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50 Greatest Travelers of Our Time

Andrea Marshall (2017) Scuba Diver Magazine

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Sea Hero of the Year

ANDREA DENISE MARSHALL
Conservation biologist and visual storyteller



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2013 Emerging Explorer

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Member of IUCN Shark Specialist Group

Andrea Marshall - category: science that made the most original or important contribution of ocean conservation

Blue Marine Foundation

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Africa with Ade – BBC (2019)

For as long as she can remember, Dr. Andrea Marshall wanted to be a marine biologist. Now, she's living out her dream with one of the ocean's most amazing creatures. That is, Marshall studies and helps protect giant manta rays. While Marshall's work takes her around the world, she calls the vast, undeveloped coastline of southern Mozambique her home. There, she dives, photographs and interacts with these enormous, gentle, intelligent creatures.Source: Great Big Story


Join the Queen of the Mantas for a Swim With Gentle Giants

Mysteries surrounding these ocean giants are finally being solved, thanks to the unique research of 2013 National Geographic Emerging Explorer Andrea Marshall.

Andrea Marshall: Queen of the Manta Rays

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Heroes of the Wilderness (2017)

Andrea is a marine biologist and researcher behind the discovery of two species of manta ray. She was the first person to earn a Ph.D. on manta rays.

Andrea Marshall

Was the subject of the BBC Natural World documentary Andrea: Queen of Mantas.

BBC Natural World Documentary: "Andrea, Queen of Mantas"

TED: Andrea Marshall: An up-close look at the majestic manta ray.

TED logo

TEDxTALK An up-close look at the majestic manta ray

Forbes logo

Turns Out Mantas Are Social

It’s Not All Black And White: Melanism In Mantas

An online citizen science database for identifying individual manta rays from their unique markings.

Co-founder Manta Matcher

Andrea Marshall was the lead author of the IUCN’s Red List assessments for both species of manta ray.

IUCN red list

Lead author IUCN’s Red List assessments for both species of manta ray

Scientists conduct first study on the largest known marine stingray

Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan (2015)

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SHARKS - 3-part series BBC (2015)

With manta ray populations earmarked for the Chinese medical market, their protection has never been more critical. A marine biologist in Mozambique is working to raise awareness of these mighty sea creatures.

Deutsche Welle logo

Manta Rays enjoy protection in Mozambique (2015)

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Emission Thalassa Documentary on Dr. Andrea Marshall’s work in Mozambique (2011)

Martin Clunes: Man to Manta (2011)

‘Mozambique’- Ushuaia Productions (2010) 

Donate to Andrea Marshall - The Marine Biologist

SDG 14 Life Below Water

## In short
Andrea is a Marine Biologist behind the discovery of two species of manta ray. She has almost two decades of manta research behind her and she was the first person in the world to earn a PhD on manta rays. 

**Born an explorer**
I’ve been passionate about the ocean ever since I was a little girl. I didn’t really fit into the mold in school, I was always seeking a little more adventure, so I found my way to Africa to do research as a marine biologist.

**Dramatic declines**
I realized there was a serious problem when I saw the declines in the sightings of mantas off the Mozambican coastline - a population I had been monitoring for years. At the same time I started hearing about a rising demand for manta ray products in the Asian markets. 

**Queen of Mantas**
A big portion of what I do involves fieldwork, meaning diving and observing animals in different ways underwater. We use cutting edge technologies to help us monitor manta rays from satellite tags, and biochemical analysis to underwater camera traps and aerial drones. 

## My organization
The mission of the Marine Megafauna Foundation is to develop enduring conservation solutions from pioneering research to save our ocean giants from extinction. Using multi-disciplinary scientific approaches and cutting edge technologies combined with creative fieldwork techniques, our teams gather in-depth information on vulnerable marine species from manta rays to dugong in some of their most important critical habitats on earth.
 
