Dugong foraging behavior on tropical intertidal seagrass meadows: the influence of climatic drivers and anthropogenic disturbance

Abstract Foraging strategies of dugongs in tropical areas are not yet well understood, and that is particularly true for grazing fast-growing pioneer seagrass meadows the intertidal zones. In this study, we investigated driving factors affecting number tracks caused by small herds Balikpapan Bay, Indonesia. We seven which dynamics biomass, ratio aboveground to belowground were recorded measured based on monthly intervals over a year. Seagrass features showed significant relationship with wind speed, precipitation, desiccation time, distance sward residential area, fishing activity multiple (generalized) linear models. While consisted 5 species total, only Halodule pinifolia patches grazed. Dugong feeding found four sites. The strong variation throughout year was significantly affected biomass seagrass, location speed. Our results show how interplay site conditions related both shelter (wind speed) food availability (seagrass biomass) determines its suitability dugongs.