Expanding the Toolbox: Mangrove Use by Spotted Eagle Rays (Aetobatus ocellatus) in the Maldives Revealed Through Drone-Based Observation

Mangrove ecosystems are critical coastal habitats that serve as nurseries for a wide range of marine species; yet their role in elasmobranchs' life cycle and conservation remains poorly documented, particularly in regions where mangroves are limited and threatened. Here, we report the first scientific record of the Spotted Eagle Ray Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823) within a mangrove-surrounded embayment of Baarah Island, Republic of the Maldives. Observations were made using a commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a technology increasingly adopted within citizen science initiatives, which enabled the observation of four individuals and the recording of one juvenile. Recordings were taken during two consecutive manual overflights (~50 min) over a 1.5 km2 area, during high tide and with sunny-to-slightly overcast conditions. This finding supports the hypothesis that mangrove habitats may serve as refuge or nursery areas for elasmobranch early life stages, as well as for A. ocellatus, despite being rarely described as habitats for eagle rays. Our findings suggest that Maldivian mangroves, though spatially limited and highly threatened, may hold greater ecological importance for batoids than previously acknowledged, thereby supporting current environmental conservation plans implemented in Baarah Island while simultaneously serving as a baseline for further safeguarding actions. This study further highlights how accessible aerial technologies can enhance the detection of elusive species in challenging environments and help fill critical knowledge gaps relevant to elasmobranch conservation.