Effects of yearling, juvenile and adult survival on reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) demography.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The trade in manta ray gill plates has considerably increased over the last two decades. The resulting increases in ray mortality, in addition to mortality caused by by-catch, has caused many ray populations to decrease in size. The aim of this study was to ascertain how yearling and juvenile growth and survival, and adult survival and reproduction affect reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) population change, to increase our understanding of manta ray demography and thereby improve conservation research and measures for these fish.

Methods

We developed a population projection model for reef manta rays, and used published life history data on yearling and juvenile growth and adult reproduction to parameterise the model. Because little is known about reef manta ray yearl

SUBMITTER: Smallegange IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5012281 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature