Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Ajemian, Matthew
Abstract
Elasmobranchs play ecologically important roles in coastal environments. Unfortunately, the basic distribution and movement patterns of these species, particularly rays, remain relatively unknown. This is especially true for the Whitespotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari), a protected species in Florida with poorly described migratory and habitat use patterns. I employed a combination of acoustic telemetry techniques to reveal multi-scale spatial patterns of A. narinari around Florida. Movement patterns between the east and west coast individuals were distinct; a majority of west coast tagged A. narinari exhibited migratory or transient behavior while most east coast tagged individuals remained resident in the Indian River Lagoon. Fine-scale tracking of A. narinari revealed individuals spent a large percentage of time in the inlets and channels and frequently reused habitats parallel to the shore. This study fills a knowledge gap on the species ecology which may be used for adaptive management strategies throughout A. narinari’s range.
Extent
124 p.
Recommended Citation
DeGroot, Breanna Clarice, "Movement and Habitat Use of Whitespotted Eagle Rays, Aetobatus narinari, throughout Florida" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019. 1974.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_6/1974
Identifier
FA00013116
Comments
Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.