 Honours student
Research Project
Small scale movements and habitat use of dugongs in relation to tidal cycles and vessel distribution in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia
(Supervisors: Lanyon, Yeates (EPA))
This project investigates the daily movement patterns of vessels and dugongs, Dugong dugon, in eastern Moreton Bay. Dugong feeding areas and boat traffic areas in Moreton Bay overlap and this sometimes results in mortality of dugongs through boatstrike. On the eastern side of the bay, where more than 95% of the bay's dugong population is found, the Environmental Protection Agency has designated Go Slow Zones. However, vessels do not always abide by the speed restrictions. Boat transects will be conducted as part of a vessel compliance census and dugong focal follows will be conducted to investigate daily movement patterns in relation to tides and vessel traffic. The areas of highest risk to dugongs through boatstrike will be identified through a detailed spatial analysis. |