Manta Naturalist Presentation

 

The final project of the Manta Naturalist Course of Manta Tour Guides and Operators is to prepare and deliver a Manta Naturalist presentation with accurate manta information that will presented to guests on manta tours.

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The Manta Naturalist Presentation is worth 60 points in the Manta Naturalist Course.  Here's the criteria for the presentation:

 

Be Prepared (10 points)

Prepare and deliver a Manta Naturalist presentation with accurate manta information that will be presented to guests on manta tours.  This presentation should be approximately 8 - 10 minutes long.  If presenting in teams, please divvy up the information to present.    

 

Gain Attention (10 points)

Find a way to gain the attention of your audience.  Ask a question. Tell a brief story.  Think about what works for you when you are in the audience.  

 

Relevant to your audience (10 points)

When it comes to members in your audience, try to answer this question, "What's in it for me?"  Address emotions of excitement or anxiety.  Be interactive with your audience.  Ask questions to pull the audience in.  Use their answers to connect with them and make the presentation more relevant.

 

Visual Aid (10 points)

A flip chart with a few images will be provided for you.  Use this or use something else if you would like.  Just remember, the audience would probably like to focus on something visual as you present.

 

Accurate Information (10 points)

Use the information from this course to provide accurate information in your presentation.  The outline below is available as a template.

 

Delivery and Enthusiasm (10 points)

Deliver your presentation by speaking clearly.  Use appropriate postures, gestures, and expressions.  Show enthusiasm and a connection to the content when you present.  Remember you are a Manta Naturalist - an expert about manta rays. Let your genuine adoration for these animals shine through!

 

 

Manta Naturalist Presentation Outline

 

Here is a template with the information to include as you prepare your personalized Manta Naturalist Presentation.  

 

1) Introduction

• Welcome your audience

• Introduce yourself as a Manta Naturalist

• Gain attention by asking a question or telling a brief personal story relating to this manta experience.

 

2) What are Manta Rays?​

• ​Manta rays are one of the largest animals in the ocean.

• Open ocean mantas can reach 23' across.

• Nearshore mantas can reach 12' across.  Nearshore mantas at this site.

• In Spanish, manta means cloak or blanket.

• The Hawaiian word for manta ray - hahalua.

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3) Manta Ray Relatives

• Manta rays are related to sharks - cartilaginous fish.

  • Cartilage like your nose or ears

• ​Manta rays do NOT have large, sharp teeth.

• Mantas possess a sandpaper-like tooth band on lower jaw only.

• Manta rays are related to stingrays.

• Manta rays do NOT have tail barbs or stingers like stingrays.

 

4) Cepahlic Fins and Feeding

• Cephalic fins are flexible appendages located on the head of the manta ray.

• When furled, resemble horns - devil rays.

  • Cephalic fins are NOT horns.

• When unfurled, cephalic fins used to guide food and water into manta's mouth.

• Manta rays feed on zooplankton such as copepods (miniscule crustaceans).

• Plankton is attracted to light.  

• Divers and snorkelers use light to attract plankton - attracts manta rays.

 

5) Anatomy & Life Cycle

• Male and female manta rays have pelvic fins.

• Male manta rays have claspers located on inside edge of pelvic fins.

• Manta rays are ovoviviparous:

  • The female manta gives birth to live young hatched from an egg inside her body.

  • Pups are 3' to 6' across when born.

• Manta rays have a low birth rate - maybe 1 pup every 2 years. More evidence is needed.

 

6) Manta Rays of Kona, Hawaii

• Manta ray species at site - Manta alfredi - the nearshore manta ray that gets up to 12' across.

• Manta rays are accurately identified by spot patterns on their undersides.

• Manta Identification Project started 1991 by Keller Laros.

  • LEFTY

    • First manta ray in Identification Catalog-1991.

    • Broken left cephalic fin.  

    • A crowd favorite.

  • KOIE 

    • ​Large female sighted regularly.

    • Missing left cephalic fin.

    • Suffered multiple injuries due to fishing line and hooks. 

  • Over 250 rays in catalog

    • Names like Sugar Ray, X-Ray, Hip Hip Hooray!

    • First person to identify a manta ray can name it!

  • Mention your favorite manta ray and some of the manta rays you are most likely to see.

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7) Manta Pacific Research Foundation 

 

• 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2002

• Manta ID Catalog

• Scientific Research – tracking, measurements, fund manta scientists

• Education & Outreach: Manta Naturalist Course

• Manta Conservation: Pushed for manta protection law in State of Hawaii.

• Manta rays are protected by law in Hawaii.

  • ​"No person shall knowingly kill or capture a manta ray within state marine waters."

  • Up to a $10,000 fine and seizure of vessel, etc. 

 

7) Manta Participant Guidelines

• Discuss the Manta Participant Guidelines that pertain to your group.

  • Observe Only - Don't Touch

  • Diver Position

  • Snorkeler Position

  • Lights

  • Bubbles

  • Taking photos or video

 

8) Conclusion

• Ask if anyone has any questions

• Thank the audience  

 

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Student Directions:

• GO to Laulima and log in with your user name and password.  

 

• Go to the Manta Naturalist Course site in your account.

 

• Then, go to the "Tests and Quizzes" link on the left side panel.  

• When ready, go to Module Three Quiz in the 'Test and Quizzes' section of Laulima.  This quiz is worth 30 points and can only be taken once.  

 

• After you have completed Module Three Quiz, you are finished with testing.