Issue 84 - May 2022

MMF & Partners create First-Ever Accurate Digital 3D Model of a Manta Ray

Florida is home to a large seasonal aggregation of adult manta rays and also serves as an important manta ray nursery. The first study on the South Florida manta ray population was published by the Marine Megafauna Foundation’s (MMF) Florida Manta Project, which has been studying manta rays in the area since 2016. “As the first group to study south Florida’s manta rays, we were incredibly surprised to learn that this population is composed exclusively of juvenile manta rays. We were also disheartened to see so many mantas entangled in fishing line and with injuries from boat propellers. Continued research, mitigation of threats, and increased public education are crucial for the conservation of Florida’s manta rays,” explains Jessica Pate, Lead Scientist for the Florida Manta Project.

In light of this, a collaborative team came together with the goal of bringing attention to Florida manta rays by creating an accurate digital 3D manta ray model. MMF joined forces with Digital Life Project and ANGARI Foundation, who agree that education and public awareness are vital for conservation and have experience modeling threatened marine life. The two previously partnered on a 3D shark model, which resulted in a first-of-its-kind accurate, animated great hammerhead shark. The model has since been used for research and education purposes. The Digital Life Project, based out of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has established itself as a leader in creating high-quality 3D models of living organisms, and ANGARI Foundation, headquartered in West Palm Beach, is dedicated to marine science research and education, using innovative technology and film to raise awareness and strengthen science education.

MMF’s research team uses drones, aerial surveys, and in-water photography and videography to collect measurements and track individuals in the Florida manta ray population. For the 3D modeling project, the team spent a week working offshore Palm Beach County searching for manta rays, and whenever possible, the team captured up-close photographs and video footage of individuals. Many of the week’s manta rays had been observed prior, and a few of the friendlier, more curious rays made data collection easy.

One such manta ray was a 2.5 meter (8 feet), juvenile male manta ray named Skye. MMF researchers originally recorded Skye’s presence in June 2020 and have since spotted him more than 20 times. Using collected footage and measurement data, the Digital Life animator recreated the manta ray’s shape, gills, mouth, and other attributes, including adding Skye’s identifying details and texture. Even the ray’s scars from a boat propeller injury are noticeable. Finally, the model was rendered for final animation, which accurately depicts Skye’s swimming motion and the lifelike movement of his cephalic fins during feeding.

Duncan Irschick, Director of Digital Life, is excited about the possibilities this manta ray model can provide. “This was an amazing collaboration that has resulted in a one-of-a-kind scientific and educational tool that we hope can be shared widely. The 3D model can be used to study energetics of movement, as well as body condition and health in manta rays, and therefore helps preserve these remarkable animals.”

Skye is the only accurate digital 3D model of a manta ray and an invaluable digital specimen to represent Florida’s manta ray population as well as manta rays globally.

The Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) was created in 2009 to research, protect, and conserve the populations of threatened marine megafauna around the world. MMF’s headquarters are located in Tofo, Mozambique, where they operate as Associação Megafauna Marinha (AMM). ‘Megafauna’ are large species such as sharks, rays, and sea turtles. For further details, please visit www.marinemegafauna.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

ANGARI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation established in 2016 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a global community that is interested, knowledgeable, and invested in marine and environmental sciences by directly supporting research initiatives that foster a greater trust and dialogue between scientists and the public. ANGARI Foundation uses innovative technology, film, and other media to raise awareness and strengthen science education. Many of the Foundation’s primary initiatives involve R/V ANGARI, a 65-foot vessel that serves as an exceptional research and education platform. For more information visit www.angari.org.

The Digital Life Project (www.digitallife3d.org) aims to preserve the heritage of life on Earth through creating and sharing high-quality and accurate 3D models of living organisms. They aim to spur scientific discovery, support wildlife conservation, and create educational opportunities. The Digital Life project is a non-profit initiative within the University of Massachusetts at Amherst that creates digital 3D models of living organisms to support wildlife conservation, science, and education. They partner with scientists, zoos, and NGOs to ethically gain access to a wide array of animals for 3D scanning, including endangered species. Utilizing the Beastcam™ technology, our team of photographers, engineers, modelers, and scientists creates high-quality 3D models through photogrammetry – the integration of 2D images to create 3D models. Digital Life’s models are freely available online for public viewing and free downloads are available for creative and non-profit work.

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Euselenops Luniceps – Jack’s May 2022 Underwater Photograph

Euselenops luniceps is a most unique member of the family Pleurobranchidae, the side-gilled sea slugs. Unlike other members of this family, Euselenops has a very flattened, low relief body, and its foot is much wider than its mantle. In most other pleurobranchs the foot and mantle are of similar size. Looking and behaving more like a cephalaspidean, Euselenops is highly adapted for living in sandy environments. The large oval veil is edged with a series of long, fine branched sensory papillae, as seen here in Marc’s photo and on the Sea Slug Forum. As seen on the Forum, Euselenops dives under the surface of the sand to feed and hide from predators. When completely covered only the white tips of the rhinophores and the pallial siphon, protrude from the substrate.

