Ringing and study of the Giant Devil Ray (Mobula mobular) off the coast of Corsica
Since 2009, the Ailerons association has been leading a participatory science programme on a national scale, aimed at improving knowledge and protection of the Giant Devil Ray (Mobula mobular). That species is in danger of becoming extinct and is the only species of Mobulids to live in the Mediterranean. The association collects as many observations as possible of this taxon, accompanied by photos and videos, if available, provided by its network of observers.
In the Mediterranean, despite the vulnerability of the species, very few scientific studies exist about its migrations, its swimming behaviour, and its movement patterns.
Given the glaring lack of available scientific knowledge and of protection measures, and the need to increase the number of observations made, Ailerons requested the Biotope Foundation to contribute financially to the organisation of a naturalist expedition in Corsica.
The purpose of that expedition was to equip individuals with mini-PAT type GPS trackers in order to follow their movement and to understand their behaviour better (type of movement, depth, seasonality in the distribution of the individuals) and the use of their home range over a period of several months.
The results of that study will soon be available on the Foundation’s site.
