Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Biology, ecology and conservation of the Mobulidae

Share this record

Add to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to XAdd to WechatAdd to Microsoft_teamsAdd to WhatsappAdd to Any

Export this record

View Altmetrics

Couturier, L. I. E., Marshall, A. D., Jaine, F. R. A., Kashiwagi, T., Pierce, S. J., Townsend, K. A., Weeks, S. J., Bennett, M. B. and Richardson, A. J. (2012) Biology, ecology and conservation of the Mobulidae. Journal of Fish Biology, 80 (5). pp. 1075-1119. ISSN 0022-1112

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03264.x

Abstract

The Mobulidae are zooplanktivorous elasmobranchs comprising two recognized species of manta rays (Manta spp.) and nine recognized species of devil rays (Mobula spp.). They are found circumglobally in tropical, subtropical and temperate coastal waters. Although mobulids have been recorded for over 400 years, critical knowledge gaps still compromise the ability to assess the status of these species. On the basis of a review of 263 publications, a comparative synthesis of the biology and ecology of mobulids was conducted to examine their evolution, taxonomy, distribution, population trends, movements and aggregation, reproduction, growth and longevity, feeding, natural mortality and direct and indirect anthropogenic threats. There has been a marked increase in the number of published studies on mobulids since c. 1990, particularly for the genus Manta, although the genus Mobula remains poorly understood. Mobulid species have many common biological characteristics although their ecologies appear to be species-specific, and sometimes region-specific. Movement studies suggest that mobulids are highly mobile and have the potential to rapidly travel large distances. Fishing pressure is the major threat to many mobulid populations, with current levels of exploitation in target fisheries unlikely to be sustainable. Advances in the fields of population genetics, acoustic and satellite tracking, and stable-isotope and fatty-acid analyses will provide new insights into the biology and ecology of these species. Future research should focus on the uncertain taxonomy of mobulid species, the degree of overlap between their large-scale movement and human activities such as fisheries and pollution, and the need for management of inter-jurisdictional fisheries in developing nations to ensure their long-term sustainability. Closer collaboration among researchers worldwide is necessary to ensure standardized sampling and modelling methodologies to underpin global population estimates and status.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Animal Science
Additional Information:Couturier, L. I. E. Marshall, A. D. Jaine, F. R. A. Kashiwagi, T. Pierce, S. J. Townsend, K. A. Weeks, S. J. Bennett, M. B. Richardson, A. J. Si
Subjects:Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Fishery for individual species
Science > Zoology
Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Fishery conservation
Live Archive:10 Apr 2014 01:40
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:49

Repository Staff Only: item control page