Rays (Batoidea) comprise a highly diverse group of cartilaginous fishes that inhabit ecosystems from shallow coastal areas to the pelagic ocean. They play key ecological roles as predators, mesoconsumers, and ecosystem engineers, while also sustaining important small-scale and industrial fisheries around the world. Mantas and devil rays (Mobulidae) exemplify the ecological and cultural significance of this group, forming large aggregations and undertaking extensive migrations. Despite their importance, many batoid populations are declining due to overfishing, bycatch, habitat degradation, and climate change. Recent advances in population genetics, genomics, fisheries biology, telemetry, behavioral ecology, and non-invasive monitoring now provide powerful tools to study their population dynamics, life histories, and ecosystem functions. Integrating these perspectives is critical to advancing our understanding of ray biology and to developing effective conservation and management strategies in a rapidly changing ocean.
The goal of this Research Topic is to integrate current knowledge on the biology and conservation of rays in the face of global environmental change. Rays, including mantas and devil rays, are ecologically and culturally significant species that are increasingly threatened by unsustainable fishing practices, bycatch, habitat loss, and climate-driven shifts. Despite their importance, many species remain poorly studied, and significant knowledge gaps persist in population dynamics, connectivity, life history traits, and ecosystem roles. Addressing these gaps is critical for designing effective management and conservation measures.
By combining advances in genetics, fisheries science, movement ecology, and ecosystem studies, this collection seeks to highlight innovative research and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The ultimate goal is to bridge fundamental science with applied conservation, generating evidence-based strategies that contribute to the sustainable management of rays and to the resilience of the ecosystems and human communities that depend on them.
This Research Topic brings together studies on mobulid rays (mantas and devil rays) and other ray taxa to advance our understanding of their ecology, genetics, and conservation. Rays are ecologically significant and diverse, occupying key roles in marine ecosystems, yet many are vulnerable to fishing pressure, habitat degradation, and climate change. We welcome contributions across population genomics, aggregation and behavior, movement ecology, trophic interactions, and applied conservation. By integrating molecular tools (eDNA, genomics), ecological approaches (telemetry, drones, photo-ID), and management perspectives, this collection aims to inform both fundamental science and conservation strategies for rays worldwide.
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Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
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