Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan

Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) exhibit strong site fidelity to Dungonab Bay, Sudan, with individuals displaying seasonal shifts in habitat use likely driven by resource availability. Acoustic telemetry data revealed high residency rates, while satellite tags documented movements up to 125 km from the bay, though all individuals returned, underscoring their attachment to this coastal area. The study highlights the importance of Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (DMNP) as critical habitats for M. alfredi, providing essential insights for conservation and sustainable ecotourism management within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Knochel, A. M., Hussey, N. E., Kessel, S. T., Braun, C. D., Cochran, J. E. M., Hill, G., Klaus, R., Checkchak, T., Elamin El Hassen, N. M., Younnis, M., & Berumen, M. L. (2022). Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan. Movement Ecology, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00314-9