We initiated a tagging program in 2004 to determine the large-scale and long-term movement patterns of three species of Mobulid Ray (Mobula mobular, M. munkiana, M. thurstoni). Between 2004 and 2014 we deployed 48 pop-up archival (PAT) tags that recorded temperature, pressure, and light level. Pressure and light level records were then used to calculate animal depth and geolocation. Transmitted and when available recovered raw data files from successful deployments (n = 45) were auto-ingested from the manufacturer into the United States Animal Telemetry Networks (ATN) Data Assembly Center (DAC). Through the ATN DAC, all necessary metadata were compiled, dataset was prepped for release, and derived geolocation trajectories (n = 43) were visualized within their public facing data portal. These data and the full metadata records are available for download from the ATN portal as well as permanently archived under the DataONE Research Workspace member node.

Munks pygmy devil rays (Mobula munkiana) are medium-size, zooplanktivorous filter feeding, elasmobranchs characterized by aggregative behavior, low fecundity and delayed reproduction. These traits make them susceptible to targeted and by-catch fisheries and are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Multiple studies have examined fisheries impacts, but nursery areas or foraging neonate and juvenile concentrations have not been examined. This study describes the first nursery area for M. munkiana at Espiritu Santo Archipelago, Mexico. We examined spatial use of a shallow bay during 22 consecutive months in relation to environmental patterns using traditional tagging (n = 95) and acoustic telemetry (n = 7). Neonates and juveniles comprised 84% of tagged individuals and their residency index was significantly greater inside than outside the bay; spending a maximum of 145 consecutive days within the bay. Observations of near-term pregnant females, mating behavior, and neonates indicate an April to June pupping period. Anecdotal photograph review indicated that the nursery area is used by neonates and juveniles across years. These findings confirm, for the first time, the existence of nursery areas for Munks pygmy devil rays and the potential importance of shallow bays during early life stages for the conservation of this species.

Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns of elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure to anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses the knowledge gap of vertical movements by compiling the first global synthesis of vertical habitat use by elasmobranchs from data obtained by deployment of 989 biotelemetry tags on 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- and interspecific variability in vertical movement patterns. Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many epipelagic elasmobranchs, indicating an increased likelihood to display spatial overlap, biologically interact, and share similar risk to anthropogenic threats that vary on a vertical gradient. We highlight the critical next steps toward incorporating vertical movement into global management and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs, emphasizing the need to address geographic and taxonomic biases in deployments and to concurrently consider both horizontal and vertical movements.