Region 5, Department of Agriculture, Camarines Sur, Philippines
| | - Anna L Flam
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Eliya Keane
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Jessica Labaja
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
| | | | - Calum Murie
- The Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK
- The Underwater Africa Foundation, Inhambane, Mozambique
| | - Ryan Murray
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
| | - Simon P Oliver
- The Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK
| | - Simon J Pierce
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
| | - Alessandro Ponzo
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
| | | | | | - Sally Snow
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
| | - Martina Spakowski
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Bohol, Philippines
| | | | | | | | | | - Yotam Barr
- School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Sims DW, Berrow SD, O'Sullivan KM, Pfeiffer NJ, Collins R, Smith KL, Pfeiffer BM, Connery P, Wasik S, Flounders L, Queiroz N, Humphries NE, Womersley FC, Southall EJ. Circles in the sea: annual courtship "torus" behaviour of basking sharks Cetorhinus maximus identified in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:1160-1181. [PMID: 36073958 PMCID: PMC9826005 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Groups of basking sharks engaged in circling behaviour are rarely observed, and their function remains enigmatic in the absence of detailed observations. Here, underwater and aerial video recordings of multiple circling groups of basking sharks during late summer (August and September 2016-2021) in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean showed groups numbering between 6 and 23 non-feeding individuals of both sexes. Sharks swam slowly in a rotating "torus" (diameter range: 17-39 m), with individuals layered vertically from the surface to a maximum depth of 16 m. Within a torus, sharks engaged in close-following, echelon, close-flank approach or parallel-swimming behaviours. Measured shark total body lengths were 5.4-9.5 m (mean LT : 7.3 m ± 0.9 s.d.; median: 7.2 m, n = 27), overlapping known lengths of sexually mature males and females. Males possessed large claspers with abrasions that were also observed on female pectoral fins. Female body colouration was paler than that of males, similar to colour changes observed during courtship and mating in other shark species. Individuals associated with most other members rapidly (within minutes), indicating toroidal behaviours facilitate multiple interactions. Sharks interacted through fin-fin and fin-body contacts, rolling to expose the ventral surfaces to following sharks, and breaching behaviour. Toruses formed in late summer when feeding aggregations in zooplankton-rich thermal fronts switched to non-feeding following and circling behaviours. Collectively, the observations explain a courtship function for toruses. This study highlights northeast Atlantic coastal waters as a critical habitat supporting courtship reproductive behaviour of endangered basking sharks, the first such habitat identified for this species globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Sims
- The LaboratoryMarine Biological AssociationCitadel HillPlymouthUK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Simon D. Berrow
- Irish Basking Shark GroupMerchants QuayKilrushIreland
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentAtlantic Technological UniversityGalwayIreland
| | | | | | - Richard Collins
- Irish Basking Shark GroupMerchants QuayKilrushIreland
- Irish Basking Shark GroupKilkeeIreland
| | - Kev L. Smith
- SeaFever ProductionsWoodview ParkEnnistymonIreland
| | | | | | | | | | - Nuno Queiroz
- The LaboratoryMarine Biological AssociationCitadel HillPlymouthUK
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de VairãoUniversidade do PortoVairãoPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in GenomicsBiodiversity and Land PlanningVairãoPortugal
| | | | - Freya C. Womersley
- The LaboratoryMarine Biological AssociationCitadel HillPlymouthUK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
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Carpenter M, Cullain N, Venables SK, Tibiriçá Y, Griffiths C, Marshall AD. Evidence of Závora Bay as a critical site for reef manta rays, Mobula alfredi, in southern Mozambique. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:628-639. [PMID: 35691006 PMCID: PMC9544570 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The largest known reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) population in Africa has been monitored for more than 20 years at several locations on the coast of the Inhambane Province in southern Mozambique. Nonetheless, before this study, little had been reported on the population dynamics of M. alfredi from Závora, a remote bay in the region. Photographic mark-recapture was used to investigate the size and structure of M. alfredi that aggregate at "Red Sands," a reef cleaning station in Závora Bay. An 11 year photographic data set was used to identify 583 M. alfredi individuals between 2010 and 2021. More than half of M. alfredi individuals were resighted at least once, with most encounters (up to 18 for one individual) occurring during the peak sighting period in July-November each year. An even sex ratio was observed, 44% females and 50% males, with no significant difference in resightings between the sexes. Pollock's robust design population models were used to estimate annual abundance, emigration, annual apparent survival and capture probability at Red Sands from July to November over a 6 year period (2016-2021). Abundance estimates varied year to year, ranging from 35 (95% c.i. [30, 45]) up to 233 (95% c.i. [224, 249]) M. alfredi individuals. Given the seasonal affinity of M. alfredi observed at Red Sands, this study highlights the importance of understanding fine-scale site use within the larger home range of this population to develop local management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Carpenter
