Satellite Tagging and Photographic Identification Reveal Connectivity Between Two UNESCO World Heritage Areas for Reef Manta Rays

Amelia J Armstrong; Asia O Armstrong; Frazer McGregor; Anthony J Richardson; Michael B Bennett; Kathy A Townsend; Graeme C Hays; Mike van Keulen; Jessica Smith; Christine L Dudgeon

doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00725

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Satellite Tagging and Photographic Identification Reveal Connectivity Between Two UNESCO World Heritage Areas for Reef Manta Rays

Journal article

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Satellite Tagging and Photographic Identification Reveal Connectivity Between Two UNESCO World Heritage Areas for Reef Manta Rays

Amelia J Armstrong, Asia O Armstrong, Frazer McGregor, Anthony J Richardson, Michael B Bennett, Kathy A Townsend, Graeme C Hays, Mike van Keulen, Jessica Smith and Christine L Dudgeon

Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.7, pp.1-18

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00725

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Abstract

site affinity

Mobula alfredi

Ningaloo Reef

satellite telemetry

citizen science

Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are capable of long-distance dispersal when habitat is continuous. In the Ningaloo Reef World Heritage Area located on Australia’s mid-west coast, M. alfredi is sighted year-round and is a focal species for ecotourism in the region. Despite value to local tourism and demographic vulnerability to exploitation, basic information regarding M. alfredi movements and area use in this region is lacking. Here we used satellite tags and a long-term photographic-identification database collected by researchers and citizen scientists to examine the species’ visitation patterns and regional space use. Tagged M. alfredi remained in coastal shelf waters, preferentially occupying shallow depths < 20 m (76% of depth observations). Comparison of real tracks against those produced by correlated random walk simulations revealed directional dispersal and connectivity between the Ningaloo and Shark Bay World Heritage Areas. The greatest linear distance an individual moved after tagging was ∼700 km. This movement range is comparable to seasonal M. alfredi migration observed at similar latitudes on Australia’s east coast. Photographic-identification of 1121 individual M. alfredi, from 5146 sighting events, revealed that some individuals exhibited long-term site affinity to locations within Ningaloo Marine Park, with the longest spanning 15.16 years (9.8% individuals > 10 years). Lagged Identification Rate analysis suggested site visitation was best described by a pattern of emigration and reimmigration. While our observations of movement and residency establishes basic information previously unknown for the species in this region, the overlap of core area use with existing UNESCO World Heritage Areas demonstrates the potential for well-positioned marine parks to provide protection of critical habitat for M. alfredi.

Details

Title: Satellite Tagging and Photographic Identification Reveal Connectivity Between Two UNESCO World Heritage Areas for Reef Manta Rays
Authors: Amelia J Armstrong (Author) - The University of Queensland
Asia O Armstrong (Author) - The University of Queensland
Frazer McGregor (Author) - The University of Queensland
Anthony J Richardson (Author) - The University of Queensland
Michael B Bennett (Author) - The University of Queensland
Kathy A Townsend (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
Graeme C Hays (Author) - Deakin University
Mike van Keulen (Author) - The University of Queensland
Jessica Smith (Author) - The University of Queensland
Christine L Dudgeon (Author) - The University of Queensland
Publication details: Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.7, pp.1-18
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00725
ISSN: 2296-7745
Copyright note: Copyright © 2020 Armstrong, Armstrong, McGregor, Richardson, Bennett, Townsend, Hays, van Keulen, Smith and Dudgeon. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Grants: An integrated examination of the drivers of movements of large filter feeding organisms of high ecotourism value: a case study, LP110100712, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99482708602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences; Marine & Freshwater Biology

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