Our research objectives are born from our belief that passion and sustained effort lead to action and permanent change. As conservation biologists, our mantra is simple, ‘think globally but act locally’. To this end, our scientists continue to champion international protection but in the countries we work, we target lasting change on small scales. MMF is becoming known for pursuing ambitious case studies in developing nations. We do this to showcase the need for integrated and comprehensive strategies for threatened species protection in rural areas that are often forgotten or dismissed. We aim to both set valuable precedents for the successful management of marine wildlife worldwide and inspire a new breed of conservation biologists in these areas to get the job done.
 
But MMF is not only about science. Our teams believe in a modern approach to education and outreach, disseminating our findings to both the scientific community and a larger global audience through a suite of media outlets. We have had great success in the past with our ‘citizen science’ based approach to volunteer research and tourism, achieving both heightened awareness and participation from skilled members of the diving public as well as increasing the volume of incoming data and the physical range of these data points. To that end we seek to inspire a new generation of ocean guardians to help spread this message globally.
The organization was created to help identify and prioritize areas which will serve to safeguard the most important remaining populations of marine megafauna. Marine megafauna species, such as whale sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles are long-lived and mature late in life, conferring a high vulnerability to human pressures. These species are also iconic animals and focal species for marine tourism which can help justify and financially support the development and expansion of large marine protected areas.
 
Marine Megafauna Foundation’s core initiatives are research, education and conservation. 
 
By 2030, we want to be one of the main explorers of marine ecosystems, focusing on megafauna as our flagship species. Our current research focuses on species-level population ecology and conservation biology, with considerable overlap between the two areas. 
We strive to be both a global and local educator: raising public awareness and inspiring action across the world, while working directly with coastal communities and government officials to enhance understanding and support behavioral change. 
We work to improve the management of existing marine protected areas and develop effective, long-term conservation strategies to protect and restore key habitats. On a regional level, we are a trusted conservation leader, empowering local communities to manage marine resources sustainably. 
 
MMF is considered a world-leading authority on many marine megafauna species, particularly whale sharks and manta rays. We have been conducting successful global research on threatened species of marine megafauna for the last 17 years which has resulted in many world-first and keystone publications on these threatened species including over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers and other scientific book chapters, reviews and theses.
 
Many of our scientists are members of IUCN specialist groups, like the Shark Specialist Group (SSG) and are part of the teams which research, write and publish the IUCN Redlist Assessments on Endangered Species. Our scientists have and continue to be involved in the championing and writing of proposals to list our focal species on international treaties like CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) and our teams actively are lobbying for the development of national level protections for our focal species and their critical habitats and the development of management plans for their conservation in the countries that we work.
 
We are strong global activists and educators spending significant time and energy as influencers on social media and other media outlets. We are proponents of citizen science and have been involved in the development of the global databases for whale sharks, manta rays and leopard sharks in collaboration with WildMe (see the Wildbooks for more information). We also are champions for the development of sustainable tourism initiatives and continue to research and help define science based management strategies tourism, particularly with respect to interactions with marine wildlife.
 
We pride ourselves on the continuity of our programs and our footprint in the countries that we work- with staff on the ground 365 days a year in most of these areas, which includes on-going community outreach work, local education initiatives and alternative livelihood programs in addition to government engagement.
 
Our metrics show that we are making a difference. We know more about our focal species than ever before and we are in a better position to help remaining populations of these animals than we were previously. Many species and populations are now protected for the first time ever and some of the worse anthropogenic threats are being addressed or have already stopped. There is also a measurable increase in the awareness of the plight of marine megafauna and the threats these animals face with the general public and a growing commitment to prevent their extinction. 

