The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners.
As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.
i
i
More Documents Available as Supporting Files
Important juvenile manta ray habitat at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico
-
2018
-
-
Source: Marine Biology, 165(7)
[PDF-1.12 MB]
Details:
-
Journal Title:Marine Biology
-
Personal Author:
-
NOAA Program & Office:
-
Description:Oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) are large pelagic planktivores that are threatened globally by targeted fisheries and bycatch. While studies of oceanic mantas have increased substantially in the past decade, major knowledge gaps remain in their basic biology, ecology and life history. The juvenile stage in particular is virtually unstudied, as juvenile oceanic mantas are rarely observed in the wild and are known primarily from fisheries and captive individuals. Here, we present evidence suggesting that Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) is an important habitat for juvenile manta rays. Recent genetic evidence indicates that both oceanic mantas and a proposed third manta species (Mobula cf. birostris) are present at FGBNMS. Size estimates of mantas sighted at FGBNMS over 25 years of monitoring efforts indicate that 95% of individuals are smaller than the size at maturity for male M. birostris, and 80% are smaller than the size at maturity for M. alfredi. Photographic records of juvenile males with undeveloped claspers further corroborate these findings. Temporal patterns of use and the prevalence of juveniles suggest that this region may serve as nursery habitat for M. birostris and M. cf. birostris. Further research is necessary to determine the importance of the region to juveniles of each species, as well as long-term patterns of habitat use and residency.
-
Keywords:
-
Source:Marine Biology, 165(7)
-
DOI:
-
ISSN:0025-3162;1432-1793;
-
Format:
-
Publisher:
-
Document Type:
-
Funding:
-
License:
-
Rights Information:CC0 Public Domain
-
Rights Statement:This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US.
-
Compliance:Submitted
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
