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Staying Close to Home: Horizontal Movements of Satellite-Tracked Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi) in the World’s Largest Manta Sanctuary
Indonesia is home to significant populations of globally vulnerable reef manta
rays (Mobula alfredi) in at least four key regions: Berau, Nusa Penida, Komodo, and Raja
Ampat. Despite detailed population studies in each of these regions, little is known about
their horizontal movement patterns. Our study used satellite telemetry to investigate reef
manta rays’ habitat use and home ranges. A total of 33 manta rays were tagged with
SPLASH10F-321A satellite tags across the four regions: Berau (n = 5), Nusa Penida (n = 8),
Komodo (n = 6), and Raja Ampat (n = 14), yielding usable data from 25 tags. The rays were
tracked for 7 to 118 days (mean ± SD = 50 ± 30) from July 2014 to July 2022. The results
showed localized movements, strong residency near tagging sites, and high site fidelity as
evidenced by area-restricted search (ARS) behaviors and frequent revisitations. Most manta
rays showed restricted home ranges in each region, with no connectivity between regions.
Across 25 individuals, the home range (95% utilization distributions) varied significantly,
ranging from 19 to 48,294 km2 (mean ± SD = 4667 ± 10,354). These findings offer important
insights into the spatial movement patterns of reef manta rays in Indonesia, allowing the
formulation of more effective management strategies.
Comprehensive knowledge of the movement ecology and habitat use of threatened
species is essential for developing effective conservation and management strategies aimed
at their protection [1]. The reef manta ray Mobula alfredi, currently listed as vulnerable
(VU) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is distributed throughout the Indo-
Pacific region [2]. Globally, populations of reef manta rays have experienced significant
declines over the past five decades, primarily due to fishing pressures, including bycatch
and targeted fisheries [2,3].
In 2014, the reef manta ray, along with the oceanic manta ray (M. birostris), was granted
full protection across Indonesia by the national government, following a landmark initiative
by the Raja Ampat regency government which established Raja Ampat as Southeast Asia’s
first shark and ray sanctuary in 2012 [4,5]. Despite this legal protection, knowledge of the
population dynamics and movement ecology of manta rays in Indonesia remains limited.
rays (Mobula alfredi) in at least four key regions: Berau, Nusa Penida, Komodo, and Raja
Ampat. Despite detailed population studies in each of these regions, little is known about
their horizontal movement patterns. Our study used satellite telemetry to investigate reef
manta rays’ habitat use and home ranges. A total of 33 manta rays were tagged with
SPLASH10F-321A satellite tags across the four regions: Berau (n = 5), Nusa Penida (n = 8),
Komodo (n = 6), and Raja Ampat (n = 14), yielding usable data from 25 tags. The rays were
tracked for 7 to 118 days (mean ± SD = 50 ± 30) from July 2014 to July 2022. The results
showed localized movements, strong residency near tagging sites, and high site fidelity as
evidenced by area-restricted search (ARS) behaviors and frequent revisitations. Most manta
rays showed restricted home ranges in each region, with no connectivity between regions.
Across 25 individuals, the home range (95% utilization distributions) varied significantly,
ranging from 19 to 48,294 km2 (mean ± SD = 4667 ± 10,354). These findings offer important
insights into the spatial movement patterns of reef manta rays in Indonesia, allowing the
formulation of more effective management strategies.
Comprehensive knowledge of the movement ecology and habitat use of threatened
species is essential for developing effective conservation and management strategies aimed
at their protection [1]. The reef manta ray Mobula alfredi, currently listed as vulnerable
(VU) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is distributed throughout the Indo-
Pacific region [2]. Globally, populations of reef manta rays have experienced significant
declines over the past five decades, primarily due to fishing pressures, including bycatch
and targeted fisheries [2,3].
In 2014, the reef manta ray, along with the oceanic manta ray (M. birostris), was granted
full protection across Indonesia by the national government, following a landmark initiative
by the Raja Ampat regency government which established Raja Ampat as Southeast Asia’s
first shark and ray sanctuary in 2012 [4,5]. Despite this legal protection, knowledge of the
population dynamics and movement ecology of manta rays in Indonesia remains limited.
