Dugong Effects on Seagrass Carbon Storage in Bahrain, Modeled Data

Modeled estimates of how dugong (Dugong dugon) grazing affects seagrass carbon storage in Bahrain's Halodule beds. The dataset likely contains results from a sediment-seagrass-dugong model, parameterized with literature data and validated against field measurements. It was authored by Oswald J. Schmitz and last updated on 2026-05-26.

Use Cases

• Quantifying the impact of megafauna grazing on net primary production based on the described model.
• Estimating additional carbon storage in seagrass sediments due to herbivore presence.
• Informing blue carbon strategy and NDC accounting by incorporating animal functional roles.
• Comparing carbon balance scenarios with and without dugong populations in a defined conservation area.

Strengths

• Model outputs are validated against literature-based and field measurements for NPP, NECB, and sediment carbon stocks.
• Quantifies a specific effect: a realistic dugong aggregation (~700 individuals) enhanced seagrass NPP and NECB by an average of 2.4 times.
• Provides concrete carbon estimates: an additional 7.9 x10^7 kg C y^-1 captured and 9.1 x10^8 kg C stored across a 145 km^2 area.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The 24.2 KB file size suggests a very limited scope, likely containing summary results rather than raw observational data.

Provenance

Source

figshare, authored by Oswald J. Schmitz.

Collection Method

Results from a general animal-driven carbon-nutrient cycling model applied to dugongs in Halodule seagrass beds.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-26 04:37:35; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Halodule seagrass beds of Bahrain, a 145 km^2 focal conservation area.