Wild Tobago

Dr Anjani Ganase provides a review of recent scientific studies on Manta rays, tropical forests, Antarctic sea ice and coral reefs. Manta Ray nursery off Florida   Monitoring of the giant oceanic manta ray ( Mobula birostris ) populations along the southeast coast of Florida has led scientists to believe that there is a manta ray nursery. Most of the mantas observed in the area were immature. This nursery would be one of three identified globally. The tracking of manta species over the years within this specific area reveal a high return to the area; some individuals were recorded multiple times over the four-year window.   Manta ray with diver, Socorro. Credit:  Hannes Klostermann / Ocean Image Bank Manta rays are relatively understudied yet the giant oceanic manta ray is endangered according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list. Genetic research also indicates the Western Atlantic rays may be a distinct species...

Relationships among marine species are not only about food. The health and survival of species also depend on “grooming” services from other species. In this feature, Dr Anjani Ganase looks at the functions of some coral reef inhabitants as cleaners for larger species.  Divers often come across peculiar interactions between large fish or marine animals and smaller fish – Gobies, Wrasses – or with crustaceans, such as shrimps and crabs. These are not the typical predator-prey relationships but amicable associations, where the small fish or crustaceans can be seen moving about the body of the large predator foraging for ectoparasites and picking at dead tissue. The fish (the client) keeps as still as possible to avoid disrupting the activities of the smaller fish; it might even orient its head upwards and open its mouth and gills to give the fish or shrimp easy access to its cavities. The smaller fish or shrimp do not appear apprehensive at all about entering the mouth and picki...