Environmental Drivers of Stingray Movement: Insights from Hypanus say in the Indian River Lagoon
Location
OC Auditorium
Start
4-3-2026 2:05 PM
End
4-3-2026 2:10 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Behavioral adaptation of organisms is often the first sign of environmental change in an ecosystem, and these adaptations can be revealed by studying movement ecology. Passive acoustic telemetry (PAT) was used to study the movement of a native mesopredatory fish, the Bluntnose Stingray (Hypanus say), in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Ten specimens were tagged with acoustic transmitters between July - December 2025, and movements of H. say were compared to water quality parameters. This determined the preferences and the impacts of these abiotic factors on the transitory behavior of this species. Specimens displayed overall residency of 26%, and the ability to execute movements greater than 10 km. Water temperature, pH, and DO were found to significantly impact movement and number of daily detections in this species. This study is the first known description of the movement of H. say, and the environmental factors that drive movement in this species.
Environmental Drivers of Stingray Movement: Insights from Hypanus say in the Indian River Lagoon
OC Auditorium
Behavioral adaptation of organisms is often the first sign of environmental change in an ecosystem, and these adaptations can be revealed by studying movement ecology. Passive acoustic telemetry (PAT) was used to study the movement of a native mesopredatory fish, the Bluntnose Stingray (Hypanus say), in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Ten specimens were tagged with acoustic transmitters between July - December 2025, and movements of H. say were compared to water quality parameters. This determined the preferences and the impacts of these abiotic factors on the transitory behavior of this species. Specimens displayed overall residency of 26%, and the ability to execute movements greater than 10 km. Water temperature, pH, and DO were found to significantly impact movement and number of daily detections in this species. This study is the first known description of the movement of H. say, and the environmental factors that drive movement in this species.