Investigating the behavioural ecology of diving and feeding in a cryptic marine mammal: the Dugong (Old ID 27881)

Ecological Society of Australia
Role

Chief Investigator

Description

As air-breathing, bottom-feeding marine mammals, dugongs must dive to survive and thrive. Quantifying the diving and feeding behaviours of dugongs in three dimensions is a missing link in the science basis for the conservation of this Vulnerable species. This project will use advanced sensing technology to understand how seagrass biomass and dugong activity and energetics influence their diving and feeding behaviors. The resultant improved fine-scale understanding of these behaviors will provide important new information about their risk from vessel strike and the potential energetic consequences of habitat loss associated with extreme weather events and human disturbance.

Date

01 Sep 2022 - 30 Jun 2025

Project Type

GRANT

Keywords

Dugong dugon;Movement behaviour;Diving behaviour;biologging

Funding Body

Ecological Society of Australia

Amount

13640

Project Team

Christophe Cleguer;Mark Hamann;Helene Marsh