Southernmost record of the Giant Manta Ray Mobula birostris (Walbaum, 1792) in the Eastern Pacific

Moreno, Bernabé; González-Pestana, Adriana

doi:10.1186/s41200-017-0130-1

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…This process is particularly im portant for mobulid rays, as it has been suggested that gradual shifts in temperature could influence distributional changes since mobulids tend to track spatial changes in prey availability and are prone to migrate to areas with high primary productivity (Burgess 2017, Moreno & Gonzalez-Pestana 2017, Beale et al 2019, Lezama-Ochoa et al 2019a,b, Osgood et al 2021. We suggest that this could lead to the movement of individuals (which could belong to different populations) into areas where they have not been previously recorded and promote genetic exchange of individuals from distinct populations (Moreno & Gonzalez-Pestana 2017, Beale et al 2019, Vásquez-Carrillo et al 2020. It is important to highlight the need for further studies to better understand the influence of ENSO on the genetic composition of M. birostris.…”

Section: Population Structure and Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of Mobula birostris in two key aggregation zones in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

López¹,

Guadalupe

Gordillo

et al. 2022

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The giant manta ray Mobula birostris is the largest ray species in the world. Little is known about its genetic composition in key aggregation sites such as the Galapagos Islands and Isla de la Plata, near the province of Manabi in mainland Ecuador. This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity and population structure of M. birostris in these 2 locations to better understand its connectivity and distribution in Ecuadorian oceanic waters and to assist in its conservation and appropriate management. A total of 127 samples from mainland Ecuador (2013-2018) and 21 samples from Galapagos (2019) were collected and analyzed using 8 microsatellite loci. Results showed a moderately high level of genetic diversity for giant manta rays from both sites (mainland Ecuador He = 0.72; Galapagos He = 0.66). Population structure analyses suggests the presence of 2 different populations in the Galapagos and mainland Ecuador. The different genetic compositions found for each location could be associated with the displayed resident behavior, linked to the formation of upwelling systems caused by oceanic currents that bring nutrient-rich waters to both sites year-round. Our genetic connectivity analysis confirmed low gene flow between these 2 locations, further rejecting the hypothesis of a single panmictic population of M. birostris in Ecuador. Taken together, these results provide valuable information about the genetic composition and diversity of the giant manta ray, an Endangered species which has been scarcely studied in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

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Section: Population Structure and Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of Mobula birostris in two key aggregation zones in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

López¹,

Guadalupe

Gordillo

et al. 2022

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In the present study, a mean number of 1.5 ± 0.5 R. remora were observed per M. birostris sighting. In Mexico, a mean number of 1.6 ± 0.6 R. remora attached to each manta were observed [23], in Peru there has been a sighting of eleven echeneids associated with a single M. birostris [85], and at Isla de la Plata in Ecuador, as many as 40 individual R. remora have been recorded associating with a singe M. birostris (Guerrero, pers. comm.…”

Section: Oceanic Manta Ray (M Birostris)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A hitchhiker guide to manta rays: Patterns of association between Mobula alfredi, M. birostris, their symbionts, and other fishes in the Maldives

et al. 2021

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Despite being among the largest and most charismatic species in the marine environment, considerable gaps remain in our understanding of the behavioural ecology of manta rays (Mobula alfredi, M. birostris). Manta rays are often sighted in association with an array of smaller hitchhiker fish species, which utilise their hosts as a sanctuary for shelter, protection, and the sustenance they provide. Species interactions, rather than the species at the individual level, determine the ecological processes that drive community dynamics, support biodiversity and ecosystem health. Thus, understanding the associations within marine communities is critical to implementing effective conservation and management. However, the underlying patterns between manta rays, their symbionts, and other hitchhiker species remain elusive. Here, we explore the spatial and temporal variation in hitchhiker presence with M. alfredi and M. birostris throughout the Maldives and investigate the factors which may influence association using generalised linear mixed effects models (GLMM). For the first time, associations between M. alfredi and M. birostris with hitchhiker species other than those belonging to the family Echeneidae are described. A variation in the species of hitchhiker associated with M. alfredi and M. birostris was identified, with sharksucker remora (Echeneis naucrates) and giant remora (Remora remora) being the most common, respectively. Spatiotemporal variation in the presence of manta rays was identified as a driver for the occurrence of ephemeral hitchhiker associations. Near-term pregnant female M. alfredi, and M. alfredi at cleaning stations, had the highest likelihood of an association with adult E. naucrates. Juvenile E. naucrates were more likely to be associated with juvenile M. alfredi, and a seasonal trend in E. naucrates host association was identified. Remora were most likely to be present with female M. birostris, and a mean number of 1.5 ± 0.5 R. remora were observed per M. birostris. It is hoped these initial findings will serve as the basis for future work into the complex relationships between manta rays and their hitchhikers.

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Occupancy of acoustically tagged oceanic manta rays, Mobula birostris, in Bahia de Banderas, Mexico

Domínguez-Sánchez,

Širović,

Fonseca-Ponce

et al. 2023

Mar Biol

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The oceanic manta ray (Mobula birostris) is an endangered species commonly seen at oceanic islands and seamounts; however, seasonal aggregations have been described in highly productive, coastal areas. Oceanic manta rays are found in high numbers seasonally in Bahía de Banderas, Mexico, a unique nearshore aggregation site for the species. We used acoustic telemetry to examine the influence of environmental variables on the occurrence of 66 tagged oceanic manta rays over a seven-year period from 2015 to 2021. Seasonal trends in oceanic manta ray occurrence showed a peak in detections from January to March, and another peak from May to early October. Oceanic manta rays were present when the temperature ranged between 25 °C and 29 °C, the southward wind speeds ranged between 3 and 5 m s–1, the westward wind speed between 2.5 and 4.5 m s–1. Furthermore, oceanic manta rays’ presence was higher at high and low tides and when Chlorophyll-a values ranged between 2.5 and 7 mg m3-1. Results also suggest that El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) had a strong effect on oceanic manta ray presence in the bay, which is consistent with previous studies. The detections of oceanic manta rays in the south of the bay, were greater in the morning hours, suggesting that during the night they may move to deeper waters, similar to other reported studies of manta and devil rays. Our model suggested a tag retention time of 300 days. This study serves as a baseline for future management plans for the species to minimize impacts on this population from human activities occurring in close proximity to oceanic manta ray aggregation sites.

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Southernmost record of the Giant Manta Ray Mobula birostris (Walbaum, 1792) in the Eastern Pacific

Cited by 5 publications

References 34 publications

Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of Mobula birostris in two key aggregation zones in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of Mobula birostris in two key aggregation zones in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

A hitchhiker guide to manta rays: Patterns of association between Mobula alfredi, M. birostris, their symbionts, and other fishes in the Maldives

Occupancy of acoustically tagged oceanic manta rays, Mobula birostris, in Bahia de Banderas, Mexico

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