Dugong (Dugong dugon) and seagrass in Thailand: present status and future challenges

Dugong and seagrass research in Thailand has been principally conducted by Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). The first stranded dugong was reported in 1979. The interview surveys with villagers and aerial surveys for dugong population were started in 1993 and 1997, respectively. Several research topics were documented on dugong, both the biological and chemical aspects, and including the management plan. Seagrass surveys had been originally conducted in 1988 particularly in the Andaman sea coast and seagrass surveys in the Gulf of Thailand have been recently performed. Seagrass data-based information of PMBC was officially available in 2004. Although, the diversity of only 12 seagrass species have been reported in Thai waters, the seagrass beds have been shown to play an important role as the nursery ground of economically important species. We have reviewed the recent status and future research of dugong and seagrass in Thailand according to the following items: population, genetic divergence and threats; dugong behavior, feeding habit and acoustic survey; heavy metal and organotin compounds concentration; status of seagrass; marine organisms in seagrass beds; future challenges; and conservation and management.