DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12995
copiedMovement and residency patterns of reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in the Amirante Islands, Seychelles
- Lauren R. Peel
- Guy M. W. Stevens
- Ryan Daly
- Clare A. Keating Daly
- James S. E. Lea
- Christopher R. Clarke
- Shaun P. Collin
- Mark G. Meekan
ABSTRACT: Reef manta rays Mobula alfredi are large filter-feeding elasmobranchs that are undergoing substantial population declines on a global scale. In order to effectively conserve and manage populations, it is crucial that the drivers of their occurrence are defined and that key aggregation areas for this species are identified and protected. Here, we used passive acoustic telemetry to monitor and assess the movement ecology of M. alfredi in the remote Amirante Islands, Republic of Seychelles. Acoustic transmitters were externally deployed on M. alfredi at D’Arros Island (n = 42) and movement data retrieved from an array of 70 acoustic receivers deployed throughout the Amirantes between November 2013 and October 2017. Individuals were detected year-round, with a peak in detections occurring between November and April coinciding with the arrival and departure of the north-west monsoon. Individuals were most likely to be detected within the array during the day, at low wind speeds, and when water temperatures were approximately 28°C. Additionally, individuals were more likely to be detected during a new moon, when the tidal range was at its highest, and on the slack of high tide. M. alfredi travelled widely within the Amirantes, with larger individuals travelling greater distances per day than smaller individuals and juveniles. The majority of detections (89%) were recorded within 2.5 km of the shoreline of D’Arros Island and the neighbouring St. Joseph Atoll, highlighting the importance of these sites to M. alfredi in the Amirante Islands, and supporting the proposed development of a marine protected area at this location.
KEYWORDS
Lauren R. Peel (Corresponding Author)
- School of Biological Sciences, The Oceans Institute and 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
- The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Corscombe, Dorset DT2 0NT, UK
- Save Our Seas Foundation - D’Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
Guy M. W. Stevens (Co-author)
- The Manta Trust, Catemwood House, Norwood Lane, Corscombe, Dorset DT2 0NT, UK
Ryan Daly (Co-author)
- 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 (Co-author)
- Save Our Seas Foundation - D’Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC), Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
James S. E. Lea (Co-author)
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
- Marine Research Facility, Jeddah 21443, Saudi Arabia
Christopher R. Clarke (Co-author)
- Marine Research Facility, Jeddah 21443, Saudi Arabia
Shaun P. Collin (Co-author)
- School of Biological Sciences, The Oceans Institute and 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 (Co-author)
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