## Publications

**In the news**
- [Turns out mantas are social](https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2019/08/25/turns-out-mantas-are-social/#4bd0ffbb3b50), Forbes, 2019
- [Meet the "Queen of Mantas"](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/activities/explorer-guide-places-to-swim-with-manta-rays/), National Geographic, 2018

**Scientific publications**

- "Social preferences and network structure in a population of reef manta rays". Robert Perryman, Stephanie Venables, Ricardo Tapilatu, Andrea Marshall, Culum Brown, Daniel Franks (2019), Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 

- "Spotting the ‘small eyes”: using photo-ID methodology to study a wild population of smalleye stingray (Megatrygon microps) in southern Mozambique." Atlantine Boggio- Pasqua, Anna Flam, Andrea Marshall (2019)Peer J 

- "Contrasting Habitats Use and Population Dynamics of Reef Manta Rays Within the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area" Elitza Gemanov, Lars Bejder, Delphine B.H. Chabanne, Dharmadi Dharmadi, I. Gede Hendrawan, Andrea D. Marshall, Simon J. Pierce, Mike van Keulen, Neil Loneragan (2019) Indonesia Frontiers in Marine Science 

- "First record of the reef manta ray, Mobula alfredi, from the eastern Pacific." Randall Arauz, Elpis J. Chavez, E. Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla, Andrea Marshall(2019) Marine Biodiversity Records

- "Research priorities to support effective manta and devil ray conservation." Josh Stewart, Fabrice Jaine, Amelia Armstrong, Asia Armstrong, Michael Bennett, Katherine Burgess, Lydie Couturier, Donald Croll, Melissa Cronin, Mark Deakos, Christine Dudgeon, Daniel Fernando, Niv Froman, Elitza Germanov, Martin Hall, Silvia Hinojosa-Alvarez, Jane Hosegood, Tom Kashiwagi, Betty Laglbauer, Nerea Lezama-Ochoa, Andrea Marshall, Frazer McGregor, Giuseppe Notobartolo di Sciara, Marta Palacios, Lauren Peel Anthony Richardson, Robert Rubin, Kathy Townsend, Stephanie Venables, Guy Stevens (2018)  Frontiers in Marine Science

- "Photographic identification of sharks. In: Shark research: emerging technologies and applications for the field and laboratory". Simon Pierce, Jason Holmberg, Alison Kock, Andrea Marshall(2018). Carrier JC, Heithaus MR, Simpfendorfer CA (eds.). CRC Press, Boca Raton. pp 219-234

- "Microplastics: No Small Problem for Filter-Feeding Megafauna."  Elitza Gemanov, Andrea Marshall, LarsBejder, Marina Cristina Fossi, Neil Loneragan (2018). Trends in Ecology & Evolution DOI 10.1016/j.tree.2018.01.005

- "Use of epidermal mucus in elasmobranch stable isotope studies: a pilot study using the giant manta ray (Manta birostris)". Kathrine Burgess, Michel Guerrero, Anthony Richardson, Mike Bennett, Andrea Marshall (2017). Marine and Freshwater Research
 
- "A Giant Opportunity: The Economic Impact of Manta Rays on the Mozambican Tourism Industry- An Incentive for Increased Management and Protection." Venables S., Winstanley G., Bowles L, Marshall A.D. (2016). Tourism in Marine Environments. 

- “Manta birostris, predator of the deep? Insight into the diet of the giant manta ray through stable isotope analysis.” Burgess K.B., Couturier L.I.E., Marshall A.D., Richardson A.J., Weeks S.J., Bennett M.B. (2016) Royal Society Open Science 3: 160717.

