Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys
Understanding the fine-scale behavioural and feeding ecology of marine megafauna is imperative for effective management of their habitat areas; however, obtaining the relevant data can be both costly and challenging. Here we integrate the use of small drones for dugong surveys with underwater benthi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25000640 |
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| author | Nicole E. Said Christophe Cleguer Paul Lavery Amanda J. Hodgson Connor Gorham Julian A. Tyne Ankje Frouws Simone Strydom Johnny Lo Holly C. Raudino Kelly Waples Kathryn McMahon |
| author_facet | Nicole E. Said Christophe Cleguer Paul Lavery Amanda J. Hodgson Connor Gorham Julian A. Tyne Ankje Frouws Simone Strydom Johnny Lo Holly C. Raudino Kelly Waples Kathryn McMahon |
| author_sort | Nicole E. Said |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the fine-scale behavioural and feeding ecology of marine megafauna is imperative for effective management of their habitat areas; however, obtaining the relevant data can be both costly and challenging. Here we integrate the use of small drones for dugong surveys with underwater benthic habitat assessment techniques at the local spatial scale (∼30 km2), to determine the drivers of dugong (Dugong dugon) distribution across three locations in the Pilbara, Western Australia. Paired assessment data was collected three times over two years. Benthic habitat (percent cover), seagrass nutritional quality and environmental parameters (temperature, water clarity, water current, water depth) were tested as predictor variables using generalised linear models, to examine drivers of both dugong presence/absence and abundance. We found that low cover (typical for this region; 2–10 %) of colonising seagrass is a key driver of the presence and abundance of dugongs. Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis were the main predictors of dugong presence and abundance across the three locations surveyed. Where both seagrass species simultaneously occurred, the likelihood of dugongs being present increased by over 60 times. The presence of H. uninervis alone was predicted to increase the abundance of dugongs by 1.4 times across all locations and by 6.8 times in one location, Exmouth Gulf, compared to when no seagrass was present. This study provided evidence of critical seagrass habitat, which is important knowledge for the protection and conservation of dugongs and their foraging habitat. The methods developed in this study could be employed in environmental impact assessments to predict and confirm potential seagrass forage habitat. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-697b358e1b7f4923a15ebe82e7a6dc62 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj-art-697b358e1b7f4923a15ebe82e7a6dc622025-02-02T05:26:56ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-02-01171113135Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveysNicole E. Said0Christophe Cleguer1Paul Lavery2Amanda J. Hodgson3Connor Gorham4Julian A. Tyne5Ankje Frouws6Simone Strydom7Johnny Lo8Holly C. Raudino9Kelly Waples10Kathryn McMahon11Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Corresponding author.Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, AustraliaCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Environmental Regulation, 8 Davidson Terrace, Joondalup, WA 6027, AustraliaCentre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA 6151, AustraliaCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, AustraliaCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA 6151, AustraliaCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, AustraliaMarine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA 6151, AustraliaMarine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA 6151, AustraliaCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Centre for People, Place and Planet, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, AustraliaUnderstanding the fine-scale behavioural and feeding ecology of marine megafauna is imperative for effective management of their habitat areas; however, obtaining the relevant data can be both costly and challenging. Here we integrate the use of small drones for dugong surveys with underwater benthic habitat assessment techniques at the local spatial scale (∼30 km2), to determine the drivers of dugong (Dugong dugon) distribution across three locations in the Pilbara, Western Australia. Paired assessment data was collected three times over two years. Benthic habitat (percent cover), seagrass nutritional quality and environmental parameters (temperature, water clarity, water current, water depth) were tested as predictor variables using generalised linear models, to examine drivers of both dugong presence/absence and abundance. We found that low cover (typical for this region; 2–10 %) of colonising seagrass is a key driver of the presence and abundance of dugongs. Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis were the main predictors of dugong presence and abundance across the three locations surveyed. Where both seagrass species simultaneously occurred, the likelihood of dugongs being present increased by over 60 times. The presence of H. uninervis alone was predicted to increase the abundance of dugongs by 1.4 times across all locations and by 6.8 times in one location, Exmouth Gulf, compared to when no seagrass was present. This study provided evidence of critical seagrass habitat, which is important knowledge for the protection and conservation of dugongs and their foraging habitat. The methods developed in this study could be employed in environmental impact assessments to predict and confirm potential seagrass forage habitat.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25000640Environmental impact assessmentConservationMegafaunaMarine ecosystems |
| spellingShingle | Nicole E. Said Christophe Cleguer Paul Lavery Amanda J. Hodgson Connor Gorham Julian A. Tyne Ankje Frouws Simone Strydom Johnny Lo Holly C. Raudino Kelly Waples Kathryn McMahon Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys Ecological Indicators Environmental impact assessment Conservation Megafauna Marine ecosystems |
| title | Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys |
| title_full | Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys |
| title_fullStr | Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys |
| title_short | Sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat: A novel rapid assessment of habitat-wildlife associations using paired drone and in-water surveys |
| title_sort | sparse seagrass meadows are critical dugong habitat a novel rapid assessment of habitat wildlife associations using paired drone and in water surveys |
| topic | Environmental impact assessment Conservation Megafauna Marine ecosystems |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25000640 |
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