Spatiotemporal Distribution and Abundance of Atlantic Stingrays (Dasyatis sabina) and Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) in Galveston Bay, TX
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Abstract
As mesopredators, stingrays play a crucial role in coastal and estuarine food webs by feeding on benthic prey and being consumed by pelagic apex predators. This effectively links the lower and higher trophic levels together, which is critical for the functioning of the entire ecosystem. In order to successfully connect these levels, stingray species must specialize their movements in order to avoid overlap thereby inhibiting the chance of prey shortage and trophic cascade. While these organisms tend to be a popular subject of study, little information is currently available on stingray spatiotemporal distribution patterns in Texas estuaries, where multiple species of stingrays co-occur and potentially compete for resources. To better understand interspecific seasonal interactions of stingray mesopredators and how two similar stingray species are able to coexist in a shared environment, we conducted catch per unit effort (CPUE) analysis across seasons on the Atlantic Stingray (Dasyatis sabina) and the Cownose Stingray (Rhinoptera bonasus) in Galveston Bay, Texas. In order to calculate seasonal CPUE for both species, historical data obtained by Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD) from 1986 to 2018 was analyzed and evaluated. This data was acquired via gillnet, where the specimens were caught, recorded, and released swiftly, making this a non-lethal study. This insight into the spatiotemporal movement patterns of two sympatric species could aid in determining how these species may move through Galveston Bay during specific time intervals in order to thrive in a shared environment.
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Cownose ray, Atlantic stingray, Season, migration, distribution, abundance