Ecology and Conservation of the Sirenia: Dugongs and Manatees

Dugongs and manatees, the only fully aquatic herbivorous mammals, live in the coastal waters, rivers and lakes of more than 80 subtropical and tropical countries. Symbols of fierce conservation battles, sirenian populations are threatened by multiple global problems. Providing comparative information on all four surviving species, this book synthesises the ecological and related knowledge pertinent to understanding the biology and conservation of the sirenia. It presents detailed scientific summaries, covering sirenian feeding biology; reproduction and population dynamics; behavioural ecology; habitat requirements and threats to their continued existence. Outlining the current conservation status of the sirenian taxa, this unique study will equip researchers and professionals with the scientific knowledge required to develop proactive, precautionary and achievable strategies to conserve dugongs and manatees. Supplementary material is available online at: www.cambridge.org/9780521888288.

Hel-ene Marsh is Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Dean of Graduate Research Studies at James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. She is an international authority on the conservation biology of dugongs, sea turtles and coastal cetaceans, co-chairs the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group and led the team that developed the United Nations Environment Programme Global Dugong Action Plan. Thomas J.1 O'Shea is Scientist Emeritus at the US Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorado. A mammalogist, he conducted research on manatees for, many years and has served on the federal Florida-Manatee Recovery Team, the Committee of Scientific Advisors to the US Marine Mammal Commission and the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group. John E. Reynolds III is a Senior Scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida. He served as Chairman of the US Marine Mammal Commission between 1991 and 2010, is a former chair of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group and has recently worked closely with the United Nations Environment Programme to develop and implement a Caribbean-wide Marine Mammal Action Elan.