ts:TS_JCU_Dugong-rel-density

This map layer shows the areas where most of the dugongs (Dugong dugong) live in the Torres Strait region. Dark areas show where more dugongs were seen and light areas show where no dugongs were seen.

This map layer shows the relative density of dugongs (areas where there are more or less dugongs) and not the absolute dugong density. During the aerial surveys not all dugongs are seen by observers for a number of reasons including not being able to see diving dugongs when the water is not clear and observers missing animals. Correcting for these errors to estimate the total number of dugongs can only be done over then entire survey and not for each grid in the map. For this reason the map shows only the relative density of dugongs.

The sightings data from the surveys was converted to the model and into a density map shown in this layer using ArcGIS 9.3.