Michael SlatteryJohnson, Ryan P.Miller, Matilda2021-12-022021-12-022021Johnson, Ryan P., and Matilda Miller. “Spatial Distribution of Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera Bonasus) Within St. Joseph Sound, Florida.” Acta Spartae, 2021. https://doi.org/10.48497/SNN7-1647.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11868/2721Recommended Citation: Johnson, Ryan P., and Matilda Miller. “Spatial Distribution of Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera Bonasus) Within St. Joseph Sound, Florida.” Acta Spartae, 2021. https://doi.org/10.48497/SNN7-1647.Pinellas County is known for its multitude of highly diverse barrier islands, one of which is Honeymoon Island State Park. On the eastern side of the island is Saint Joseph Sound, an intracoastal waterway containing important seagrass habitat that supports high biodiversity. Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) are pelagic intermediate predators that migrate seasonally into Saint Joseph Sound. The species’ spatial distribution within the waterway was analyzed in relation to shark landings (potential predators) from years 2013–2019. Multiple spatial maps were produced using geoprocessing tools from ESRI ArcGIS. Statistical analysis indicated that the Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) was not significant , but sharks and R. bonasus were inversely associated with each other within the sample sites. Boggy Bayou, a seagrass fat, located outside the state park boundary contained 405 R. bonasus individuals caught within the sampling period, while 23 individuals were caught inside the state park boundary. The spatial maps and statistical tests indicated that R. bonasus are not associated with state park boundaries in the intracoastal waterway. Data configured in the GIS project map aided in locating aggregation sites of R. bonasus and identified their preferred local habitat as a protected seagrass bed with an adjacent sandy bottom. Further analysis, along with habitat restoration in the intracoastal waterway would help to ensure the abundance of R. bonasus within the local area.en-USPinellas County, FLHoneymoon Island State ParkSaint Joseph SoundCownose RaysRhinoptera bonasusArticlehttps://doi.org/10.48497/snn7-1647