- “Vulnerabilities and Fisheries Impacts: The Uncertain Future of Manta and Devil Rays. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.” Croll DA, Dewar H, Dulvy NK, Fernando D, Francis MP, Galvan-Magana F, Hall M, Heinrichs S, Marshall A, McCauley D, Newton KM, Notarbartolo-di-Sciara G, O’Malley M, O’Sullivan J, Poortviet M, Roman M, Stevens G, Tershy BR, White WT (2015) 
- “Evaluating manta ray mucus as an alternative DNA source for population genetics study: underwater-sampling, dry-storage, and PCR success.” Kashiwagi T, Maxwell EA, Marshall AD, Christensen AB (2015) PeerJ 3:31188; DOI 10.7717/peerj.1188
- “ Laser photogrammetry improves size and demographic estimates for whale sharks.” Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Prebble CEM, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Weeks SJ, Cliff G, Wintner SP, Pierce SJ (2015) Peer J 3:e886; DOI 10.7717/peerj.886
- “Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna.” McClain CR, Balk MA, Benfield MC, Branch TA, Chen C, Cosgrove J, Dove ADM, Helm RR, Hochberg FGE, Gaskins LC, Lee FB, Marshall AD, McMurray SE, Schanche C, Stone SN, Thaler AD (2015) PeerJ DOI 10.7717/peerj.715
- “Running the Gauntlet: Regional Movement Patterns of Manta alfredi through a complex of parks and fisheries.” Germanov ES & Marshall AD (2014) Plos One 9(10):e110071
- “Monitoring the effects of tourism on whale shark Rhincodon typus behaviour in Mozambique.”  Haskell PJ, McGowan A, Westling A, Méndez-Jiménez A, Rohner CA, Collins K, Rosero-Caicedo M, Salmond J, Monadjem A, Marshall AD, Pierce SJ (2014) Oryx DOI:10.1017/S0030605313001257
- “Stable isotope and signature Fatty Acid analyses suggest reef manta rays feed on demersal zooplankton.” Couturier LIE, Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Marshall AD, Jaine FR, Bennett MB,Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Nichols PD (2013) PLoS ONE 8:e77152
- “Unusually High Levels of n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Whale Sharks and Reef Manta Rays.” Couturier LIE, Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Jaine FR, Townsend KA, Bennett MB, Weeks SJ, Nichols PD (2013) Lipids 48:1029-1034. DOI 10.1007/s11745-013-3829-8
- “Manta Matcher: Automated Photographic Identification of Manta Rays using Keypoint Features.” Town C., Marshall AD, Sethasathien N (2013) Journal of Applied Ecology. doi: 10.1002/ece3.587
- “ Trends in sightings and environmental influences on a coastal aggregation of manta rays and whale sharks.” Rohner CA, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Weeks SJ, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ (2013) Marine Ecology Progress Series 482: 153-168
- “The genetic signature of recent speciation in manta rays (Manta alfredi and M. birostris)” Kashawagi T, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Ovenden JR (2012) Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64: 212-218.
- “Manta alfredi. IUCN 2011.” Marshall AD, Kashiwagi T, Bennett MB, Deakos M, Stevens G, McGregor F, Clark T, Ishihara H, Sato K (2011) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2.
- “Manta birostris. In IUCN 2011” Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Kodja G, Hinojosa-Alvarez S, Galván-Magaña F, Harding M, Stevens G, Kashiwagi T (2011) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2.
- “Size and structure of a photographically identified population of manta rays Manta alfredi in southern Mozambique.” Marshall AD, Dudgeon C, Bennett MB (2011) Marine Biology 158(5): 1111.
- “Habitat segregation and mosaic sympatry of the two species of manta ray in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: Manta alfredi and M. birostris.” Kashiwagi T, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Ovenden JR (2011) Marine Biodiversity Records 4, e53.
- “How big is the world’s biggest fish? Measuring whale sharks with laser photogrammetry.” Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Marshall AD, Weeks SJ, Pierce SJ. (2011) Journal of Fish Biology 78: 378-385.
- “Reproductive ecology of the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in southern Mozambique.” Marshall AD, Bennett MB (2010) Journal of Fish Biology 77: 169-190.
- “Investigation of shark predation on Manta alfredi off the coast of Mozambique using bite mark analysis.” Marshall AD, Bennett MB (2010) South African Journal of Marine Science 32(3)
- “Redescription of genus Manta with resurrection of Manta alfredi (Krefft,1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae)”. Marshall AD, Compagno LJV & Bennett MB (2009) Zootaxa 2301: 1–28.
- “Biology and population ecology of Manta birostris in southern Mozambique.” Marshall AD (2009) PhD Thesis, University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Science.
- “Comparing the diet of two sympatric urolophid elasmobranches (Trygonoptera testacea Müller & Henle and Urolophus kapalensis Yearsley & Last): evidence of ontogenetic shifts and possible resource partitioning.” Marshall AD, Kyne PM, Bennett MB (2008). Journal of Fish Biology 72: 883-898.
- “Morphological measurements of manta rays (Manta birostris) with a description of a foetus from the east coast of Southern Africa.” Marshall AD, Pierce SJ, Bennett MB (2008) Zootaxa 1717: 24-30.
- “New record of the smalleye stingray, Dasyatis microps (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), from the western Indian Ocean.” Pierce SJ, White WT, Marshall AD (2008) Zootaxa 1734: 65-68.
- “ Scarring patterns and relative mortality rates of Indian Ocean whale sharks.” Speed CW, Meekan MG, Rowat D, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Bradshaw CJA (2008). Journal of Fish Biology 72: 1488-1503.

