A5018856658- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Seismic Imaging and Inversion Techniques
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Seismic Waves and Analysis
- Random lasers and scattering media
The University of Queensland
2016-2023
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
2014-2015
Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses knowledge gap vertical movements by compiling first synthesis habitat use from data obtained deployment 989 biotelemetry tags 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- interspecific variability in...
Manta and devil rays are filter-feeding elasmobranchs that found circumglobally in tropical subtropical waters. Although relatively understudied for most of the 20th century, public awareness scientific research on these species has increased dramatically recent years. Much this attention been response to targeted fisheries, international trade mobulid products, a growing concern over fate exploited populations. Despite progress research, major knowledge gaps still exist, hindering...
Large planktivores require high-density prey patches to make feeding energetically viable. This is a major challenge for species living in tropical and subtropical seas, such as whale sharks Rhincodon typus. Here, we characterize zooplankton biomass, size structure taxonomic composition from shark events background samples at Mafia Island, Tanzania. The majority of were (73%, 380 524 observations), with the most common behaviour being active surface (87%). We used 20 collected immediately...
Large tropical and sub-tropical marine animals must meet their energetic requirements in a largely oligotrophic environment. Many planktivorous elasmobranchs, whose thermal ecologies prevent foraging nutrient-rich polar waters, aggregate seasonally at predictable locations throughout oceans where they are observed feeding. Here we investigate the oceanographic environment around Lady Elliot Island, known aggregation site for reef manta rays Manta alfredi southern Great Barrier Reef. The...
Research into the movement ecology of terrestrial and marine animals is growing globally, especially for threatened species. Understanding how far an animal can move extent its range inform conservation planning management. On east coast Australia, reef manta rays Mobula alfredi are subject a photographic identification study, Project Manta. In June 2018, videos from SS Yongala (19.31° S, 147.62° E), were submitted to Manta sightings database. The two individuals previously identified North...
Our understanding of the genetic connectivity manta ray populations and drivers that shape population structure is still limited. This information crucial to identify spatial boundaries discrete guide decisions on units conserve. In this study, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) assess diversity reef rays Mobula alfredi at a local scale within New Caledonia regionally in western Pacific Ocean. We provide first evidence fine-scale differentiation M. , found between 3...
Increasing vessel traffic in the marine environment due to commercial and recreational activities has amplified number of conflicts with animals. However, there are limited multi-year observations healing rate animals following strike. Here we document a reef manta ray Mobula alfredi, lacerations caused by propeller along pectoral fin. We demonstrate high capacity, wound length negative exponential curve over time. Lacerations healed 5% initial (i.e. 95% closure) within 295 days. The wounds...
The known distribution of manta rays in Australian waters is patchy, with records primarily centred around tourism hotspots. We collated 11,614 Mobula alfredi from photo-ID databases (n = 10,715), aerial surveys 378) and online reports 521). study confirms an uninterrupted coastal north 26°S 31°S on the west east coasts, respectively. More southerly M. relate to warm-water events a southernmost extent at 34°S. Coastal sightings birostris were rare 32), likely reflecting preference for...
Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are capable of long-distance dispersal when habitat is continuous. In the Ningaloo World Heritage Area located on Australia's mid-west coast, M. alfredi sighted year-round and a focal species for ecotourism in region. Despite value to local tourism demographic vulnerability exploitation, basic information regarding movements area use this region lacking. Here we used satellite tags long-term photographic-identification database collected by researchers...
Manta rays forage for zooplankton in tropical and subtropical marine environments, which are generally nutrient-poor. Feeding often occurs at predictable locations where these large, mobile cartilaginous fishes congregate to exploit ephemeral productivity hotspots. Investigating the dynamics that lead such feeding aggregations remains a key question understanding their movement ecology. The aim of this study is investigate environment largest known aggregation reef manta Mobula alfredi...
Abstract Mutualism is a form of symbiosis whereby both parties benefit from the relationship. An example cleaning symbiosis, which has been observed in terrestrial and marine environments. The most recognized that cleaner fishes their clients. Cleaner species set up stations on reef, other seek out services. However, it not well understood how presence influence movements large highly mobile species. We examined role as driver movement habitat use client Here, we used combination passive...
Zooplankton are the key trophic link between primary producers and fish in pelagic ecosystems. Historically, there few zooplankton time series Australia, with no data sets longer than two years prior to 2008. Here we compile 98 676 abundance records of more 1000 taxa from unpublished research cruises, student projects, published literature, recent Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS). This set covers entire coastal shelf region Australia dates back 1938. Most for copepods, but also...
Understanding population connectivity and genetic diversity is of fundamental importance to conservation. However, in globally threatened marine megafauna, challenges remain due their elusive nature wide-ranging distributions. As overexploitation continues threaten biodiversity across the globe, such knowledge gaps compromise both suitability effectiveness management actions. Here, we use a comparative framework investigate differentiation manta rays, one most iconic yet vulnerable groups...
Abstract Understanding population connectivity and genetic diversity is of fundamental importance to conservation. However, in globally threatened marine megafauna, challenges remain due their elusive nature wide-ranging distributions. As overexploitation continues threaten biodiversity across the globe, such knowledge gaps compromise both suitability effectiveness management actions. Here, we use a comparative framework investigate differentiation manta rays, one most iconic yet vulnerable...
Limited sample sizes are often a problem for species of conservation concern when using genetic tools to make population assessments. Lack analytical power from small can be compensated by use large marker set. Here we report on development and characterization 17 novel microsatellite markers the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi). Loci were screened 60 rays (M. alfredi) sampled east coast Australia. The number alleles per locus varied 2 13 with observed heterozygosities ranging between 0.300...
Abstract The reef manta ray, Mobula alfredi , occurs in tropical and warm temperate coastal waters, around islands reefs the Pacific Indian Oceans. Published records that relate to distribution of M. south-east south-west Oceans are largely restricted locations where there is a focus on ray ecotourism, with little information from elsewhere. Even less known about circumglobally distributed oceanic birostris for which few published sighting records. We collated n = 11,703 Australian waters...