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Residency and Use of an Important Nursery Habitat, Raja Ampat’s Wayag Lagoon, by Juvenile Reef Manta Rays (Mobula Alfredi)
The behaviour and spatial use patterns of juvenile manta rays within their critical nursery
habitats remain largely undocumented. Here, we report on the horizontal movements and
residency of juvenile reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) at a recently discovered nursery site in
the Wayag lagoon, Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we provide
further corroborative evidence that the lagoon serves as an important M. alfredi nursery.
Although nursery areas have been identified for a variety of elasmobranch species (Heupel et al., 2019), few studies have specifically examined the benefits of nursery areas for newborn and juvenile elasmobranchs, such as improved fitness and increased survival. Many elasmobranch species, including manta rays and other mobulid rays (Mobula spp.), use shallow and sheltered
habitats like lagoons as nursery areas for newborns (Heupel et al., 2007; Stewart et al., 2018b). Reef lagoons provide several benefits for juvenile elasmobranchs, such as calm sea conditions, protection from large predators, reliable food availability, and opportunities for
social interaction with conspecifics (Guttridge et al., 2011; Jacoby et al., 2012; McCauley et al., 2014; Rojas et al., 2014; Heupel et al., 2019). Occupying sheltered nursery areas may also contribute to higher chances of newborn survival by enabling individuals to grow in a safe environment and become better equipped to later escape predators and find diffuse prey (Branstetter, 1990).
habitats remain largely undocumented. Here, we report on the horizontal movements and
residency of juvenile reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) at a recently discovered nursery site in
the Wayag lagoon, Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we provide
further corroborative evidence that the lagoon serves as an important M. alfredi nursery.
Although nursery areas have been identified for a variety of elasmobranch species (Heupel et al., 2019), few studies have specifically examined the benefits of nursery areas for newborn and juvenile elasmobranchs, such as improved fitness and increased survival. Many elasmobranch species, including manta rays and other mobulid rays (Mobula spp.), use shallow and sheltered
habitats like lagoons as nursery areas for newborns (Heupel et al., 2007; Stewart et al., 2018b). Reef lagoons provide several benefits for juvenile elasmobranchs, such as calm sea conditions, protection from large predators, reliable food availability, and opportunities for
social interaction with conspecifics (Guttridge et al., 2011; Jacoby et al., 2012; McCauley et al., 2014; Rojas et al., 2014; Heupel et al., 2019). Occupying sheltered nursery areas may also contribute to higher chances of newborn survival by enabling individuals to grow in a safe environment and become better equipped to later escape predators and find diffuse prey (Branstetter, 1990).
