What is it about?
Weedy seadragons are an iconic Australian fish. We conducted to first study assessing seadragon habitat use around Sydney, Australia, showing that seadragons strongly associate with kelp habitat (Ecklonia radiata, commonly referred to as leather kelp) and mysid prey. Seadragons select areas where kelp is the dominant habitat and mysid shrimp are present.
Featured Image
Photo by Mac Gaither on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Iconic species such as seadragons can be effectively used as flagship icons for conservation. This was the first study to show these species-habitat relationships in detail. Our findings can be used to inform management strategies for seadragons and to ensure that their conservation status is up to date.
Perspectives
I hope that this article will increase peoples knowledge of seadragons. Unique species, such as the weedy seadragon, may be crucial in helping bring awareness to a range of broader conservation issues, such as habitat loss and climate change. I hope our work raises awareness and encourages engagement with the marine world.
Sam Allan
University of Technology Sydney
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Space use by the endemic common (weedy) seadragon (
Phyllopteryx taeniolatus
): influence of habitat and prey, Journal of Fish Biology, November 2021, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14931.
You can read the full text:
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