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Nakia Cullain
- Marine Megafauna FoundationWest Palm BeachFloridaUSA
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | | | - Yara Tibiriçá
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y AmbientalesUniversidad de CádizCádizSpain
| | - Charles Griffiths
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Perryman RJ, Mourier J, Venables SK, Tapilatu RF, Setyawan E, Brown C. Reef manta ray social dynamics depend on individual differences in behaviour. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Using Drones to Assess Volitional Swimming Kinematics of Manta Ray Behaviors in the Wild. DRONES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/drones6050111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Drones have become increasingly popular tools to study marine megafauna but are underutilized in batoid research. We used drones to collect video data of manta ray (Mobula cf. birostris) swimming and assessed behavior-specific kinematics in Kinovea, a semi-automated point-tracking software. We describe a ‘resting’ behavior of mantas making use of strong currents in man-made inlets in addition to known ‘traveling’ and ‘feeding’ behaviors. No significant differences were found between the swimming speed of traveling and feeding behaviors, although feeding mantas had a significantly higher wingbeat frequency than traveling mantas. Resting mantas swam at a significantly slower speed and wingbeat frequency, suggesting that they were continuously swimming with the minimum effort required to maintain position and buoyancy. Swimming speed and wingbeat frequency of traveling and feeding behaviors overlapped, which could point to other factors such as prey availability and a transitional behavior, influencing how manta rays swim. These baseline swimming kinematic data have valuable applications to other emerging technologies in manta ray research.
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Lassauce H, Dudgeon CL, Armstrong AJ, Wantiez L, Carroll EL. Evidence of fine scale genetic structure for reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in New Caledonia. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2022. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Fernando D, Stewart JD. High bycatch rates of manta and devil rays in the "small-scale" artisanal fisheries of Sri Lanka. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11994. [PMID: 34589295 PMCID: PMC8434810 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Expanding fisheries in developing nations like Sri Lanka have a significant impact on threatened marine species such as elasmobranchs. Manta and devil (mobulid) rays have some of the most conservative life history strategies of any elasmobranch, and even low to moderate levels of bycatch from gillnet fisheries may lead to significant population declines. A lack of information on life history, demographics, population trends, and fisheries impacts hinders effective management measures for these species. Method We report on mobulid fishery landings over nine years between 2011 and 2020 across 38 landing sites in Sri Lanka. We collected data on catch numbers, body sizes, sex, and maturity status for five mobulid species. We used a Bayesian state-space model to estimate monthly country-wide catch rates and total annual landings of mobulid rays. We used catch curve analyses to estimate total mortality for Mobula mobular, and evaluated trends in recorded body sizes across the study period for M. mobular, M. birostris, M. tarapacana and M. thurstoni. Results We find that catch rates have declined an order of magnitude for all species across the study period, and that total annual captures of mobulid rays by the Sri Lankan artisanal fishing fleet exceed the estimated annual captures of mobulids in all global, industrial purse seine fisheries combined. Catch curve analyses suggest that M. mobular is being fished at rates far above the species' intrinsic population growth rate, and the average sizes of all mobulids in the fishery except for M. birostris are declining. Collectively, these findings suggest overfishing of mobulid ray populations in the northern Indian Ocean by Sri Lankan artisanal fisheries. We recommend strengthening the management of these species through improved implementation of CITES, CMS, and regional fisheries management actions. In addition, we report on the demographic characteristics of mobulids landed in Sri Lanka and provide the first record of M. eregoodoo in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fernando
- Blue Resources Trust, Colombo, Sri Lanka.,The Manta Trust, Dorchester, United Kingdom.,Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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11
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Rudd JL, Bartolomeu T, Dolton HR, Exeter OM, Kerry C, Hawkes LA, Henderson SM, Shirley M, Witt MJ. Basking shark sub-surface behaviour revealed by animal-towed cameras. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253388. [PMID: 34320007 PMCID: PMC8318306 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
