The quality of seagrass as a dugong food resource: the importance of the effects of season and water depth

作为儒艮食物资源的海草的质量：季节和水深的影响的重要性。澳大利亚有保护儒艮(海牛)的国际义务。儒艮以海草为食。如果儒艮保护要有必要的科学基础，了解海草的丰度和质量，以及这些如何随着环境的变化而变化，是至关重要的。研究的重点是潮间带海草作为儒艮的食物。然而，深水海草是最重要的儒艮种群的支柱，例如昆士兰州赫维湾的种群。本研究将提供季节和水深对河豚食性海草品质影响的信息。

The quality of seagrass as a dugong food resource: the importance of the effects of season and water depth. Australia has international obligations to conserve dugongs (sea cows). Dugongs rely on seagrasses for food. Knowledge of the abundance and quality of seagrasses, and how these change in response to the environment, is vital if dugong conservation is to have the necessary scientific basis. Research has focussed on intertidal seagrass as food for dugongs. However, deepwater seagrasses are a mainstay of most significant dugong populations, such as the population in Hervey Bay, Queensland. This research will provide information on the effect of season and water depth on the quality of seagrasses as dugong food.