Reef manta ray social dynamics depend on individual differences in behaviour

Perryman, Robert J.Y.; Mourier, Johann; Venables, Stephanie K.; Tapilatu, Ricardo F.; Setyawan, Edy; Brown, Culum

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.06.010

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…We found quantitative differences in levels of polarization and leadership, providing evidence for distinct collective behaviour states. Our research suggests that these states occur interchangeably as individuals make active decisions to aggregate and interact socially (Perryman et al 2019, 2022). This is likely driven by local social and environmental conditions (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The area is well protected from illegal fishing, but tourism has increased substantially in the past decade (Andradi-Brown et al 2021). Reef mantas in Raja Ampat maintain social relationships that are linked to habitat preferences, sex-based assortment and fission-fusion dynamics (Perryman et al 2019; Perryman et al 2022). They frequent feeding sites and cleaning ‘stations’ which are focal points for social and courtship behaviours (Marshall & Bennett 2010; Stevens 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating manta ray collective movements via drone surveys

Perryman

Brown

Ward

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Research on free-ranging species of marine megafauna is required to understand their behavioural ecology, including how groups respond to environmental and anthropogenic pressures. New technologies are opening up potential for detailed observational research on these species in the wild, especially on group-based and collective behaviours. Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are socially interactive elasmobranchs that form groups in coastal reef habitats. Collective behaviours are likely important to their fitness, but may be disturbed by humans. Using small, remotely-piloted drones, we performed aerial observations of manta ray groups in Raja Ampat, West Papua. We empirically quantified patterns of collective movement including relative spatial positions, alignment, speed and leadership positions of conspecifics. We found unique patterns of spatial positioning, alignment and leadership, including differences between sexes, and high levels of local attraction, which were suggestive of distinct collective behaviour states. We suggest that rules of interaction in manta rays vary at the individual level and can shift depending on local environmental and social conditions. Leader-follower behaviour likely has broad importance to cohesive movement and social behaviour in M. alfredi. We suggest that further studies on manta ray movement should consider utilising models of collective motion that capture group-level behavioural processes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating manta ray collective movements via drone surveys

Perryman

Brown

Ward

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…In an infinite island model, only a few migrants per generation are required to obscure strong population structure when N e is large (Wright, 1931) and therefore it is possible the patterns we observe translate to infrequent dispersal events. Furthermore, dispersal could be segregated by age and/or sex (McClain et al, 2022; Phillips et al, 2021), and may vary among individuals (Papastamatiou et al, 2013; Perryman et al, 2022; Thorburn et al, 2019). While challenging, there is benefit in extending future tagging efforts to transient individuals away from known aggregation sites (Garzon et al, 2023), as well as previously underrepresented age classes – such as juveniles – to capture what may be infrequent yet evolutionarily relevant movements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative population genomics of manta rays has global implications for management

Humble

Hosegood

Carvalho

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Understanding population connectivity and genetic diversity is of fundamental importance to conservation. However, in globally threatened marine megafauna, challenges remain due to their elusive nature and wide-ranging distributions. As overexploitation continues to threaten biodiversity across the globe, such knowledge gaps compromise both the suitability and effectiveness of management actions. Here, we use a comparative framework to investigate genetic differentiation and diversity of manta rays, one of the most iconic yet vulnerable groups of elasmobranchs on the planet. Despite their recent divergence, we show how oceanic manta rays(Mobula birostris)display significantly higher genetic diversity than reef manta rays(Mobula alfredi)and thatM. birostrispopulations display higher connectivity worldwide. Through reconstructing modes of colonisation, we reveal how both contemporary and historical forces have likely influenced these patterns, with important implications for population management. Our findings highlight the potential for fisheries to disrupt population dynamics at both local and global scales and therefore have direct relevance for international marine conservation.TeaserPopulation genomics of manta rays reveals striking differences in differentiation and diversity between two recently diverged species.

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“…Intriguingly, the social relationships between Port Jackson sharks at breeding aggregation sites not only determine the time at which they depart on their southerly migration but also predict when they will arrive the following season (Pelizza et al unpublished data). Social network analysis of a manta ray population in West Papua based on individual identification using unique spots as well as acoustic tags has also shown that the social relationships between these animals is far more complex than previously believed (Perryman et al 2019 , 2022 ). Using a similar approach for black tip reef sharks in French Polynesia, Mourier et al ( 2017b ) interrogated the social network to see how robust it was to fishing pressure.…”

Section: Social Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smart sharks: a review of chondrichthyan cognition

Brown

Schluessel

2022

Anim Cogn

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Abstract450 million years of evolution have given chondrichthyans (sharks, rays and allies) ample time to adapt perfectly to their respective everyday life challenges and cognitive abilities have played an important part in that process. The diversity of niches that sharks and rays occupy corresponds to matching diversity in brains and behaviour, but we have only scratched the surface in terms of investigating cognition in this important group of animals. The handful of species that have been cognitively assessed in some detail over the last decade have provided enough data to safely conclude that sharks and rays are cognitively on par with most other vertebrates, including mammals and birds. Experiments in the lab as well as in the wild pose their own unique challenges, mainly due to the handling and maintenance of these animals as well as controlling environmental conditions and elimination of confounding factors. Nonetheless, significant advancements have been obtained in the fields of spatial and social cognition, discrimination learning, memory retention as well as several others. Most studies have focused on behaviour and the underlying neural substrates involved in cognitive information processing are still largely unknown. Our understanding of shark cognition has multiple practical benefits for welfare and conservation management but there are obvious gaps in our knowledge. Like most marine animals, sharks and rays face multiple threats. The effects of climate change, pollution and resulting ecosystem changes on the cognitive abilities of sharks and stingrays remain poorly investigated and we can only speculate what the likely impacts might be based on research on bony fishes. Lastly, sharks still suffer from their bad reputation as mindless killers and are heavily targeted by commercial fishing operations for their fins. This public relations issue clouds people’s expectations of shark intelligence and is a serious impediment to their conservation. In the light of the fascinating results presented here, it seems obvious that the general perception of sharks and rays as well as their status as sentient, cognitive animals, needs to be urgently revisited.

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Reef manta ray social dynamics depend on individual differences in behaviour

Cited by 10 publications

References 96 publications

Investigating manta ray collective movements via drone surveys

Investigating manta ray collective movements via drone surveys

Comparative population genomics of manta rays has global implications for management

Smart sharks: a review of chondrichthyan cognition

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