MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.734.920 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 621:169-184 (2019)

Movement and residency patterns of reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in the Amirante Islands, Seychelles

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
lauren.peel@research.uwa.edu.au

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