Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Sirenia

Download or read book Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Sirenia written by Helene Marsh and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-05-09 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.