The shortfin devilray (Mobula kuhlii) aggregates at Pulau Si Amil, Sabah, Malaysia
David McCann
A * , Catherine McCann A * , C. M. Yew B , Gonzalo Araujo C and B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Persatuan Pendidikan Laut Kesedaran Sabah, c/o Scuba Junkie, PO Box 458, Block B Lot 36, 91308 Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.
B Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
C Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, Somerset, TA4 3SJ, UK.
* Correspondence to: scubajunkie.environment@gmail.com, scubajunkie.environment@gmail.com
Handling Editor: Mike van Keulen
Pacific Conservation Biology 28(6) 532-537 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21017
Submitted: 20 March 2021 Accepted: 14 November 2021 Published: 16 December 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Mobula kuhlii (Müller and Henle 1841) is a small species of devilray of the family Mobulidae. The species was recently uplisted to endangered on the IUCN Red List due to inferred population declines of >50% across much of its range. Here, we report aggregating behaviour of this little-known species at Pulau Si Amil, Sabah, Malaysia, in the western Sulawesi Sea. We report observations of schooling behaviour with encounters of groups of 20–100 individuals of M. kuhlii at Pulau Si Amil between May 2014 and July 2015. The limited reproductive output and low recovery rate of mobulid rays make these species particularly susceptible to overexploitation. It is therefore essential to identify areas of importance for these species in order to facilitate further research to delineate conservation and management plans.
Keywords: citizen science, conservation, diving, ecology, elasmobranch, marine conservation, Mobulidae, schooling behaviour, Semporna, Sulawesi Sea.
References
Abrahams, MV, and Colgan, PW (1985). Risk of predation, hydrodynamic efficiency and their influence on school structure. Environmental Biology of Fishes 13, 195–202.| Risk of predation, hydrodynamic efficiency and their influence on school structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Araujo, G, Snow, S, So, CL, Labaja, J, Murray, R, Colucci, A, and Ponzo, A (2017). Population structure, residency patterns and movements of whale sharks in Southern Leyte, Philippines: results from dedicated photo-ID and citizen science. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 27, 237–252.
| Population structure, residency patterns and movements of whale sharks in Southern Leyte, Philippines: results from dedicated photo-ID and citizen science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Araujo, G, Agustines, A, Tracey, B, Snow, S, Labaja, J, and Ponzo, A (2019). Photo-ID and telemetry highlight a global whale shark hotspot in Palawan, Philippines. Scientific Reports 9, 17209.
| Photo-ID and telemetry highlight a global whale shark hotspot in Palawan, Philippines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31748588PubMed |
Araujo, G, Legaspi, C, Matthews, K, Ponzo, A, Chin, A, and Manjaji-Matsumoto, BM (2020). Citizen science sheds light on the cryptic ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 30, 2012–2018.
| Citizen science sheds light on the cryptic ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Armstrong, AO, Armstrong, AJ, Bennett, MB, Richardson, AJ, Townsend, KA, and Dudgeon, CL (2019). Photographic identification and citizen science combine to reveal long distance movements of individual reef manta rays Mobula alfredi along Australia’s east coast. Marine Biodiversity Records 12, 14.
| Photographic identification and citizen science combine to reveal long distance movements of individual reef manta rays Mobula alfredi along Australia’s east coast.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baker-Médard, M, and Faber, J (2020). Fins and (Mis) fortunes: managing shark populations for sustainability and food sovereignty. Marine Policy 113, 103805.
| Fins and (Mis) fortunes: managing shark populations for sustainability and food sovereignty.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Broadhurst, MK, Laglbauer, BJL, Burgess, KB, and Coleman, MA (2018). Reproductive biology and range extension for Mobula kuhlii cf. eregoodootenkee. Endangered Species Research 35, 71–80.
| Reproductive biology and range extension for Mobula kuhlii cf. eregoodootenkee.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Broadhurst, MK, Laglbauer, BJL, and Bennett, MB (2019). Gestation and size at parturition for Mobula kuhlii cf. eregoodootenkee. Environmental Biology of Fishes 102, 1009–1014.
| Gestation and size at parturition for Mobula kuhlii cf. eregoodootenkee.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carpenter, KE, and Springer, VG (2005). The center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity: the Philippine Islands. Environmental Biology of Fishes 72, 467–480.