While biologging tags have answered a wealth of ecological questions, the drivers and consequences of movement and activity often remain difficult to ascertain, particularly marine vertebrates which are difficult to observe directly. Basking sharks, the second largest shark species in the world, aggregate in the summer in key foraging sites but despite advances in biologging technologies, little is known about their breeding ecology and sub-surface behaviour. Advances in camera technologies holds potential for filling in these knowledge gaps by providing environmental context and validating behaviours recorded with conventional telemetry. Six basking sharks were tagged at their feeding site in the Sea of Hebrides, Scotland, with towed cameras combined with time-depth recorders and satellite telemetry. Cameras recorded a cumulative 123 hours of video data over an average 64-hour deployment and confirmed the position of the sharks within the water column. Feeding events only occurred within a metre depth and made up ¾ of the time spent swimming near the surface. Sharks maintained similar tail beat frequencies regardless of whether feeding, swimming near the surface or the seabed, where they spent surprisingly up to 88% of daylight hours. This study reported the first complete breaching event and the first sub-surface putative courtship display, with nose-to-tail chasing, parallel swimming as well as the first observation of grouping behaviour near the seabed. Social groups of sharks are thought to be very short term and sporadic, and may play a role in finding breeding partners, particularly in solitary sharks which may use aggregations as an opportunity to breed. In situ observation of basking sharks at their seasonal aggregation site through animal borne cameras revealed unprecedented insight into the social and environmental context of basking shark behaviour which were previously limited to surface observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Rudd
- Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Haley R. Dolton
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Owen M. Exeter
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Kerry
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy A. Hawkes
- Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Matthew J. Witt
- Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
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Nicholson-Jack AE, Harris JL, Ballard K, Turner KME, Stevens GMW. A hitchhiker guide to manta rays: Patterns of association between Mobula alfredi, M. birostris, their symbionts, and other fishes in the Maldives. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253704. [PMID: 34260626 PMCID: PMC8279400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being among the largest and most charismatic species in the marine environment, considerable gaps remain in our understanding of the behavioural ecology of manta rays (Mobula alfredi, M. birostris). Manta rays are often sighted in association with an array of smaller hitchhiker fish species, which utilise their hosts as a sanctuary for shelter, protection, and the sustenance they provide. Species interactions, rather than the species at the individual level, determine the ecological processes that drive community dynamics, support biodiversity and ecosystem health. Thus, understanding the associations within marine communities is critical to implementing effective conservation and management. However, the underlying patterns between manta rays, their symbionts, and other hitchhiker species remain elusive. Here, we explore the spatial and temporal variation in hitchhiker presence with M. alfredi and M. birostris throughout the Maldives and investigate the factors which may influence association using generalised linear mixed effects models (GLMM). For the first time, associations between M. alfredi and M. birostris with hitchhiker species other than those belonging to the family Echeneidae are described. A variation in the species of hitchhiker associated with M. alfredi and M. birostris was identified, with sharksucker remora (Echeneis naucrates) and giant remora (Remora remora) being the most common, respectively. Spatiotemporal variation in the presence of manta rays was identified as a driver for the occurrence of ephemeral hitchhiker associations. Near-term pregnant female M. alfredi, and M. alfredi at cleaning stations, had the highest likelihood of an association with adult E. naucrates. Juvenile E. naucrates were more likely to be associated with juvenile M. alfredi, and a seasonal trend in E. naucrates host association was identified. Remora were most likely to be present with female M. birostris, and a mean number of 1.5 ± 0.5 R. remora were observed per M. birostris. It is hoped these initial findings will serve as the basis for future work into the complex relationships between manta rays and their hitchhikers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee E. Nicholson-Jack
- The Manta Trust, Dorset, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna L. Harris
- The Manta Trust, Dorset, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | | | - Katy M. E. Turner
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Harris JL, Stevens GMW. Environmental drivers of reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) visitation patterns to key aggregation habitats in the Maldives. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252470. [PMID: 34161339 PMCID: PMC8221513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A detailed understanding of the dynamics of small-scale (10s km) habitat use by the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in the Maldives Archipelago is required to develop an effective national conservation management plan for this wide-ranging species. Here, a combination of photo-ID sightings data and acoustic telemetry were used to investigate both long-term M. alfredi visitation trends and small-scale movement patterns to key habitats on the eastern side of Baa Atoll (Hanifaru Bay feeding area, Dhigu Thila multifunctional site, and Nelivaru Thila cleaning station). All tagged and most of the sighted M. alfredi exhibited high affinity to the eastern side of Baa Atoll, where 99% of detections occurred, and 69% of individuals were re-sighted in multiple years. Sightings data suggests that visitation patterns may be associated with differences