DUGONG STATUS
Wadi El Gemal - Hamata National Park
Overview
This study aims to gather ecological information on the populations of this species in the protected area of Wadi El-Gemal. This includes their distribution, habitat description as well as the anthropogenic threats they are facing. Individual features will also be described using the photo ID technique. Activities will raise the awareness of WGNP rangers and local communities that participate in this process about biodiversity and ecosystem service values of the mountains and the need for its conservation.
Egyptian
Dugong Team (EDT)
WHAT WE DO
Egyptian Dugong Team enrolled in the PADI Dugong Conservation specialty course and became authorized to conduct fieldwork activities on dugong.
DUGONG BEHAVIOUR
Tourism Activities on Dugongs in Marsa Alam
Overview
Marsa Alam is one of the famous tourist attractions places in the Red Sea, Egypt. The number of resorts increased and the occurrence of two Harbours with many daily safari boats visiting the dugong area for diving and snorkeling trips. All these activities increase the human impacts on the dugong. Our study aims to assess the dugong behaviour, ecology, and the effect of tourism activities on the dugong. Public awareness and guidelines will be conducted among divers and snorkeling guides as well as the tourists.
Specialty Course
One of the main outputs of this project is preparing an outline on Dugong Conservation approved by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors for divers and non-divers to learn the knowledge and skills when participating in dugong watching trips.
Introduce Dugong
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Know an introduction to Sirenians, conservation status, taxonomy, and identify the difference between dugongs and other Sirenian species. Recognize the dugong description, the origin of the mermaid legend. The role of dugongs plays in the marine ecosystem and its life history.
Photo Identification
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Important of Photo identification technique (Photo ID).
Identification of dugong individuals underwater.
Code of Conduct
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
List and understand the major considerations when diving and/ or snorkeling with dugongs.
Feeding Ecology and Threats
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
know what the dugong prefers to eat.
How dugong forage?
How can you take the dimensions of the feeding trail?
Understand the different threats affecting Dugongs.
Behavioural Activities
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Name and describe the different behavioural activities of the dugong. Assess the time budget of each behavioural bout. Recognize the surface and submergence intervals of the dugong dive cycle.
FEEDING TRAILS
Spatial and temporal variations
Overview
Analysis of feeding trails will be used to estimate the number of dugong individuals who visited each site at different times. Different in feeding trail width is related to dugong muzzle width as well, it can distinguish between the old and young calves of narrow feeding trials close to that of a larger animal presumably their Mum. The spatial planning process aims at prioritizing areas for conservation of dugongs while also optimizing the areas prioritized for conservation to reduce conflict with all other users of the seascape.
New Technique
Underwater Laser
Photogrammetry
Three adult dugongs were measured for the total length, muzzle width, body parts, and scar widths. The correction factor using the GoPro Camera is obtained with an equation.
SUITABLE HABITATS
Visiting some areas of prediction maps
Overview
Our previous project created prediction model maps for the predicted suitable habitats of dugongs, calving areas, and a predicted density surface of the species over the study region on the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea. The suitable habitat is a very effective spatial feature to address when conservation managers need to identify areas for species conservation. The definition of suitable habitat may include areas used by the species for different activities during their life history including areas used for daily forage, nesting and reproduction areas, and influence territories.
