Spatial ecology and philopatric tendencies of whitespotted eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari, in Cozumel, Mexico

According to the latest IUCN Red List assessment, whitespotted eagle rays, Aetobatus narinari, are listed as endangered as a result of incidental and targeted fisheries, limited suitable habitat, and a decrease in mature individuals. Proper management and effective conservation strategies require an understanding of A. narinari spatial ecology and habitat use. This study aimed to assess the philopatric and residency patterns of A. narinari on a local scale, within the insular platform of Cozumel, Mexico, by tracking the movements of individuals using photo-identification and the I3S Spot software. This research also complemented individual ID efforts, by defining important zones for foraging and aggregation and highlighting the validity of citizen science in accurate data collection and research. Results suggested that A. narinari were seasonal residents conveying high site fidelity, visiting the same site, multiple times, across many years. Of the 493 individually identifiable rays, 176 (35.70%) were observed at least twice, 115 (65.34%) of which were resighted at the same dive site. The longest time between sightings was 2632 days, while the largest distance between sightings was 48 km. Results obtained in part by the citizen science program established by Cozumel Ocean Research (COR) clearly express the importance in engaging citizens in conservation and research to help provide vital preliminary data on elasmobranch populations. Ultimately, this study aimed to add to the body of knowledge regarding A. narinari spatial ecology in the Caribbean and inform conservation policies in Mexico.