Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Sirenia

Despite their rich fossil history, there are only four surviving species of sirenians or sea cows, the only fully aquatic herbivorous mammals. The three species of manatees and the dugong live in the coastal waters rivers and lakes of more than 80 tropical and subtropical countries and are all on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This book examines sirenian conservation biology through the lens of their behavioral ecology and ethology. Sirenian feeding, diving, movement, social and reproductive behaviors are reviewed by an international team of scientists from eight countries, with an emphasis on data gathered in the past 15 years.  

What can we infer about the behavior of extinct sirenians.- Sensory and morphological adaptation for an aquatic lifestyle.- Diving and foraging behaviors. Lucy Keith-Diagne, African Aquatic Conservation Fund.- Movement behaviors. Chip Deutsch, Associate Research Scientist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.- Historical and current interactions with humans from the perspective of sirenian ethology and behavioral ecology.- Likely impacts of climate change on sirenian behavior.- Implications of sirenian behavior for conservation and management.

Helene Marsh is a marine conservation biologist with some 40 years’ experience in research into species conservation, management and policy with particular reference to tropical coastal and riverine megafauna, especially marine mammals. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and her research has been recognised by awards from the Pew Foundation, the Society for Conservation Biology, the American Society of Mammalogists, the Society for Marine Mammalogy and the Australian Marine Sciences Association. The policy outcomes of her research include significant contributions to the science base of the conservation of dugongs in Australia and internationally at a global scale (IUCN, UNEP, Convention for Migratory Species) and by providing advice to the governments of some 14 countries. Helene is past President of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, Co–chair of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group, Chair of the Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee  and is on the editorial boards of Conservation Biology, Endangered Species Research and Oecologia. Helene is very proud of the accomplishments of the 60  PhD candidates that she has supervised to graduation and enjoys learning from them.