| The center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity: the Philippine Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Colson, DA (2003). Sovereignty over Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan (Indonesia/Malaysia). American Journal of International Law 97, 398–406.
| Sovereignty over Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan (Indonesia/Malaysia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Couturier, LIE, Marshall, AD, Jaine, FRA, Kashiwagi, T, Pierce, SJ, Townsend, KA, Weeks, SJ, Bennett, MB, and Richardson, AJ (2012). Biology, ecology and conservation of the Mobulidae. Journal of Fish Biology 80, 1075–1119.
| Biology, ecology and conservation of the Mobulidae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Croll, DA, Dewar, H, Dulvy, NK, Fernando, D, Francis, MP, Galván-Magaña, F, Hall, M, Heinrichs, S, Marshall, A, McCauley, D, Newton, KM, Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara, G, O’Malley, M, O’Sullivan, J, Poortvliet, M, Roman, M, Stevens, G, Tershy, BR, and White, WT (2016). Vulnerabilities and fisheries impacts: the uncertain future of manta and devilrays. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 26, 562–575.
| Vulnerabilities and fisheries impacts: the uncertain future of manta and devilrays.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dent F, Clarke S (2015) State of the global market for shark products. In ‘FAO fisheries and aquaculture technical paper no. 590’. p. 187. (FAO: Rome)
Deshwal, A, Panwar, P, Neal, JC, and Young, MA (2021). Using long-term citizen science data to understand distribution and habitat use of an irruptive species. Ecological Informatics 64, 101377.
| Using long-term citizen science data to understand distribution and habitat use of an irruptive species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dewar H (2002) Preliminary report: Manta harvest in Lamakera. Report from the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research and the Nature Conservancy. p. 3. Available at www.equilibrioazul.org/documentos
Dulvy, NK, Fowler, SL, Musick, JA, Cavanagh, RD, Kyne, PM, Harrison, LR, Carlson, JK, Davidson, LNK, Fordham, SV, Francis, MP, Pollock, CM, Simpfendorfer, CA, Burgess, GH, Carpenter, KE, Compagno, LJV, Ebert, DA, Gibson, C, Heupel, MR, Livingstone, SR, Sanciangco, JC, Stevens, JD, Valenti, S, and White, WT (2014). Extinction risk and conservation of the world’s sharks and rays. eLife 3, e00590.
| Extinction risk and conservation of the world’s sharks and rays.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24448405PubMed |
Dulvy, NK, Pacoureau, N, Rigby, CL, Pollom, RA, Jabado, RW, Ebert, DA, Finucci, B, Pollock, CM, Cheok, J, Derrick, DH, Herman, KB, Sherman, CS, VanderWright, WJ, Lawson, JM, Walls, RHL, Carlson, JK, Charvet, P, Bineesh, KK, Fernado, D, Ralph, GM, Matsushiba, JH, Hilton-Taylor, C, Fordham, SV, and Simpfendorfer, CA (2021). Overfishing drives over one-third of all sharks and rays toward a global extinction crisis. Current Biology 31, 4773–4787.e8.
| Overfishing drives over one-third of all sharks and rays toward a global extinction crisis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 34492229PubMed |
Fisheries Act (1985) Act 317, Law of Malaysia. Available at https://www.dof.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/218.
Kitchen-Wheeler, A-M (2010). Visual identification of individual manta ray (Manta alfredi) in the Maldives Islands, Western Indian Ocean. Marine Biology Research 6, 351–363.
| Visual identification of individual manta ray (Manta alfredi) in the Maldives Islands, Western Indian Ocean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Last PR, White WT, Caira JN, Dharmadi D, Fahmi, Jensen K, Lim APK, Manjaji-Matsumoto BM, Naylor GJP, Pogonoski JJ, Stevens JD, Yearsley GK (2010) ‘Sharks and rays of Borneo.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)
Lawson, JM, Fordham, SV, O’Malley, MP, Davidson, LNK, Walls, RHL, Heupel, MR, Stevens, G, Fernando, D, Budziak, A, Simpfendorfer, CA, Ender, I, Francis, MP, Notarbartolo di Sciara, G, and Dulvy, NK (2017). Sympathy for the devil: a conservation strategy for devil and manta rays. PeerJ 5, e3027.
