A new study from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and the Marine Megafauna Foundation finds that young Caribbean manta rays (Mobula yarae) often swim with groups of other fish, creating small, moving ecosystems that support a variety of marine species.<\/p>\n
South Florida\u2014particularly along Palm Beach County\u2014serves as a nursery for juvenile manta rays. For nearly a decade, the Marine Megafauna Foundation has been studying these rays and documenting the challenges they face from human activities near the coast, such as boat strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, which can pose significant threats to juvenile mantas<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing video footage collected between 2016 and 2021, we analyzed 465 videos to better understand which species swim with manta rays and how they interact,\u201d said\u00a0Emily Yeager, lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the Rosenstiel School. \u201cWe looked at which fish were present, how many there were, and where they tended to gather\u2014often around the manta\u2019s gills, eyes, wings, and tail.\u201d<\/p>\n
The study found that four families of teleost fish, the largest group of ray-finned fishes,\u00a0regularly associate with young mantas. The most frequent companions are remoras\u2014also known as suckerfish\u2014which attach themselves to larger animals using a suction-like dorsal fin. Other fish that commonly accompany mantas include species important to Florida\u2019s fisheries, such as jacks and cobia.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstanding ecological interactions between species is essential to conserving the marine environment,\u201d said Catherine Macdonald<\/a>, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, and the director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program<\/a> at the Rosenstiel School. \u201cOur results suggest that these species may be interdependent and form long-lasting and relatively stable relationships, creating mobile ecosystems where fish may mature, feed, or mate.\u201d <\/p>\n Because South Florida is a busy area for boating and recreational fishing, juvenile manta rays are especially vulnerable to being struck by boats or caught in fishing lines. The study underscores the importance of responsible boating to help safeguard manta rays and the communities of fish they support.<\/p>\n \u201cSlowing down in areas where mantas are known to feed near the surface is a simple but crucial step toward protecting these young rays,\u201d said\u00a0Jessica Pate\u00a0of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, a co-author of the study. \u201cResponsible boating and fishing can help protect these species and their critical ecological interactions long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe findings provide valuable insights for marine conservation and policy, showing that manta rays act as living habitats that support biodiversity in coastal waters.\u201d Yeager added.<\/p>\n The research was supported by the University of Miami\u2019s Maytag Fellowship and a Florida Sea Grant\u2013Guy Harvey Fellowship held by Ph.D. candidate Emily Yeager.<\/p>\n