Secret lives of manta rays revealed

The daily routines of manta rays in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia have been exposed in a new study that reveals when these graceful fish eat, cruise and visit "cleaning stations" where smaller fish nibble off their dead skin and parasites.

The study focused on Lady Elliot Island, a small land mass in the Reef. Manta rays (Manta alfredi) congregate here year-round, but are more common in autumn and winter, the researchers report Wednesday in the journal PLoS ONE.

Using three years of observations, some by "citizen scientists" ? local scuba divers and boat captains who volunteered to record manta ray sightings ? researchers from the University of Queensland charted how ocean conditions influence where manta rays gather and what they do. They found that more manta rays cluster around the island when wind speeds are lower and when the moon is new or full.

1. Science news from NBCNews.com

   1. Tiny jar identifies mighty Maya queen

      Updated 115 minutes ago 10/4/2012 3:42:10 AM +00:00 Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Glyphs carved into a jar lead archaeologists to conclude that the tomb in Guatemala where the jar was found belonged to one of the greatest Maya queens.

   2. Biological hunters find treasures in Borneo
   3. 'Dracula' dinosaur had bristles and fangs
   4. Ancient fake toes were made for walking

Manta rays also commute to key locations for certain activities, the researchers found. Five of the seven ocean sites surveyed were used predominately for foraging. There, manta rays were most often seen swimming against the current, mouths open, filtering plankton from the water.

At the two remaining sites, manta rays were seen foraging but also engaged in the fishy equivalent of a car wash. During this behavior, rays were seen hovering over coral, staying relatively stationary as small "cleaner fish" picked parasites and skin detritus off of their bodies.

The research could be helpful in understanding why far-travelling manta rays go where they go, according to the researchers.

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience @livescience. We're also on Facebook ? and Google+.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49279580/ns/technology_and_science-science/

cause of whitney houston death the watchmen whitney houston dies beverly hills hotel beverly hills hotel whitney houston national anthem dolly parton i will always love you