Some of the body adaptations seen in Euselenops , are common in several other completely unrelated sand-dwelling sea slugs. These include Kalinga ornata, some of the Armina’s and Cerberilla . They all have a broad foot, flattened body, and wide oral veil with sensory papillae or long sensory oral tentacles for locating prey. Like these other sandy bottom predators, it is active at night. Little is known about what it feeds on however.

Euselenops luniceps is also a good swimmer, having been observed swimming with body undulations like those used by sea hares or the Spanish Dancer, Hexabranchus sanguineus.

Cuvier derived the name of this species from its moon-shaped body. Specimens may reach 75 mm in length and occur throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific, where they are found on sandy or fine coral debris bottoms.

See more of Jack Fung’s underwater photography on Instagram

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Issue 84 - May 2022

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – May 2022 – Issue 84

Featured Destination

Tetiaroa Atoll Hope Spot

Tetiaroa Atoll is a rare, secluded place that serves as a refuge for nesting green sea turtles and a variety of seabird species, surrounded by a healthy coral reef and a brilliant turquoise lagoon. Unfortunately, like other atolls around the globe, Tetiaroa and the coral reefs that support it are at serious risk due to the negative effects of climate change and resource misuse– but there is hope. Read more…

A Polynesian Dive Adventure with a Climate Warning

Drifting 70 feet below the surface amidst shoaling reef fish with a pod of bottlenose dolphins above you and a school of grey sharks below is a dream come true for most divers. Now I’m living that dream but also fearing the possible loss of the wonders that surround me. Read more…

Conservation and Ecotourism in The Islands of Tahiti

The Islands of Tahiti are home to some of the most luxurious eco-hotels, the largest natural marine sanctuaries, as well as some of the healthiest coral gardens anywhere in the world. These conditions combined with relatively-low visitor volumes, not only make The Islands of Tahiti a remarkably beautiful place to visit, it is also the ideal choice for travellers. Read more…

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The population of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) in the United States experienced a dramatic decline during the 20th century due to overfishing and habitat loss. Given the decline, NOAA Fisheries listed the U.S. population of smalltooth sawfish as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2003. Read more…

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MMF & Partners create First-Ever Accurate Digital 3D Model of a Manta Ray

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The 5 Best Places in the World to See Marine Life

Anybody with experience in scuba diving and snorkelling will tell you that there is no experience comparable to entering the world of aquatic creatures and witnessing them in their natural environment. There are many places around the world where you can do this. Some, however, are truly special, and here we’ve gathered five of the very best. Read more…

The FREE Weekly Conservation Post and Jobs List

Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.

To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here.

Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.

Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here.

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Issue 84 - May 2022

The 5 Best Places in the World to See Marine Life

By Lana B.

Anybody with experience of scuba diving and snorkelling will tell you that there is no experience comparable to entering the world of aquatic creatures and witnessing them in their natural environment. There are many places around the world where you can do this. Some, however, are truly special, and here we’ve gathered five of the very best.

Palawan, Philippines

The Philippines are home to a huge variety of marine life, such as manta rays, whale sharks, seahorses, and bizarre and fascinating frogfish. The best place to visit for biodiversity is the island of Palawan, particularly the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a marine and bird sanctuary that can be explored by divers and snorkelers from liveaboards departing from Puerto Princesa City.

Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are known for having such a large number of endemic species that they inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, and this extends to the marine life in the surrounding waters.

All sorts of amazing creatures can be seen, from dolphins to hammerhead sharks, to sea turtles, to penguins. However, sea conditions are often challenging and most areas are only for experienced divers. The islands can be reached by flying out from mainland Ecuador.

Grand Bahama, Bahamas

If you want to see sharks in their natural habitat, there’s no better place in the world to visit than the Bahamas. If you can only visit one location, make it to Tiger Beach, in Grand Bahama. As its name suggests, it’s the ideal location to find tiger sharks, as well as a variety of other marine creatures, so grab a plane or fast ferry from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport and start exploring!

Palau

Palau is one of the world’s finest destinations for scuba diving, boasting hundreds of species of coral and fish, manta rays and various species of sharks. All of this is set in a relatively unspoiled environment, with very little in the way of pollution or encroachment. You’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil

With pristine waters, perfect diving temperatures, and an absolutely dizzying array of aquatic creatures including octopi, hammerhead sharks, barracuda, sea turtles, manta rays, sand sharks, and more, this group of islands off the coast of Brazil is a diver’s paradise.

The only problem is getting there; access to Fernando de Noronha is restricted to preserve the unique environment, and you will need to book months in advance. Once this is resolved, however, you’re guaranteed the experience of a lifetime.

Want to find more information about locations around the world? Head over to CrowdsourcedExplorer.com, where you can find locally sourced information about thousands of cities around the world.

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