Movements of the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in the Red Sea using satellite and acoustic telemetry
Movements of the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in the Red Sea using satellite and acoustic telemetry
Date
2015-10-17
Authors
Braun, Camrin D.
Skomal, Gregory B.
Thorrold, Simon R.
Berumen, Michael L.
Skomal, Gregory B.
Thorrold, Simon R.
Berumen, Michael L.
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Abstract
Populations of mobulid rays are declining globally through a combination
of directed fisheries and indirect anthropogenic threats. Understanding the
movement ecology of these rays remains an important priority for devising
appropriate conservation measures throughout the world’s oceans. We sought to determine manta movements across several temporal and spatial
scales with a focus on quantifying site fidelity and seasonality in the
northern Farasan Banks, Red Sea. We fitted manta rays with acoustic
transmitters (n = 9) and popup
satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags
(n = 9), including four with GPS capability (Fastloc), during spring 2011
and 2012. We deployed an extensive array of acoustic receivers (n = 67) to
record movements of tagged mantas in the study area. All acoustically
tagged individuals travelled frequently among highuse
receiver locations
and reefs and demonstrated fidelity to specific sites within the array.
Estimated and realized satellite tag data indicated regional movements
<200 km from the tagging location, largely coastal residency, and high
surface occupation. GPStagged
individuals regularly moved within the
coastal reef matrix up to ~70 km to the south but continued to return to the
tagging area near the highoccupancy
sites identified in the acoustic array.
We also tested the accuracy of several geolocation models to determine the
best approach to analyze our lightbased
satellite tag data. We documented
significant errors in lightbased
movement estimates that should be
considered when interpreting tracks derived from lightlevel
geolocation,
especially for animals with restricted movements through a homogenous
temperature field. Despite some error in satellite tag positions, combining
results from PSAT and acoustic tags in this study yielded a comprehensive
representation of manta spatial ecology across several scales, and such
approaches will, in the future, inform the design of appropriate
management strategies for manta rays in the Red Sea and tropical regions
worldwide.
Description
Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2015. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Springer for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Marine Biology 162 (2015): 2351-2362, doi:10.1007/s00227-015-2760-3.