Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan
Abstract Background Reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) populations along the Northeastern African coastline are poorly studied. Identifying critical habitats for this species is essential for future research and conservation efforts. Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island National Park (DMNP), a component of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Movement Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00314-9 |
| _version_ | 1811289221325914112 |
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| author | Anna M. Knochel Nigel E. Hussey Steven T. Kessel Camrin D. Braun Jesse E. M. Cochran Graham Hill Rebecca Klaus Tarik Checkchak Nasereldin M. Elamin El Hassen Mohammed Younnis Michael L. Berumen |
| author_facet | Anna M. Knochel Nigel E. Hussey Steven T. Kessel Camrin D. Braun Jesse E. M. Cochran Graham Hill Rebecca Klaus Tarik Checkchak Nasereldin M. Elamin El Hassen Mohammed Younnis Michael L. Berumen |
| author_sort | Anna M. Knochel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) populations along the Northeastern African coastline are poorly studied. Identifying critical habitats for this species is essential for future research and conservation efforts. Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island National Park (DMNP), a component of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sudan, hosts the largest known M. alfredi aggregation in the Red Sea. Methods A total of 19 individuals were tagged using surgically implanted acoustic tags and tracked within DMNP on an array of 15 strategically placed acoustic receivers in addition to two offshore receivers. Two of these acoustically monitored M. alfredi were also equipped with satellite linked archival tags and one individual was fitted with a satellite transmitting tag. Together, these data are used to describe approximately two years of residency and seasonal shifts in habitat use. Results Tagged individuals were detected within the array on 96% of monitored days and recorded an average residence index of 0.39 across all receivers. Detections were recorded throughout the year, though some individuals were absent from the receiver array for weeks or months at a time, and generalized additive mixed models showed a clear seasonal pattern in presence with the highest probabilities of detection occurring in boreal fall. The models indicated that M. alfredi presence was highly correlated with increasing chlorophyll-a levels and weakly correlated with the full moon. Modeled biological factors, including sex and wingspan, had no influence on animal presence. Despite the high residency suggested by acoustic telemetry, satellite tag data and offshore acoustic detections in Sanganeb Atoll and Suedi Pass recorded individuals moving up to 125 km from the Bay. However, all these individuals were subsequently detected in the Bay, suggesting a strong degree of site fidelity at this location. Conclusions The current study adds to growing evidence that M. alfredi are highly resident and site-attached to coastal bays and lagoons but display seasonal shifts in habitat use that are likely driven by resource availability. This information can be used to assist in managing and supporting sustainable ecotourism within the DMNP, part of a recently designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:52:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43093cd34f2f480da79e122687ac3db9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3933 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:52:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Movement Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-43093cd34f2f480da79e122687ac3db92022-12-22T03:03:48ZengBMCMovement Ecology2051-39332022-04-0110111710.1186/s40462-022-00314-9Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, SudanAnna M. Knochel0Nigel E. Hussey1Steven T. Kessel2Camrin D. Braun3Jesse E. M. Cochran4Graham Hill5Rebecca Klaus6Tarik Checkchak7Nasereldin M. Elamin El Hassen8Mohammed Younnis9Michael L. Berumen10Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of WindsorEquipe CousteauBiology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionRed Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThe Deep AquariumEquipe CousteauEquipe CousteauWildlife Conservation General AdministrationEquipe CousteauRed Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) populations along the Northeastern African coastline are poorly studied. Identifying critical habitats for this species is essential for future research and conservation efforts. Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island National Park (DMNP), a component of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sudan, hosts the largest known M. alfredi aggregation in the Red Sea. Methods A total of 19 individuals were tagged using surgically implanted acoustic tags and tracked within DMNP on an array of 15 strategically placed acoustic receivers in addition to two offshore receivers. Two of these acoustically monitored M. alfredi were also equipped with satellite linked archival tags and one individual was fitted with a satellite transmitting tag. Together, these data are used to describe approximately two years of residency and seasonal shifts in habitat use. Results Tagged individuals were detected within the array on 96% of monitored days and recorded an average residence index of 0.39 across all receivers. Detections were recorded throughout the year, though some individuals were absent from the receiver array for weeks or months at a time, and generalized additive mixed models showed a clear seasonal pattern in presence with the highest probabilities of detection occurring in boreal fall. The models indicated that M. alfredi presence was highly correlated with increasing chlorophyll-a levels and weakly correlated with the full moon. Modeled biological factors, including sex and wingspan, had no influence on animal presence. Despite the high residency suggested by acoustic telemetry, satellite tag data and offshore acoustic detections in Sanganeb Atoll and Suedi Pass recorded individuals moving up to 125 km from the Bay. However, all these individuals were subsequently detected in the Bay, suggesting a strong degree of site fidelity at this location. Conclusions The current study adds to growing evidence that M. alfredi are highly resident and site-attached to coastal bays and lagoons but display seasonal shifts in habitat use that are likely driven by resource availability. This information can be used to assist in managing and supporting sustainable ecotourism within the DMNP, part of a recently designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00314-9Mobula alfrediMovement ecologySudanAcoustic telemetryConservationRed Sea |
| spellingShingle | Anna M. Knochel Nigel E. Hussey Steven T. Kessel Camrin D. Braun Jesse E. M. Cochran Graham Hill Rebecca Klaus Tarik Checkchak Nasereldin M. Elamin El Hassen Mohammed Younnis Michael L. Berumen Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan Movement Ecology Mobula alfredi Movement ecology Sudan Acoustic telemetry Conservation Red Sea |
| title | Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan |
| title_full | Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan |
| title_fullStr | Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan |
| title_short | Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan |
| title_sort | home sweet home spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray mobula alfredi in dungonab bay sudan |
| topic | Mobula alfredi Movement ecology Sudan Acoustic telemetry Conservation Red Sea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00314-9 |
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