Fine‐scale oceanographic drivers of reef manta ray ( <i>Mobula alfredi</i> ) visitation patterns at a feeding aggregation site

Globally, reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are in decline and particularly vulnerable to exploitation disturbance at aggregation sites. Here, passive acoustic telemetry a suite of advanced oceanographic technologies were used for the first time investigate fine-scale (5-min) influence drivers on visitation patterns 19 tagged M. alfredi feeding site Egmont Atoll Chagos Archipelago. Boosted regression trees indicate that tag detection probability increased with intrusion cold-water bores propagating up atoll slope through narrow lagoon inlet during flood tide, potentially transporting zooplankton from thermocline. Tag also warmer near-surface temperature close low currents flowing offshore, high levels backscatter (a proxy biomass). These combinations processes support proposition carried thermocline into may be pumped back out an ebb tide. conditions provide temporally limited opportunities alfredi, which tied tides. Results some evidence presence Langmuir Circulation, transports concentrates zooplankton, partly explain why occasionally remained location longer than two hours. Identification these correlations provides unique insight dynamic synthesis likely foraging ecology Atoll, elsewhere throughout their range.