in habitat use by sex and maturity status. Boosted regression trees indicated that tag detection probability at Hanifaru Bay increased with increased westerly wind speed (>5ms-1) during the day, close to a new and full moon just after high tide, and when the tidal range was low. Interaction effects between predictors suggest that wind-driven oceanographic processes, such as Langmuir Circulation, maybe working to increase zooplankton concentration at this location. Tag detection probability increased at Dhigu Thila under similar conditions. At Nelivaru Thila, it increased at lower wind speeds (<5ms-1), close to a full moon, three hours after high tide. These results suggest that M. alfredi may utilise cleaning stations during the day when environmental conditions are not suitable for feeding. There was a high level of connectivity between these three locations, which suggests they form part of a network of key habitats that provide essential services to M. alfredi locally. Future conservation efforts should focus on identifying all areas of key habitat use for this species within the Maldives; applying strict protective measures to these sites and any connecting migration corridors which link them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L. Harris
- The Manta Trust, Corscombe, Dorset, United Kingdom
- University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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Harris JL, Hosegood P, Robinson E, Embling CB, Hilbourne S, Stevens GMW. Fine-scale oceanographic drivers of reef manta ray ( Mobula alfredi) visitation patterns at a feeding aggregation site. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4588-4604. [PMID: 33976833 PMCID: PMC8093739 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are in decline and are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and disturbance at aggregation sites. Here, passive acoustic telemetry and a suite of advanced oceanographic technologies were used for the first time to investigate the fine-scale (5-min) influence of oceanographic drivers on the visitation patterns of 19 tagged M. alfredi to a feeding aggregation site at Egmont Atoll in the Chagos Archipelago. Boosted regression trees indicate that tag detection probability increased with the intrusion of cold-water bores propagating up the atoll slope through the narrow lagoon inlet during flood tide, potentially transporting zooplankton from the thermocline. Tag detection probability also increased with warmer near-surface temperature close to low tide, with near-surface currents flowing offshore, and with high levels of backscatter (a proxy of zooplankton biomass). These combinations of processes support the proposition that zooplankton carried from the thermocline into the lagoon during the flood may be pumped back out through the narrow inlet during an ebb tide. These conditions provide temporally limited feeding opportunities for M. alfredi, which are tied on the tides. Results also provide some evidence of the presence of Langmuir Circulation, which transports and concentrates zooplankton, and may partly explain why M. alfredi occasionally remained at the feeding location for longer than that two hours. Identification of these correlations provides unique insight into the dynamic synthesis of fine-scale oceanographic processes which are likely to influence the foraging ecology of M. alfredi at Egmont Atoll, and elsewhere throughout their range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L. Harris
- The Manta TrustDorsetUK
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK
| | - Phil Hosegood
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK
| | - Edward Robinson
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK
| | - Clare B. Embling
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK
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Perryman RJ, Carpenter M, Lie E, Sofronov G, Marshall AD, Brown C. Reef manta ray cephalic lobe movements are modulated during social interactions. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-02973-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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16
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Description of first nursery area for a pygmy devil ray species (Mobula munkiana) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Sci Rep 2021; 11:132. [PMID: 33420295 PMCID: PMC7794486 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80506-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Munk’s pygmy devil rays (Mobula munkiana) are medium-size, zooplanktivorous filter feeding, elasmobranchs characterized by aggregative behavior, low fecundity and delayed reproduction. These traits make them susceptible to targeted and by-catch fisheries and are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Multiple studies have examined fisheries impacts, but nursery areas or foraging neonate and juvenile concentrations have not been examined. This study describes the first nursery area for M. munkiana at Espiritu Santo Archipelago, Mexico. We examined spatial use of a shallow bay during 22 consecutive months in relation to environmental patterns using traditional tagging (n = 95) and acoustic telemetry (n = 7). Neonates and juveniles comprised 84% of tagged individuals and their residency index was significantly greater inside than outside the bay; spending a maximum of 145 consecutive days within the bay. Observations of near-term pregnant females, mating behavior, and neonates indicate an April to June pupping period. Anecdotal photograph review indicated that the nursery area is used by neonates and juveniles across years. These findings confirm, for the first time, the existence of nursery areas for Munk’s pygmy devil rays and the potential importance of shallow bays during early life stages for the conservation of this species.