Review Articles
- “Biology, ecology and conservation of mobulid rays, Mobulidae (Gill, 1893)”. Couturier LIE, Marshall AD, Jaine FR, Kashiwagi T, Pierce SJ, Richardson AJ, Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Bennett MB (2012) Journal of Fish Biology 80: 1075-1119.
- “The uses and abuses of photographic identification in sharks and rays.” Marshall AD, Pierce SJ (2012) Journal of Fish Biology 80: 1361-1379.


In short
Andrea is a Marine Biologist behind the discovery of two species of manta ray. She has almost two decades of manta research behind her and she was the first person in the world to earn a PhD on manta rays.

Born an explorer
I’ve been passionate about the ocean ever since I was a little girl. I didn’t really fit into the mold in school, I was always seeking a little more adventure, so I found my way to Africa to do research as a marine biologist.

Dramatic declines
I realized there was a serious problem when I saw the declines in the sightings of mantas off the Mozambican coastline - a population I had been monitoring for years. At the same time I started hearing about a rising demand for manta ray products in the Asian markets.

Queen of Mantas
A big portion of what I do involves fieldwork, meaning diving and observing animals in different ways underwater. We use cutting edge technologies to help us monitor manta rays from satellite tags, and biochemical analysis to underwater camera traps and aerial drones.

My organization
The mission of the Marine Megafauna Foundation is to develop enduring conservation solutions from pioneering research to save our ocean giants from extinction. Using multi-disciplinary scientific approaches and cutting edge technologies combined with creative fieldwork techniques, our teams gather in-depth information on vulnerable marine species from manta rays to dugong in some of their most important critical habitats on earth.

Our research objectives are born from our belief that passion and sustained effort lead to action and permanent change. As conservation biologists, our mantra is simple, ‘think globally but act locally’. To this end, our scientists continue to champion international protection but in the countries we work, we target lasting change on small scales. MMF is becoming known for pursuing ambitious case studies in developing nations. We do this to showcase the need for integrated and comprehensive strategies for threatened species protection in rural areas that are often forgotten or dismissed. We aim to both set valuable precedents for the successful management of marine wildlife worldwide and inspire a new breed of conservation biologists in these areas to get the job done.

But MMF is not only about science. Our teams believe in a modern approach to education and outreach, disseminating our findings to both the scientific community and a larger global audience through a suite of media outlets. We have had great success in the past with our ‘citizen science’ based approach to volunteer research and tourism, achieving both heightened awareness and participation from skilled members of the diving public as well as increasing the volume of incoming data and the physical range of these data points. To that end we seek to inspire a new generation of ocean guardians to help spread this message globally.
The organization was created to help identify and prioritize areas which will serve to safeguard the most important remaining populations of marine megafauna. Marine megafauna species, such as whale sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles are long-lived and mature late in life, conferring a high vulnerability to human pressures. These species are also iconic animals and focal species for marine tourism which can help justify and financially support the development and expansion of large marine protected areas.

Marine Megafauna Foundation’s core initiatives are research, education and conservation.

