Patterns shared among Northern and Southern seadragon populations that make them vulnerable are: low density, extremely low fecundity, life-time restricted home ranges in a threatened habitat, lack of a dispersive egg phase, limited dispersal of the young and low emigration and relocation rates. This is compensated by fast growth and high survival rates and a greater life span compared to most syngnathids.
From 2001 to 2009, we found evidence of population declines in NSW and TAS populations. The main concern is whether these were temporary declines produced by natural causes, such as interannual fluctuations in recruitment, or were due to anthropogenic disturbances. Habitat loss is, after exploitation, the main cause of extinction in marine populations, but invasive species, climate change, pollution and disease, all account in the list of potential threats.
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