Stingrays play a significant role in health of estuarine ecosystems

June 23, 2024 9:17 AM

Using drones, aerial imagery, and 3D modelling to map and identify stingray feeding pits on the estuary floor, a study has found stingrays play a significant role in the health of estuarine ecosystems.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (5 comments total)

Arguably, every living thing and even many non-living things in an ecosystem play a significant role... Just sayin'.
posted by TheCoug at 9:23 AM on June 23

neat learning about how stingrays interact with their environment [sciencedirect]
posted by HearHere at 9:45 AM on June 23

Apex predators (wolves, jaguars, rays, sharks, etc etc) are the key to the balance and health of almost every ecosystem by keeping otherwise destructive overpopulations of herbivores and detrivores in check.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:04 PM on June 23

Normally, I draw a line at “feeding pits,” but this was pretty interesting!
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:34 PM on June 23

Stingrays are so cool! I love to watch them hang out in the sun - for some reason they love our neighbour's boat ramp and there are sometimes 5-6 of them sitting on the bottom there when the tide is up and the sun is on that area. We are on a canal that's quite a distance from the river mouth, but there are lots of stingrays here, so I wonder if the decline is greater in areas where people are regularly fishing and zooming around on JetSkis. There's definitely no decline in the area we live.
posted by dg at 9:26 PM on June 23