By 2030, we want to be one of the main explorers of marine ecosystems, focusing on megafauna as our flagship species. Our current research focuses on species-level population ecology and conservation biology, with considerable overlap between the two areas.
We strive to be both a global and local educator: raising public awareness and inspiring action across the world, while working directly with coastal communities and government officials to enhance understanding and support behavioral change.
We work to improve the management of existing marine protected areas and develop effective, long-term conservation strategies to protect and restore key habitats. On a regional level, we are a trusted conservation leader, empowering local communities to manage marine resources sustainably.

MMF is considered a world-leading authority on many marine megafauna species, particularly whale sharks and manta rays. We have been conducting successful global research on threatened species of marine megafauna for the last 17 years which has resulted in many world-first and keystone publications on these threatened species including over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers and other scientific book chapters, reviews and theses.

Many of our scientists are members of IUCN specialist groups, like the Shark Specialist Group (SSG) and are part of the teams which research, write and publish the IUCN Redlist Assessments on Endangered Species. Our scientists have and continue to be involved in the championing and writing of proposals to list our focal species on international treaties like CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) and our teams actively are lobbying for the development of national level protections for our focal species and their critical habitats and the development of management plans for their conservation in the countries that we work.

We are strong global activists and educators spending significant time and energy as influencers on social media and other media outlets. We are proponents of citizen science and have been involved in the development of the global databases for whale sharks, manta rays and leopard sharks in collaboration with WildMe (see the Wildbooks for more information). We also are champions for the development of sustainable tourism initiatives and continue to research and help define science based management strategies tourism, particularly with respect to interactions with marine wildlife.

We pride ourselves on the continuity of our programs and our footprint in the countries that we work- with staff on the ground 365 days a year in most of these areas, which includes on-going community outreach work, local education initiatives and alternative livelihood programs in addition to government engagement.

Our metrics show that we are making a difference. We know more about our focal species than ever before and we are in a better position to help remaining populations of these animals than we were previously. Many species and populations are now protected for the first time ever and some of the worse anthropogenic threats are being addressed or have already stopped. There is also a measurable increase in the awareness of the plight of marine megafauna and the threats these animals face with the general public and a growing commitment to prevent their extinction.

Publications

In the news
Turns out mantas are social, Forbes, 2019
Meet the "Queen of Mantas", National Geographic, 2018

Scientific publications

"Social preferences and network structure in a population of reef manta rays". Robert Perryman, Stephanie Venables, Ricardo Tapilatu, Andrea Marshall, Culum Brown, Daniel Franks (2019), Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology

"Spotting the ‘small eyes”: using photo-ID methodology to study a wild population of smalleye stingray (Megatrygon microps) in southern Mozambique." Atlantine Boggio- Pasqua, Anna Flam, Andrea Marshall (2019)Peer J

"Contrasting Habitats Use and Population Dynamics of Reef Manta Rays Within the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area" Elitza Gemanov, Lars Bejder, Delphine B.H. Chabanne, Dharmadi Dharmadi, I. Gede Hendrawan, Andrea D. Marshall, Simon J. Pierce, Mike van Keulen, Neil Loneragan (2019) Indonesia Frontiers in Marine Science

"First record of the reef manta ray, Mobula alfredi, from the eastern Pacific." Randall Arauz, Elpis J. Chavez, E. Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla, Andrea Marshall(2019) Marine Biodiversity Records

"Research priorities to support effective manta and devil ray conservation." Josh Stewart, Fabrice Jaine, Amelia Armstrong, Asia Armstrong, Michael Bennett, Katherine Burgess, Lydie Couturier, Donald Croll, Melissa Cronin, Mark Deakos, Christine Dudgeon, Daniel Fernando, Niv Froman, Elitza Germanov, Martin Hall, Silvia Hinojosa-Alvarez, Jane Hosegood, Tom Kashiwagi, Betty Laglbauer, Nerea Lezama-Ochoa, Andrea Marshall, Frazer McGregor, Giuseppe Notobartolo di Sciara, Marta Palacios, Lauren Peel Anthony Richardson, Robert Rubin, Kathy Townsend, Stephanie Venables, Guy Stevens (2018)  Frontiers in Marine Science

