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When Giants Turn Up: Sighting Trends, Environmental Influences and Habitat Use of the Manta Ray Manta alfredi at a Coral Reef 1,2 2,3 1 4,5 Fabrice R. A. Jaine *, Lydie I. E. Couturier , Scarla J. Weeks , Kathy A. Townsend , 3 6 2,7 Michael B. Bennett , Kym Fiora , Anthony J. Richardson 1 Biophysical Oceanography Group, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, 2 Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Australia, 3 School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, 4 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, 5 Moreton Bay Research Station, The University of Queensland, Dunwich, Australia, 6 Watersports, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, PO Box 5026, Torquay, Australia, 7 Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics, School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia Abstract Manta rays Manta alfredi are present all year round at Lady Elliot Island (LEI) in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, with peaks in abundance during autumn and winter. Drivers influencing these fluctuations in abundance of M. alfredi at the site remain uncertain. Based on daily count, behavioural, weather and oceanographic data collected over a three-year period, this study examined the link between the relative number of sightings of manta rays at LEI, the biophysical environment, and the habitat use of individuals around the LEI reef using gener