Mantas of Revillagigedo Archipelago and La Reina
Project Leader
Studying giant manta ray stress and behavior in Revillagigedo and La Reina, Mexico. Combining biopsy and telemetry to guide conservation.
Understanding Manta Health and the Impact of Ecotourism
This project investigates the physiological stress responses and behavior of giant manta rays (Mobula birostris) in Mexico’s Revillagigedo Archipelago and La Reina.
By using muscle biopsies, hormone analysis, and acoustic telemetry, researchers are measuring how ecotourism—particularly the presence of divers and boats—affects manta health. These findings are key to understanding how chronic and acute stress influences the species’ behavior, metabolism, energy use, and long-term survival of this vulnerable species.
PROJECT LEADER
Dr. Mauricio Hoyos
Dr. Mauricio Hoyos is the Director and Co-founder of Pelagios Kakunja in La Paz, Mexico. Since 1998, he has led shark research across several countries, focusing on nursery areas, reproduction, and migration. He sits on scientific committees for marine reserves in Mexico and actively contributes to conservation policy.
A passionate communicator, Mauricio has given around 300 talks, advised international documentaries, and earned multiple awards for his work. He’s a member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers and has authored over 85 scientific publications, a book, and several conservation manuals.
Tracking Movement and Social Behavior for Conservation
Alongside stress research, the project also examines manta social dynamics and movement patterns. Through photo identification and tracking, scientists are studying habitat use, sex-based behavior, and environmental influences. The insights gathered will support science-based conservation measures, including proposals for new marine protected areas, helping to ensure the future of manta rays and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Project Gallery
Collection of images collected on this project thanks to the help of our wonderful contributors
Our Other Projects
Check out our other contribution to help our ocean
This project is the first acoustic tracking study of Indo-Pacific Leopard Sharks in the Derawan Islands. By monitoring shark movements…
Continue Reading
Once thought extinct in the Eastern Pacific, hawksbill turtles are making a comeback in Ecuador. Through research, community work, and…
Continue Reading
The Thai Whale Shark Project, founded in 2017, has identified over 400 individual whale sharks in Thai waters, making Thailand…
Continue Reading
The giant manta ray (Mobula birostris) is an endangered species increasingly threatened by bycatch in northern Peru’s small-scale fisheries. This…
Continue Reading
Investigating the rising trend of shark-based pet snacks in Thailand’s fast-growing pet market, where numerous products made from shark parts…
Continue Reading
The Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery Project (StAR) is a collaborative conservation effort aimed at restoring healthy populations of Indo-Pacific…
Continue Reading
In Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, Mision Tiburon is restoring vital mangrove ecosystems that serve as nursery grounds for endangered shark…
Continue Reading
Blue Fellowship empowers young women in marine science to lead ocean conservation projects in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Continue Reading
This project explores whether sharks experience pain beyond reflexive responses, aiming to deepen our understanding of their nervous systems. The…
Continue Reading
Exploring the ecology and population patterns of oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Continue Reading