Manta Rays and Global Warming

Manta Rays and Global Warming

Manta Rays are among the animals living in the water that are affected by global warming. It has had some positive effects on them as well as some negative impacts that we will explore. Since the Manta Ray needs warmer water to live in, their habitat has been able to expand due to global warming. Yet many of them live in lakes, swamps, and lagoons. These bodies of water can easily dry up due to the hotter temperatures. Then the Manta Rays die as they have no water to move around in.

It can become harder for the Manta Ray to find food in its natural environment. Thanks to global warming they can freely move to other areas and migrate to find food. Yet this process makes them more susceptible to becoming prey for sharks and whales. The overall size of these animals may decrease due to global warming. This because they have to learn to survive on less food.

It also increases their risk of being injured or killed in fishing nets that are part of commercial operations. As their need for food continues to be neglected, the Manta Ray is going to move where it can find large amounts of it. This is also going to be where the commercial fishing nets are set up to yield large amounts being captured daily.

There is also research that indicates warmer temperatures are going to result in the Manta Ray continually getting smaller as the decades continue to fall upon us. This is due to the fact that they will then be able to survive on less food. However, many researchers also believe that they will become prey to many more animals in the water if they are smaller. Right now they seem to get left alone by most due to their very large size.

Many Manta Rays also end up coming into contact with boats on the water. As the outside temperatures heat up more people use the water to cool off. They are very curious creatures so they tend to jump around the boats. They can be struck so that injuries or death occurs. Since they migrate so much it is hard for authorities to block off areas where these animals may frequently be from boat traffic.

The increased risk of meeting up with people in the water is a problem too. Those on guided expeditions already know not to touch the Manta Rays as this can expose them to viruses and bacteria. However, many people that just happen to be diving in the water around them don’t realize the danger that they are putting these animals in.

When you also take into consideration that bacteria, parasites, and viruses are going to grow more rapidly in warm water, you are putting the livelihood of the Manta Rays at risk. There is a very good chance large numbers of them will be wiped out as such problems continue to expand.

Some researchers believe that studying Manta Rays and global warming at the same time will give us some guidance about how other similar species including sharks are going to be affected. Since the Manta Rays don’t pose a threat to humans they are less likely to be a problem when it comes to research then sharks.

Global warming is a huge concern for all life out there including Manta Rays and humans. Taking action now to reduce the effects of it is a responsibility that all of us must accept. Younger generations need to learn the problems that have been created as well so that they don’t recreate them.