Aerial Surveys Reveal Ample Populations of Rays in Southeast Florida

Using aerial surveys, Florida Atlantic University researchers conducted a unique long-term (2014 to 2021) study to quantify the spatial (latitude) and temporal (month, year) abundance of the whitespotted eagle rays and giant manta rays in Southeast Florida. Results, published in the journal  Environmental Biology of Fishes  , showed that one or both species were seen on nearly every flight (97.5 percent). Learn more.