"Photographic identification of sharks. In: Shark research: emerging technologies and applications for the field and laboratory". Simon Pierce, Jason Holmberg, Alison Kock, Andrea Marshall(2018). Carrier JC, Heithaus MR, Simpfendorfer CA (eds.). CRC Press, Boca Raton. pp 219-234

"Microplastics: No Small Problem for Filter-Feeding Megafauna."  Elitza Gemanov, Andrea Marshall, LarsBejder, Marina Cristina Fossi, Neil Loneragan (2018). Trends in Ecology & Evolution DOI 10.1016/j.tree.2018.01.005

"Use of epidermal mucus in elasmobranch stable isotope studies: a pilot study using the giant manta ray (Manta birostris)". Kathrine Burgess, Michel Guerrero, Anthony Richardson, Mike Bennett, Andrea Marshall (2017). Marine and Freshwater Research

"A Giant Opportunity: The Economic Impact of Manta Rays on the Mozambican Tourism Industry- An Incentive for Increased Management and Protection." Venables S., Winstanley G., Bowles L, Marshall A.D. (2016). Tourism in Marine Environments.

“Manta birostris, predator of the deep? Insight into the diet of the giant manta ray through stable isotope analysis.” Burgess K.B., Couturier L.I.E., Marshall A.D., Richardson A.J., Weeks S.J., Bennett M.B. (2016) Royal Society Open Science 3: 160717.