| Sympathy for the devil: a conservation strategy for devil and manta rays.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28316882PubMed |
Milinski, H, and Heller, R (1978). Influence of a predator on the optimal foraging behaviour of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.). Nature 275, 642–644.
| Influence of a predator on the optimal foraging behaviour of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moyle PB, Cech JJ (2003) ‘Fishes, an introduction to ichthyology.’ 5th edn. (Pearson Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ)
Murie, CJG, and Marshall, AD (2016). Mobula kuhlii cleaning station identified at an inshore reef in southern Mozambique. PeerJ PrePrints 4, e1724v1.
| Mobula kuhlii cleaning station identified at an inshore reef in southern Mozambique.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norman, B, Holmberg, J, Arzoumanian, Z, Reynolds, S, Wilson, R, Rob, D, Pierce, SJ, Gleiss, A, De, R, de la Parra, R, Galvan, B, Ramirez-Macias, D, Robinson, D, Fox, S, Graham, RT, Rowat, D, Potenski, M, Levine, M, McKinney, J, Hoffmayer, ER, Dove, A, Hueter, R, Ponzo, A, Araujo, G, Aca, E, David, D, Rees, R, Duncan, A, Rohner, CA, Prebble, C, Hearn, A, Acuna, D, Berumen, ML, Vazquez, A, Green, J, Bach, SS, Schmidt, JV, Beatty, SJ, and Morgan, DL (2017). Undersea constellations: the global biology of an endangered marine megavertebrate further informed through citizen science. BioScience 67, 1029–1043.
| Undersea constellations: the global biology of an endangered marine megavertebrate further informed through citizen science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Malley, MP, Lee-Brooks, K, and Medd, HB (2013). The global economic impact of manta ray watching tourism. PLOS ONE 8, e65051.
| The global economic impact of manta ray watching tourism.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23741450PubMed |
Rambahiniarison, JM, Lamoste, MJ, Rohner, CA, Murray, R, Snow, S, Labaja, J, Araujo, G, and Ponzo, A (2018). Life history, growth, and reproductive biology of four mobulid species in the Bohol Sea, Philippines. Frontiers in Marine Science 5, 269.
| Life history, growth, and reproductive biology of four mobulid species in the Bohol Sea, Philippines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rigby CL, Barreto R, Carlson J, Fernando D, Fordham S, Francis MP, Jabado RW, Liu KM, Marshall A, Romanov E (2020) Mobula kuhlii. The IUCN red list of threatened species 2020: e.T161439A124485584. Available at 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161439A124485584.en [Accessed 15 March 2021]
Rohner, CA, Richardson, AJ, Marshall, AD, Weeks, SJ, and Pierce, SJ (2011). How large is the world’s largest fish? Measuring whale sharks Rhincodon typus with laser photogrammetry. Journal of Fish Biology 78, 378–385.
| How large is the world’s largest fish? Measuring whale sharks Rhincodon typus with laser photogrammetry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21235570PubMed |
Stevens G, Fenrnando D, Dando M, Notarbatolo di Sciara G (2018) ‘Guide to the manta and devil rays of the world’. (Wild Nature Press: Plymouth, UK)
Venables, S, McGregor, F, Brain, L, and van Keulen, M (2016). Manta ray tourism management, precautionary strategies for a growing industry: a case study from the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 22, 295–300.
| Manta ray tourism management, precautionary strategies for a growing industry: a case study from the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vianna, GMS, Meekan, MG, Rogers, AA, Kragt, ME, Alin, JM, and Zimmerhackel, JS (2018). Shark-diving tourism as a financing mechanism for shark conservation strategies in Malaysia. Marine Policy 94, 220–226.
| Shark-diving tourism as a financing mechanism for shark conservation strategies in Malaysia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waheed, Z, and Hoeksema, BW (2013). A tale of two winds: species richness patterns of reef corals around the Semporna peninsula, Malaysia. Marine Biodiversity 43, 37–51.
| A tale of two winds: species richness patterns of reef corals around the Semporna peninsula, Malaysia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
White WT, Last PR (2016) Devilrays, family mobulidae. In ‘Rays of the world’. (Eds PR Last, WT White, MR de Carvalho, B Séret, MFW Stehmann, GJP Naylor) pp. 741–749. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)
