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Research impacts and findings

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Scaling of activity space in marine organisms across latitudinal gradients (2023)
Udyawer V, Huvenners C, Jaine F, Babcock RC, Brodie S, Buscot M, Campbell HA, Harcourt RG, Hoenner X. et al.

Distribution of the reef manta ray Mobula alfredi and the oceanic manta ray Mobula birostris in the Philippines: a collaborative effort for conservation (2022)
Rambahiniarison J, Agustines A, Alexopoulos K, Araujo G, Armstrong AO, Arnold S, Barruga A, Cañete T, Conales Jr S. et al.

Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology (2022)
Andrzejaczek S, Lucas TCD, Goodman MC, Hussey NE, Armstrong AJ, Carlisle A, Coffey DM, Gleiss AC, Huveneers C, Jacoby DMP. et al.

Reef manta rays forage on tidally driven, high density zooplankton patches in Hanifaru Bay, Maldives (2021)
Armstrong AO, Stevens GMW, Townsend KA, Murray A, Bennett MB, Armstrong AJ, Uribe-Palomino J, Hosegood P, Dudgeon CL, Richardson AJ.

Mutualism promotes site selection in a large marine planktivore (2021)
Armstrong AO, Armstrong AJ, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ, Townsend KA, Everett JD, Hays GC, Pederson H, Dudgeon CL.

Robust re-identification of manta rays from natural markings by learning pose invariant embeddings (2021)
Moskvyak O, Maire F, Dayoub F, Armstrong AO, Baktashmotlagh M.

Satellite tagging and photographic identification reveal connectivity between two UNESCO World Heritage Areas for reef manta rays (2020)
Armstrong AJ, Armstrong AO, McGregor F, Richardson AJ, Bennett MB, Townsend KA, Hays GC, van Keulen M, Smith J, Dudgeon CL.

The geographic distribution of reef and oceanic manta rays (Mobula alfredi and Mobula birostris) in Australian coastal waters (2020)
Armstrong AJ, Armstrong AO, Bennett MB, McGregor F, Abrantes KG, Barnett A, Richardson AJ, Townsend KA, Dudgeon CL.

Rapid wound healing in a reef manta ray masks the extent of vessel strike (2019)
McGregor F, Richardson AJ, Armstrong AJ, Armstrong AO, Dudgeon CL.

Citizen science photographic identification of marine megafauna populations in the Moreton Bay Marine Park (2019)
Dudgeon CL, Kilpatrick C, Armstrong AO, Armstrong AJ, Bennett MB, Bowden D, Richardson AJ, Townsend KA, Hawkins E.

Photographic identification and citizen science combine to reveal long distance movements of individual reef manta rays Mobula alfredi along Australia’s east coast (2019)
Armstrong AO, Armstrong AJ, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ, Townsend KA, Dudgeon CL.

Research priorities to support effective manta and devil ray conservation (2018)
Stewart JD, Jaine FRA, Armstrong AJ, Armstrong AO, Bennett MB, Burgess KB, Couturier LIE, Croll DA, Cronin MR. et al.

Variation in occupancy and habitat use of Mobula alfredi at a major aggregation site (2018)
Couturier LIE, Newman P, Jaine FRA, Bennett MB, Venables WN, Cagua EF, Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Richardson AJ.

A historical and contemporary consideration of the diet of the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (2016)
Bennett MB, Coman FF, Townsend KA, Couturier LIE, Jaine FRA, Richardson AJ.

Characterization of the trade in manta and devil ray gill plates in China and South-east Asia through trader surveys (2016)
O'Malley MP, Townsend KA, Hilton P, Heinrichs S, Stewart JD.

Prey density threshold and tidal influence on reef manta ray foraging at an aggregation site on the Great Barrier Reef (2016)
Armstrong AO, Armstrong AJ, Jaine FRA, Couturier LIE, Fiora K, Uribe-Palomino J, Weeks SJ, Townsend KA, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ.

Levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in the branchial plate and muscle tissue of mobulid rays (2015)
Ooi MSM, Townsend KA, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ, Fernando D, Villa CA, Gaus C.

Unique sequence of events triggers manta ray feeding frenzy in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia (2015)
Weeks SJ, Magno-Canto MM, Jaine FRA, Brodie J, Richardson AJ.

First photographic records of the giant manta ray Manta birostris off eastern Australia (2015)
Couturier LIE, Jaine FRA, Kashiwagi T.

Movements and habitat use of reef manta rays off eastern Australia: offshore excursions, deep diving and eddy affinity revealed by satellite telemetry (2014)
Jaine FRA, Rohner CA, Weeks SJ, Couturier LIE, Bennett MB, Townsend KA, Richardson AJ.

Population dynamics of the reef manta ray Manta alfredi in eastern Australia (2014)
Couturier LIE, Dudgeon CL, Pollock KH, Jaine FRA, Bennett MB, Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Richardson AJ.

Stable isotope and signature fatty acid analyses suggest reef manta rays feed on demersal zooplankton (2013)
Couturier LIE, Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Marshall AD, Jaine FRA, Bennett MB, Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Nichols PD.

Unusually high levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in whale sharks and reef manta rays (2013)
Couturier LIE, Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Jaine FRA, Townsend KA, Bennett MB, Weeks SJ, Nichols PD.

Population ecology and biology of the reef manta ray Manta alfredi in eastern Australia (2013)
Couturier LIE.

Trends in sightings and environmental influences on a coastal aggregation of manta rays and whale sharks (2013)
Rohner CA, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Weeks SJ, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ.

When giants turn up: sighting trends, environmental influences and habitat use of the manta ray Manta alfredi at a coral reef (2012)
Jaine FRA, Couturier LIE, Weeks SJ, Townsend KA, Bennett MB, Fiora K, Richardson AJ.

The genetic signature of recent speciation in manta rays (Manta alfredi and M. birostris) (2012)
Kashiwagi T, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Ovenden JR.

Biology, ecology and conservation of the Mobulidae (2012)
Couturier LIE, Marshall AD, Jaine FRA, Kashiwagi T, Pierce SJ, Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ.

Distribution, site affinity and regional movements of the manta ray, Manta alfredi (Krefft, 1868), along the east coast of Australia (2011)
Couturier LIE, Jaine FRA, Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Richardson AJ, Bennett MB.

Habitat segregation and mosaic sympatry of the two species of manta ray in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: Manta alfredi and M. birostris (2011)
Kashiwagi T, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Ovenden JR.

Project Manta in the news

Inside a manta ray ‘cyclone’: Mass feeding frenzies hold clues to ocean giant’s future

University of the Sunshine Coast researchers believe rare 'manta ray' feeding cyclones could provide much needed answers in an urgent global search for insights on the vulnerable ocean giants.

UniSC secures grants to research iconic species across Queensland

From grey nurse sharks in Moreton Bay and birds of prey on K’gari to manta rays off Cairns and sawfish in Cape York – UniSC has gained new funding for research and citizen science projects to help protect some of the state’s most iconic and threatened species.

Study to uncover secrets of hidden manta ray habitat

An urgent exploratory study is underway after the discovery of an unknown manta ray habitat off the northern tip of UNESCO World Heritage-listed K’gari, the world’s largest sand island.