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Projects

17

Publications

20

Awards

0


Contact Details

Senior Research Officer United Nations' Dugong Technical Advisor for the CMS Dugong MoU Google Scholar

Biography

Dr. Christophe Cleguer is the leader of the Marine Megafauna Research group at the Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) at James Cook University, Australia. In addition, Dr. Cleguer serves as an International Advisor to the United Nations’ Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on the conservation and management of dugongs and their seagrass habitats throughout their range.

Dr. Cleguer’s research interests span marine mammal population assessments, spatial ecology, and conservation. His current work is centred on the population assessment and spatial ecology of the dugong (Dugong dugon), with a primary focus on Australian waters. 

His research team employs cutting-edge methodologies, including the use of aerial imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) for dugong population surveys, satellite imagery for herd detection, satellite and multi-sensor tags for movement behaviour analysis, genomics, drone-based body condition assessments, and blood collection for health and contaminant analysis. This comprehensive approach aims to provide actionable insights into dugong ecology and conservation.

Dr. Cleguer is a strong proponent of research partnerships with First Nations communities, having worked extensively with Indigenous groups across northern Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia. HE currently runs a large engagement program alongside Indigenous Traditional Owners across the entire Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. His team's research is also closely aligned with management authorities such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, state governments, and the Australian federal government, ensuring that scientific findings are directly applicable to policy and management frameworks.

A key component of Dr. Cleguer’s work involves developing capacity-building programs to train Indigenous land and sea rangers, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community members to conduct monitoring studies, empowering these groups to contribute directly to marine conservation efforts.

Dr. Cleguer holds a Master of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Auckland and completed his PhD in 2015 through a co-tutelle arrangement between James Cook University and the University of Pierre and Marie Curie (now Sorbonne University), with research conducted at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) in New Caledonia. His PhD research used aerial surveys, GPS-Argos tracking, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to enhance the conservation and management of dugongs in New Caledonia across various spatial and temporal scales. Following his PhD, Dr. Cleguer conducted pioneering work in Western Australia, using drones to map dugong populations at the local scale. In 2022, he returned to James Cook University to lead the Dugong Program.

Research

Research Interests

- Marine mammal population assessments, spatial ecology, and conservation, primarily focusing on dugongs in Australian waters.

- Develop new research using cutting-edge technologies such drones, aerial imagery, AI, animal-borne telemetry tags, and genomics to monitor dugong populations, movement, and health.

- Strong research partnerships with First Nations communities, e.g., leading engagement programs with Indigenous Traditional Owners across the Great Barrier Reef.

- Ensures that scientific findings inform policy and management, working closely with governments and marine authorities.

- Develops capacity-building programs to empower Indigenous rangers, NGOs, and communities to conduct marine conservation and monitoring efforts.

Projects
E-Resource Kit (Old ID 23031)
01 Sep 2016 - 31 Mar 2017
Research Data

Teaching

Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type

Primary


Current JCU Research Students
Northern Great Barrier Reef Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Population Status
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Assessing the body size and body condition of dugongs using drone-based photogrammetry
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Population genomics of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in northern Australia
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Investigating the fine-scale behavioural ecology of dugongs.
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)

Output

Cleguer, C.; Hamel, M.A.; Rankin, R.W.; Langlois, L.; Edwards, C.; Marsh, H. (2024) 2023 Dugong Aeri. Townsville, QLD...
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, Christophe; Hamel, Melanie; Rankin, Robert; Genson, Allyson; Edwards, Chloe; Collins, Kym; ...
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, C.; Marsh, H. (2023) An inventory of dugong aerial surveys in Australia. Townsville, QLD, Australia: ...
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, Christophe (2022) Review of dugong detections from images collected during a dugong survey . Townsville, QLD, Australia: ...
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Deutsch, Charles J.; Castelblanco-Martinez, Delma Nataly; Cleguer, Christophe; Groom, Rachel (2022) ...
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, Christophe (2015) Informing dugong conservation at several spatial and temporal scales in N. [Thesis] [DOI] ...
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Thibault, Martin; Letourneur, Yves; Cleguer, Christophe; Bonneville, Claire; Briand, Marine J.; Derv...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, Christophe; Garrigue, Claire; Fuentes, Mariana M.P.B.; Hamann, Mark; Payri, Claude; Marsh, ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Garrigue, Claire; Derville, Solene; Bonnerville, Claire; Brisset, Maele; Bustamante, Paco; Cleguer, ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Bigal, Eyal; Galili, Ori; van Rijn, Itai; Rosso, Massimiliano; Cleguer, Christophe; Hodgson, Amanda;...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Raudino, Holly C.; Cleguer, Christophe; Hamel, Melanie A.; Swaine, Michael; Waples, Kelly A. (2022) ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Derville, Solene; Cleguer, Christophe; Garrigue, Claire (2022) 'Ecoregional and temporal dynamics of. Scientific Reports, 12 . [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Garrigue, Claire; Bonnerville, Claire Daisy; Cleguer, Christophe; Oremus, Marc (2022) 'Extremely Low. Journal of , 113 (5):5...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, Christophe; Kelly, Natalie; Tyne, Julian; Peel, David; Hodgson, Amanda (2021) 'A Novel Meth. Frontiers , 8 . [DO ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, Christophe; Garrigue, Claire; Marsh, Helene (2020) 'Dugong (Dugong dugon) movements and hab. Endangered Species Research, 43 (3):167-181. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Hagihara, Rie; Jones, Rhondda E.; Sobtzick, Susan; Cleguer, Christophe; Garrigue, Claire; Marsh, Hel...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, C.; Garrigue, C.; Fuentes, M.M.P.B.; Everingham, Y.; Hagihara, R.; Hamann, M.; Payri, C.; M...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Cleguer, Christophe; Grech, Alana; Garrigue, Claire; Marsh, Helene (2015) 'Spatial mismatch between . Biological Conservation, 184 :154-162. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Fuentes, Mariana M.P.B.; Cleguer, Christophe; Liebsch, Nikolai; Bedford, Guy; Amber, David; Hankin, ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Hamel, M.A.; Marsh, H.; Cleguer, C.; Garrigue, C.; Oremus, M. (2022) 'Dugong dugon (New Caledonia su The IUCN Red List of Threaten, 2022 . ...
Journal Contribution ResearchOnline@JCU