Functional extinction of dugongs in China

Lin, Mingli; Turvey, Samuel T.; Han, Chouting; Huang, Xiaoyu; Mazaris, Antonios D.; Liu, Mingming; Ma, Heidi; Yang, Zixin; Tang, Xiaoming; Li, Songhai

doi:10.1098/rsos.211994

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The findings from a functionally extinct population (Okinawa, Japan) highlights an urgency to obtain whole-genome resequencing data from dugong populations worldwide to support conservation efforts. Recent human activities in the last 100 years, including overfishing and coastal development that reduced seagrass abundance, likely fast-tracked extinction of dugong populations in Chinese and Japanese waters 64,[85][86][87] and is a considerable risk factor elsewhere. Our study reveals new insights into sirenian biology and the transition of terrestrial mammals to an aquatic lifestyle and provides a basis for future genomics explorations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sirenian genomes illuminate the evolution of fully aquatic species within the mammalian superorder Afrotheria

Tian,

Zhang,

Kang

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sirenians of the diverse superorder Afrotheria were the first mammals to retransition from land to water and are the sole herbivorous marine mammals, but little is known about the underlying genomic changes. Here, we generated a chromosome-level dugong (Dugong dugon) genome. A comparison of our assembly and a recent West Indian manatee genome with other afrotherian genomes revealed possible molecular solutions to aquatic life by sirenians, including a shift in daily activity patterns (circadian clock) and tolerance to a high-iodine plant diet mediated through changes in the iodide transporter NIS (SLC5A5) and its co-transporters. Functional in vitro assays confirmed that sirenian amino acid substitutions alter the properties of the circadian clock protein PER2 and NIS. Sirenians show evidence of convergent regression of integumentary system (skin and its appendages) genes with cetaceans, the only other fully aquatic mammal group. Our analysis also uncovered gene losses that may be maladaptive in a modern environment, including a candidate gene (KCNK18) for sirenian cold stress syndrome likely lost during their evolutionary shift in daily activity patterns. Finally, genomes from nine Australian locations and the functionally extinct Okinawan population confirm and date a genetic break on the Australian east coast and highlight the need for whole-genome resequencing data from small or isolated dugong populations worldwide for conservation and genetic management.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The number of dugongs in other locations is orders of magnitude lower. The dugong recently became functionally extinct in Chinese 85,86 and Japanese waters 87 and is at risk elsewhere in Asia, Oceania, and eastern Africa 84,88 .…”

Section: Diversity and Demography Of Vulnerable And Recently Extinct ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sirenian genomes illuminate the evolution of fully aquatic species within the mammalian superorder Afrotheria

Tian,

Zhang,

Kang

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Dugong is found in the tropical and subtropical coasts of 40 countries, including Australia, Arabian Coast, Persian Gulf, Iran, China, India, Bahrain, Thailand, and Indonesia [1], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]. The first rough estimate of the global population of dugong reached nearly 30,000 was published in 1979 report by the Institute of Cetacean Research [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dugong dugon (Muller 1776) and Its Habitat in Coastal Areas and Small Islands of East Java Province, Indonesia

Dewi,

Wahyudi,

Widodo

et al. 2024

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dugong dugon, an endangered marine mammal is listed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Dugongs are classified as herbivorous mammals that live in the shallows associated with seagrass beds. The objectives of this study are (1) to collect data on dugong encounters in East Java, both direct encounters and literature studies; and (2) to analyze seagrass meadows that are potentially dugong grazing habitats in East Java. This study was conducted from January to July 2023 in the coastal area of East Java. Dugong and seagrass data, which were descriptively analyzed, were obtained from the literature, questionnaire interview, and by direct observation. Distribution of dugongs in East Java is known to be in the southeastern side of Banyuwangi, Situbondo, Sumenep, Lamongan, and Bawean Island. Direct encounters with live and dead dugongs in East Java have been recorded in several locations, including Bawean Island. Seagrass beds in East Java can be found on the coastal area of Lamongan, Bawean Island - Gresik, Sumenep, Bangkalan, Situbondo, Banyuwangi, Malang, and Pacitan. The seagrass species found in these eight areas are: E. acoroides, T. hemprichii, C. modocea rotundata, C. serrulata, H. pinifolia, H. uninervis, H. decipiens, H. ovalis, H. minor, S. iseotifolium, and T. ciliatum. Although, dugong status is fully protected in Indonesia, and its distribution is limited, further steps are needed to protect dugongs and their food habitats. Marine Protected Area is one of the policies that could be recommended to protect dugongs and their habitat.

show abstract

“…For instance, the dugong population in China has recently been declared functionally extinct. In addition, dugongs in Japan and East Africa are Critically Endangered, and in New Caledonia they are considered Endangered (Marsh & Sobtzick, 2019; International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2022; Lin et al, 2022a; Lin et al, 2022b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term persistence of large dugong groups in a conservation hotspot around Hawar Island, Kingdom of Bahrain

Khamis

Abdulla

D’Souza

et al. 2023

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predictable aggregations of large marine mammals are valuable conservation targets, but aggregated populations can also be exposed to site‐level threats. The globally vulnerable Dugong dugon has a wide distribution but is found in large numbers mainly in Australia and the Arabian Gulf. Though Australian dugong populations are well studied, much less is known of the dugongs in the Arabian Gulf. The spatial and temporal persistence of dugongs around Bahrain, with a focus on large dugong groups (>50 dugongs), was determined using an occupancy modelling framework supported by historical records, structured interviews, citizen science network reports, and small‐scale boat and unmanned aerial vehicle surveys. Historical records and current distributional studies confirmed that large dugong groups have been reliably sighted around Hawar Island (Bahrain) since at least 1986, forming large, clumped groups that persist almost year round. The largest recorded so far in the world, these fluid groups (maximum of ~700 dugongs) account for ~60% of the dugongs found in Bahrain and ~12% of all dugongs in the Arabian Gulf. The delineated occupancy core area of large dugong groups (~145 km2) straddles the Bahrain–Qatar border, reflecting the transboundary nature of these groups. Careful management of human‐induced stressors (in particular, fishing, boating, and coastal development) combined with regular monitoring of Hawar Island's large dugong groups and their seagrass habitat is critical to safeguard this globally important population. The effectiveness of any conservation management is predicated on strengthening cooperation among all range states in the Arabian Gulf. A key recommendation of this study is to establish a regional network of marine protected areas encompassing core aggregation sites for dugongs, particularly the Hawar Islands in Bahrain, the north‐western waters of Qatar, Marawah Island in the United Arab Emirates in addition to the shallow waters between Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates.

show abstract

Functional extinction of dugongs in China

Cited by 17 publications

References 33 publications

Sirenian genomes illuminate the evolution of fully aquatic species within the mammalian superorder Afrotheria

Sirenian genomes illuminate the evolution of fully aquatic species within the mammalian superorder Afrotheria

Dugong dugon (Muller 1776) and Its Habitat in Coastal Areas and Small Islands of East Java Province, Indonesia

Long‐term persistence of large dugong groups in a conservation hotspot around Hawar Island, Kingdom of Bahrain

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About