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Genome-wide SNPs detect no evidence of genetic population structure for reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in southern Mozambique. Heredity (Edinb) 2020; 126:308-319. [PMID: 33005043 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-00373-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the extent of genetic connectivity along continuous coastlines in manta rays, or whether site visitation is influenced by relatedness. Such information is pertinent to defining population boundaries and understanding localized dispersal patterns and behaviour. Here, we use 3057 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to evaluate population genetic structure and assess the levels of relatedness at aggregation sites of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in southern Mozambique (n = 114). Contrary to indications of limited dispersal along the southern Mozambican coastline inferred from photo-identification and telemetry studies, our results show no evidence of population structure (non-significant FST < 0.001) for M. alfredi along this coast. We also found no evidence that individuals sampled at the same site were more related than expected by chance for males, females or across both sexes, suggesting that kinship may not influence visitation patterns at these sites. We estimated the effective population size (Ne) of this population to be 375 (95% CI = 369-380). Comparison to a distant eastern Indian Ocean site (Western Australia, n = 15) revealed strong genetic differentiation between Mozambique and Western Australia (FST = 0.377), identifying the Indian Ocean basin as a barrier to dispersal. Our findings show that genetic connectivity in M. alfredi extends for several hundred kilometres along continuous coastlines. We therefore recommend that the population in Mozambique be considered a discrete management unit, and future conservation plans should prioritize integrated strategies along the entire southern coastline.
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Pate JH, Marshall AD. Urban manta rays: potential manta ray nursery habitat along a highly developed Florida coastline. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The giant oceanic manta ray Mobula birostris was listed in the US Endangered Species Act as a threatened species in 2018, yet insufficient data exist on manta populations throughout US waters to designate critical habitat. Taxonomic and genetic evidence suggests that manta rays in the Western Atlantic are a separate species (M. cf. birostris) and little is understood about the ecology and life history of this putative species. The juvenile life stage of both M. birostris and M. cf. birostris is particularly understudied. Here, we are the first to describe the characteristics of a manta ray population along a highly developed coastline in southeastern Florida using boat-based surveys and photo identification of individuals. Fifty-nine manta individuals were identified between 2016 and 2019. All males were sexually immature based on clasper development, and 96% of females were classified as immature based on size and absence of mating scars or visible pregnancies. Twenty-five (42%) individuals were observed more than once during the study period and 8 individuals were sighted over multiple years. The occurrence of juveniles, high site fidelity and extended use of the study area by juvenile manta rays suggest that southeastern Florida may serve as a nursery habitat. High occurrence of fishing line entanglement (27% of individuals) and vessel strike injury were documented, and rapid wound healing was observed. Future research and conservation efforts will focus on identifying the physical and biological features of the potential nursery habitat and on mitigation of anthropogenic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- JH Pate
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, 96161, USA
| | - AD Marshall
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, 96161, USA
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Mendonça SAD, Macena BCL, Araújo CBBD, Bezerra NPA, Hazin FHV. Dancing with the devil: courtship behaviour, mating evidences and population structure of the Mobula tarapacana (Myliobatiformes: Mobulidae) in a remote archipelago in the Equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ocean. NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2020-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract The present work aimed at studying the sicklefin devil ray (Mobula tarapacana) that aggregates seasonally in the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA). From December 2008 to June 2016, 827 rays were sighted through free diving visual census survey. From the total of the records, it was possible to identify the sex of 361 specimens, in which 215 were females and 146 were males. The disk width ranged from 2.40 m to 3.20 m with mean size of 2.60 m, for both males and females, indicating that the population is composed by sub-adults and adults. Using photo-identification of the pectoral-fins in the ventral side, 11 males and 44 females were identified and compared with each other, but no re-sight was detected. Recent mating scars were observed in males (n= 7) and females (n= 6), as well as courtship and pursuit behaviors, confirming that the SPSPA is an important area of aggregation and mating for M. tarapacana in the Atlantic Ocean.
