Satellite Tracking of Manta Rays Highlights Challenges to Their Conservation

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 5; p. e36834
• Main Authors: Graham, Rachel T., Witt, Matthew J., Castellanos, Dan W., Remolina, Francisco, Maxwell, Sara, Godley, Brendan J., Hawkes, Lucy A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 10.05.2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal Migration - physiology; Animals; Biology; Cetorhinidae; Chlorophyll; Conservation; Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecosystem biology; Ecosystems; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered Species; Fisheries; Forage; Geospatial data; Laboratories; Marine protected areas; Mobula mobular; Myliobatiformes; Nature conservation; Protected areas; Protection and preservation; Rhincodon typus; Satellite tracking; Satellites; Sharks; Skates (Fish) - physiology; Spacecraft; Spatial distribution; Species extinction; Taxa; Temporal distribution; Thermal fronts; Tourism; Upwelling; Vertebrates; Veterinary Science; Wildlife conservation; Gulf of Mexico; United Kingdom > UK; Glen Ellen California; United States > US

We describe the real-time movements of the last of the marine mega-vertebrate taxa to be satellite tracked - the giant manta ray (or devil fish, Manta birostris), the world's largest ray at over 6 m disc width. Almost nothing is known about manta ray movements and their environmental preference...