Endangered Species Research cover
ESR

Endangered Species Research

ESR is a gold Open Access research journal on all endangered forms of life on Earth, the threats faced by species and their habitats, and the necessary steps that must be undertaken to ensure their conservation.

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Online: ISSN 1613-4796

Print: ISSN 1863-5407

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

Impact Factor2.6 (JCR 2026 release)

Article Acceptance Rate70% (2025)

Median Time in Review165.5 days (2025)

Total Annual Downloads227.420 (2026)

Volume contents
Endang Species Res 37:37-44 (2018)

Individual identification of flapper skate Dipturus intermedius using a baited camera lander

ABSTRACT:  The ability of baited remote underwater video (BRUV) landers to attract and identify individual flapper skates Dipturus intermedius based on their spot patterns was tested within the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area (MPA). Two BRUV lander designs, baited with a mix of mackerel, herring, squid and octopus, were deployed in 9 different locations at depths between 105 and 133 m for approx. 2 h per deployment. The BRUV successfully obtained video footage and still images of flapper skates during 4 deployments. On 6 occasions, skates remained at the bait long enough for us to obtain high-quality video of their dorsal spot patterns. Five individuals, one of which was observed at 2 adjacent landers in quick succession, were all uniquely distinguishable; one female was matched to existing records in a photo-identification catalogue based on images collected by recreational sea anglers within the MPA. BRUVs offer significant potential for studying individual presence, distribution patterns and abundance of flapper skates, independent of fishing/angling efforts. BRUV landers can therefore support monitoring efforts for evaluating long-term conservation management measures for this species.

KEYWORDS

S. Benjamins (Corresponding Author)

  • Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage, Oban PA37 1QA, UK

steven.benjamins@sams.ac.uk

C. J. Fox (Co-author)

  • Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage, Oban PA37 1QA, UK

K. Last (Co-author)

  • Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage, Oban PA37 1QA, UK

C. E. McCarty (Co-author)

  • Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage, Oban PA37 1QA, UK
  • University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AJ, UK