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20
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McGregor F, Richardson AJ, Armstrong AJ, Armstrong AO, Dudgeon CL. Rapid wound healing in a reef manta ray masks the extent of vessel strike. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225681. [PMID: 31825970 PMCID: PMC6905573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing vessel traffic in the marine environment due to commercial and recreational activities has amplified the number of conflicts with marine animals. However, there are limited multi-year observations of the healing rate of marine animals following vessel strike. Here we document the healing rate of a reef manta ray Mobula alfredi, following lacerations caused by a propeller along the pectoral fin. We demonstrate a high healing capacity, with wound length following a negative exponential curve over time. Lacerations healed to 5% of the initial wound length (i.e. 95% closure) within 295 days. The wounds appeared to stabilise at this point as observed more than three years following the incident and resulted in a distinctive scarring pattern. Examination of an extensive photo-identification catalogue of manta rays from the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area showed that the scarring pattern occurs more frequently than previously recognised, as the wounds had been previously attributed to failed predation attempts. This study provides baseline information for wound healing from vessel strike in reef manta rays and indirect evidence for increased vessel strikes on manta rays within the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. We discuss the implication for spatial and behavioural management of vessels around manta rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frazer McGregor
- Murdoch University Field Station, 1 Banksia Drive Coral Bay, Australia
| | - Anthony J. Richardson
- Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics (CARM), School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), QLD, Australia
| | - Amelia J. Armstrong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Asia O. Armstrong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Christine L. Dudgeon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Peel LR, Daly R, Keating Daly CA, Stevens GMW, Collin SP, Meekan MG. Stable isotope analyses reveal unique trophic role of reef manta rays ( Mobula alfredi) at a remote coral reef. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190599. [PMID: 31598296 PMCID: PMC6774984 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Stable isotope analyses provide the means to examine the trophic role of animals in complex food webs. Here, we used stable isotope analyses to characterize the feeding ecology of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) at a remote coral reef in the Western Indian Ocean. Muscle samples of M. alfredi were collected from D'Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, Republic of Seychelles, in November 2016 and 2017. Prior to analysis, lipid and urea extraction procedures were tested on freeze-dried muscle tissue in order to standardize sample treatment protocols for M. alfredi. The lipid extraction procedure was effective at removing both lipids and urea from samples and should be used in future studies of the trophic ecology of this species. The isotopic signatures of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) for M. alfredi differed by year, but did not vary by sex or life stage, suggesting that all individuals occupy the same trophic niche at this coral reef. Furthermore, the isotopic signatures for M. alfredi differed to those for co-occurring planktivorous fish species also sampled at D'Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, suggesting that the ecological niche of M. alfredi is unique. Pelagic zooplankton were the main contributor (45%) to the diet of M. alfredi, combined with emergent zooplankton (38%) and mesopelagic prey items (17%). Given the extent of movement that would be required to undertake this foraging strategy, individual M. alfredi are implicated as important vectors of nutrient supply around and to the coral reefs surrounding D'Arros Island and St. Joseph Atoll, particularly where substantial site fidelity is displayed by these large elasmobranchs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R. Peel
- School of Biological Sciences, The Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Save Our Seas Foundation – D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
- The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Corscombe, Dorset DT2 0NT, UK
| | - Ryan Daly
- Save Our Seas Foundation – D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | - Clare A. Keating Daly
- Save Our Seas Foundation – D'Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
| | - Guy M. W. Stevens
- The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Corscombe, Dorset DT2 0NT, UK
| | - Shaun P. Collin
- School of Biological Sciences, The Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Mark G. Meekan
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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Perryman RJY, Venables SK, Tapilatu RF, Marshall AD, Brown C, Franks DW. Social preferences and network structure in a population of reef manta rays. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2720-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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