Occurrence and use of an estuarine habitat by giant manta ray Manta birostris |
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| Authors: | A M Medeiros O J Luiz C Domit |
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| Institution: | 1. Post‐Graduate Program in Biological Oceanography, Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Marine Megafauna, Institute of Oceanography, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil;2. Projeto Mantas do Brasil, Instituto Laje Viva, Santos, S?o Paulo, Brazil;3. Laboratory of Sea Turtles and Marine Mammals, Marine Studies Centre, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Based on the knowledge of local artisanal fishermen and on direct observations, this study presents evidence that the giant manta ray Manta birostris uses the Paranaguá estuarine complex in south Brazil, south‐western Atlantic Ocean, in a predictable seasonal pattern. Behavioural observations suggest that the estuary can act as a nursery ground for M. birostris during the summer. |
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| Keywords: | aggregation Brazil elasmobranchs habitat use nursery |
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