Ecology Summary - Dugong dugon

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Ecology of Dugong dugon

Main Ref.	Tan, J.M.L., 1995
Remarks	Found in inshore waters, in bays and channels (Ref. 1394). Favors areas with warm shallow water, inshore and reefal seagrass beds (Ref. 936), particularly on fine sand (Ref. 86921). Occurs in small groups of up to 6 individuals; though, an exception of a herd of to 600 individuals was once recorded between Bahrain and Qatar (Ref. 801). Population estimates in the Persian/Arabian Gulf range from 5800 to 7300 individuals. Has a larger range than previously known, where their present range may be about 74% of the historical range (Ref. 114880). Feeds on a variety of seagrasses (Ref. 936). Almost entirely dependent on seagrass for food (Ref. 114880). Preyed upon by tiger sharks (Ref. 49538). Faces threats in the Persian/Arabian Gulf such as dredging, trawling and land reclamation, all damaging their critical seagrass habitats (Ref. 114880).

Main Ref.

Tan, J.M.L., 1995

Remarks

Found in inshore waters, in bays and channels (Ref. 1394). Favors areas with warm shallow water, inshore and reefal seagrass beds (Ref. 936), particularly on fine sand (Ref. 86921). Occurs in small groups of up to 6 individuals; though, an exception of a herd of to 600 individuals was once recorded between Bahrain and Qatar (Ref. 801). Population estimates in the Persian/Arabian Gulf range from 5800 to 7300 individuals. Has a larger range than previously known, where their present range may be about 74% of the historical range (Ref. 114880). Feeds on a variety of seagrasses (Ref. 936). Almost entirely dependent on seagrass for food (Ref. 114880). Preyed upon by tiger sharks (Ref. 49538). Faces threats in the Persian/Arabian Gulf such as dredging, trawling and land reclamation, all damaging their critical seagrass habitats (Ref. 114880).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Dugong dugon may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: mobile; demersal; Pelagic; Soft Bottom: sand ( fine, );
Substrate Ref.	Aragones, L.V., 1994
Special habitats	Beds: sea grass; Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.	Tan, J.M.L., 1995
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Tan, J.M.L., 1995
Feeding habit	grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref.	Tan, J.M.L., 1995

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	2.03	0.01			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.

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