Differences in the occurrence and abundance of batoids across an oceanic archipelago using complementary data...

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Conservation Science
• Ichthyology

Background:

• Batoids are vulnerable to anthropogenic threats, but data gaps hinder conservation.
• Oceanic archipelagos present unique challenges for studying and managing marine species distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess variations in batoid occurrence and abundance across island groups in the Canary Islands.
• To investigate the influence of geological and geomorphological factors on batoid distribution patterns.

Main Methods:

• Underwater visual counts and community science in shallow waters (<40m).
• Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) deployments in deep waters (60-700m).
• Analysis of batoid distribution across western, central, and eastern Canary Islands.

Main Results:

• Eleven batoid species were recorded, including several IUCN Red List threatened species.
• Batoids were 1-2 orders of magnitude more abundant in central and eastern islands than western islands.
• Abundance patterns were consistent across shallow and deep waters and multiple data sources.

Conclusions:

• Batoid distribution and abundance vary significantly across the Canary Islands archipelago.
• Island shelf area, habitat availability, and proximity to the African continent likely influence these patterns.
• Island-specific conservation management plans are crucial for effective batoid protection.