Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning
Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are listed as vulnerable to extinction due to rapid population reductions caused in part by loss of seagrass feeding meadows. Understanding dugong feeding behaviour in tropical Australia, where the majority of dugongs live, will assist conservation strategies. We examined whet...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2016-07-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/2194.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797418579026509824 |
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| author | Samantha J. Tol Rob G. Coles Bradley C. Congdon |
| author_facet | Samantha J. Tol Rob G. Coles Bradley C. Congdon |
| author_sort | Samantha J. Tol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are listed as vulnerable to extinction due to rapid population reductions caused in part by loss of seagrass feeding meadows. Understanding dugong feeding behaviour in tropical Australia, where the majority of dugongs live, will assist conservation strategies. We examined whether feeding patterns in intertidal seagrass meadows in tropical north-eastern Australia were related to seagrass biomass, species composition and/or nitrogen content. The total biomass of each seagrass species removed by feeding dugongs was measured and compared to its relative availability. Nitrogen concentrations were also determined for each seagrass species present at the sites. Dugongs consumed seagrass species in proportion to their availability, with biomass being the primary determining factor. Species composition and/or nitrogen content influenced consumption to a lesser degree. Conservation plans focused on protecting high biomass intertidal seagrass meadows are likely to be most effective at ensuring the survival of dugong in tropical north-eastern Australia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:34:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2cfa30326f454b158f90e1fa55d56e38 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:34:56Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-2cfa30326f454b158f90e1fa55d56e382023-12-03T10:58:46ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-07-014e219410.7717/peerj.2194Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planningSamantha J. Tol0Rob G. Coles1Bradley C. Congdon2Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University,, Cairns,, Queensland,, AustraliaCentre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University,, Cairns,, Queensland,, AustraliaCollege of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University,, Cairns,, Queensland,, AustraliaDugongs (Dugong dugon) are listed as vulnerable to extinction due to rapid population reductions caused in part by loss of seagrass feeding meadows. Understanding dugong feeding behaviour in tropical Australia, where the majority of dugongs live, will assist conservation strategies. We examined whether feeding patterns in intertidal seagrass meadows in tropical north-eastern Australia were related to seagrass biomass, species composition and/or nitrogen content. The total biomass of each seagrass species removed by feeding dugongs was measured and compared to its relative availability. Nitrogen concentrations were also determined for each seagrass species present at the sites. Dugongs consumed seagrass species in proportion to their availability, with biomass being the primary determining factor. Species composition and/or nitrogen content influenced consumption to a lesser degree. Conservation plans focused on protecting high biomass intertidal seagrass meadows are likely to be most effective at ensuring the survival of dugong in tropical north-eastern Australia.https://peerj.com/articles/2194.pdfDugong dugonSeagrassFeeding behaviourCoastal managementConservationMarine herbivore |
| spellingShingle | Samantha J. Tol Rob G. Coles Bradley C. Congdon Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning PeerJ Dugong dugon Seagrass Feeding behaviour Coastal management Conservation Marine herbivore |
| title | Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning |
| title_full | Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning |
| title_fullStr | Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning |
| title_short | Dugong dugon feeding in tropical Australian seagrass meadows: implications for conservation planning |
| title_sort | dugong dugon feeding in tropical australian seagrass meadows implications for conservation planning |
| topic | Dugong dugon Seagrass Feeding behaviour Coastal management Conservation Marine herbivore |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/2194.pdf |
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