“Vulnerabilities and Fisheries Impacts: The Uncertain Future of Manta and Devil Rays. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.” Croll DA, Dewar H, Dulvy NK, Fernando D, Francis MP, Galvan-Magana F, Hall M, Heinrichs S, Marshall A, McCauley D, Newton KM, Notarbartolo-di-Sciara G, O’Malley M, O’Sullivan J, Poortviet M, Roman M, Stevens G, Tershy BR, White WT (2015)
“Evaluating manta ray mucus as an alternative DNA source for population genetics study: underwater-sampling, dry-storage, and PCR success.” Kashiwagi T, Maxwell EA, Marshall AD, Christensen AB (2015) PeerJ 3:31188; DOI 10.7717/peerj.1188
“ Laser photogrammetry improves size and demographic estimates for whale sharks.” Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Prebble CEM, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Weeks SJ, Cliff G, Wintner SP, Pierce SJ (2015) Peer J 3:e886; DOI 10.7717/peerj.886
“Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna.” McClain CR, Balk MA, Benfield MC, Branch TA, Chen C, Cosgrove J, Dove ADM, Helm RR, Hochberg FGE, Gaskins LC, Lee FB, Marshall AD, McMurray SE, Schanche C, Stone SN, Thaler AD (2015) PeerJ DOI 10.7717/peerj.715
“Running the Gauntlet: Regional Movement Patterns of Manta alfredi through a complex of parks and fisheries.” Germanov ES & Marshall AD (2014) Plos One 9(10):e110071
“Monitoring the effects of tourism on whale shark Rhincodon typus behaviour in Mozambique.”  Haskell PJ, McGowan A, Westling A, Méndez-Jiménez A, Rohner CA, Collins K, Rosero-Caicedo M, Salmond J, Monadjem A, Marshall AD, Pierce SJ (2014) Oryx DOI:10.1017/S0030605313001257
“Stable isotope and signature Fatty Acid analyses suggest reef manta rays feed on demersal zooplankton.” Couturier LIE, Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Marshall AD, Jaine FR, Bennett MB,Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Nichols PD (2013) PLoS ONE 8:e77152
“Unusually High Levels of n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Whale Sharks and Reef Manta Rays.” Couturier LIE, Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Jaine FR, Townsend KA, Bennett MB, Weeks SJ, Nichols PD (2013) Lipids 48:1029-1034. DOI 10.1007/s11745-013-3829-8
“Manta Matcher: Automated Photographic Identification of Manta Rays using Keypoint Features.” Town C., Marshall AD, Sethasathien N (2013) Journal of Applied Ecology. doi: 10.1002/ece3.587
“ Trends in sightings and environmental influences on a coastal aggregation of manta rays and whale sharks.” Rohner CA, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Weeks SJ, Bennett MB, Richardson AJ (2013) Marine Ecology Progress Series 482: 153-168
“The genetic signature of recent speciation in manta rays (Manta alfredi and M. birostris)” Kashawagi T, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Ovenden JR (2012) Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64: 212-218.
“Manta alfredi. IUCN 2011.” Marshall AD, Kashiwagi T, Bennett MB, Deakos M, Stevens G, McGregor F, Clark T, Ishihara H, Sato K (2011) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2.
“Manta birostris. In IUCN 2011” Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Kodja G, Hinojosa-Alvarez S, Galván-Magaña F, Harding M, Stevens G, Kashiwagi T (2011) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2.
“Size and structure of a photographically identified population of manta rays Manta alfredi in southern Mozambique.” Marshall AD, Dudgeon C, Bennett MB (2011) Marine Biology 158(5): 1111.
“Habitat segregation and mosaic sympatry of the two species of manta ray in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: Manta alfredi and M. birostris.” Kashiwagi T, Marshall AD, Bennett MB, Ovenden JR (2011) Marine Biodiversity Records 4, e53.
“How big is the world’s biggest fish? Measuring whale sharks with laser photogrammetry.” Rohner CA, Richardson AJ, Marshall AD, Weeks SJ, Pierce SJ. (2011) Journal of Fish Biology 78: 378-385.
“Reproductive ecology of the reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in southern Mozambique.” Marshall AD, Bennett MB (2010) Journal of Fish Biology 77: 169-190.
“Investigation of shark predation on Manta alfredi off the coast of Mozambique using bite mark analysis.” Marshall AD, Bennett MB (2010) South African Journal of Marine Science 32(3)
“Redescription of genus Manta with resurrection of Manta alfredi (Krefft,1868) (Chondrichthyes; Myliobatoidei; Mobulidae)”. Marshall AD, Compagno LJV & Bennett MB (2009) Zootaxa 2301: 1–28.
“Biology and population ecology of Manta birostris in southern Mozambique.” Marshall AD (2009) PhD Thesis, University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Science.
“Comparing the diet of two sympatric urolophid elasmobranches (Trygonoptera testacea Müller & Henle and Urolophus kapalensis Yearsley & Last): evidence of ontogenetic shifts and possible resource partitioning.” Marshall AD, Kyne PM, Bennett MB (2008). Journal of Fish Biology 72: 883-898.
“Morphological measurements of manta rays (Manta birostris) with a description of a foetus from the east coast of Southern Africa.” Marshall AD, Pierce SJ, Bennett MB (2008) Zootaxa 1717: 24-30.
“New record of the smalleye stingray, Dasyatis microps (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), from the western Indian Ocean.” Pierce SJ, White WT, Marshall AD (2008) Zootaxa 1734: 65-68.
“ Scarring patterns and relative mortality rates of Indian Ocean whale sharks.” Speed CW, Meekan MG, Rowat D, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD, Bradshaw CJA (2008). Journal of Fish Biology 72: 1488-1503.

Review Articles
“Biology, ecology and conservation of mobulid rays, Mobulidae (Gill, 1893)”. Couturier LIE, Marshall AD, Jaine FR, Kashiwagi T, Pierce SJ, Richardson AJ, Townsend KA, Weeks SJ, Bennett MB (2012) Journal of Fish Biology 80: 1075-1119.
“The uses and abuses of photographic identification in sharks and rays.” Marshall AD, Pierce SJ (2012) Journal of Fish Biology 80: 1361-1379.


Manta ray populations have decreased by 98 % in some areas. Andrea is conducting research on manta rays to prevent their extinction. 

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