Derville S. auteur aut IRD Cleguer C. auteur aut IRD Garrigue Claire auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Mobile marine species display complex and nonstationary habitat use patterns that require understanding to design effective management measures. In this study, the spatio-temporal habitat use dynamics of the vulnerable dugong (Dugong dugon) were modelled from 16 satellite-tagged individuals in the coral reef lagoonal ecosystems of New Caledonia, South Pacific. Dugong residence time was calculated along the interpolated tracks (9371 hourly positions) to estimate intensity of use in three contrasting ecoregions, previously identified through hierarchical clustering of lagoon topographic characteristics. Across ecoregions, differences were identified in dugong spatial intensity of use of shallow waters, deeper lagoon waters and the fore-reef shelf outside the barrier reef. Maps of dugong intensity of use were predicted from these ecological relationships and validated with spatial density estimates derived from aerial surveys conducted for population assessment. While high correlation was found between the two datasets, our study extended the spatial patterns of dugong distribution obtained from aerial surveys across the diel cycle, especially in shallow waters preferentially used by dugongs at night/dusk during high tide. This study has important implications for dugong conservation and illustrates the potential benefits of satellite tracking and dynamic habitat use modelling to inform spatial management of elusive and mobile marine mammals. specialized NOUVELLE CALEDONIE PACIFIQUE PACIFIQUE SUD 034 036 12 1 552 [15 p.] 2022 2045-2322 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084697 10.1038/s41598-021-04412-3 2045-2322 [F B010084697] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084697 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2022-06/010084697.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2022-06-03 2025-02-24 fdi:010084697 fre