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The Conversation

Edy Setyawan, Ph.D.

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Elasmobranch Ecologist, University of Auckland

Dr. Edy Setyawan is a National Geographic Explorer with a strong interest in the population dynamics and movement ecology of marine megafauna, especially elasmobranch. He uses multidisciplinary approach including photographic identification (photo ID), drones, network analyses, passive acoustic telemetry, satellite telemetry and network analysis to understand distribution, movement patterns of marine animals, habitat and population connectivity for conservation and to inform management.

He has been working on marine research and conservation in Indonesia for nearly 15 years, and focusing on elasmobranch, especially manta rays since 2013.
He has a PhD in Marine Science from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. His PhD research focuses on the spatial movement, habitat use, distribution, and population structure of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in Raja Ampat archipelago, West Papua, Indonesia. Using long term database of reef manta ray photo ID, he evaluated the effectiveness of full protection on manta rays on the species in Raja Ampat.

He pioneered a non-invasive technique to measure the body size of manta rays accurately using small drones with minimal or no impact on the animals. Recently, he and his research team have just confirmed the existence of world's first reef manta ray nursery area in Wayag lagoon, Raja Ampat after 8 years of monitoring.

Experience

  • –present
    Marine Ecologist, University of Auckland

Publications

  • 2022
    Population estimates of photo-identified individuals using a modified POPAN model reveal that Raja Ampat’s reef manta rays are thriving, Frontiers in Marine Science
  • 2022
    Residency and Use of an Important Nursery Habitat, Raja Ampat’s Wayag Lagoon, by Juvenile Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi), Frontiers in Marine Science
  • 2022
    A holistic approach to manta ray conservation in the Papuan Bird’s Head Seascape: Resounding success, ongoing challenges, Marine Policy
  • 2022
    How Big Is That Manta Ray? A Novel and Non-Invasive Method for Measuring Reef Manta Rays Using Small Drones, Drones
  • 2022
    Marine conservation in the Sunda Banda Seascape, Indonesia, Marine Policy
  • 2022
    Reef manta ray social dynamics depend on individual differences in behaviour, Animal Behaviour
  • 2022
    A global atlas of potential thermal refugia for coral reefs generated by internal gravity waves, Frontiers in Marine Science
  • 2022
    Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology, Science Advances
  • 2020
    Natural history of manta rays in the Bird's Head Seascape, Indonesia, with an analysis of the demography and spatial ecology of Mobula alfredi (Elasmobranchii: Mobulidae), Journal of The Ocean Science Foundation
  • 2020
    Predicting mobulid ray distribution in coastal areas of Lesser Sunda Seascape: Implication for spatial and fisheries management, Ocean & Coastal Management
  • 2019
    Population dynamics of oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) in the Raja Ampat Archipelago, West Papua, Indonesia, and the impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on their movement ecology, Diversity and Distributions
  • 2018
    Correcting for missing and irregular data in home-range estimation, Ecological applications
  • 2018
    Site fidelity and movement patterns of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi: Mobulidae) using passive acoustic telemetry in northern Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Nature Conservation Research