Abstract
Despite substantial progress in mobulid research over the past decade, knowledge gaps in manta ray ecology and behaviour remain, particularly in the South Atlantic Ocean. Opportunistic photographic and video records of manta rays collected between 2002 and 2019 at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNA) in northeast Brazil provide evidence to support the year-round use of the region by manta rays (believed to be Mobula cf. birostris). From a total of 130 sighting records, manta rays exhibited feeding behaviour in 36.9% (n = 48) of sightings, indicating that the shallow waters surrounding the archipelago are used as feeding grounds. Approximately half of the records (53.8%) corresponded to identified individuals that were re-sighted repeatedly, using the area in different seasons and for several years. Of the compiled records, 69.2% of sightings were of small individuals (≤3 m disc width). All identified males had undeveloped claspers and females had no visible mating scars, suggesting a juvenile population. Despite being limited to a small local sample, here we present the first report of manta rays at FNA and provide preliminary evidence of feeding behaviour by juvenile manta rays in Brazil. This information contributes to our understanding of the regional distribution and habitat use of manta rays in Brazilian waters.
Highlights
Manta rays (Mobula spp.) are planktivorous elasmobranchs that are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical oceans (Marshall et al 2009; Lawson et al 2017)
From a 17-year regional dataset, we present evidence of the occurrence of manta rays at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNA), encompassed in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the oceanic system of northeast Brazil, and provide preliminary insight into population demographics, seasonality and behaviour of manta rays in the archipelago
The morphology and colouration of all individuals sighted at FNA did not align with either of the diagnostic characteristics of the two recognized species of manta ray, M. birostris and M. alfredi described in Marshall et al (2009)
Summary
Manta rays (Mobula spp.) are planktivorous elasmobranchs that are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical oceans (Marshall et al 2009; Lawson et al 2017). As a result of directed fishing pressure and incidental captures in artisanal and larger-scale fisheries (Croll et al 2016), manta ray populations have suffered global declines resulting in the two currently recognised species, Mobula birostris and M. alfredi, being listed as Endangered and Vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, respectively (Marshall et al 2019, 2020). Both species are listed on Appendices I & II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). A regulation that prohibits directed fishing, retention on board, transhipment, landing, storage, transport and commercialization of the products or sub-products of Bucair et al Marine Biodiversity Records (2021) 14:10 the family Mobulidae in Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters and across the entire national territory (DOU 2013)
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