2005 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 69-75
This study analyzed the chemical composition of seagrasses that are potentially eaten by dugongs (Dugong dugon) near Kayo Beach, Okinawa Island, and Kasari Bay, Amami Island, in southwestern Japan. The main seagrasses at Okinawa Island were Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, Syringodium isoetifolium, Cymodocea rotundata, and Thalassia hemprichii, of which the most important were Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis and Cymodocea rotundata. At Okinawa Island, the crude protein content of Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea rotundata was higher than in other seagrasses, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of Halodule uninervis and Cymodocea rotundata was higher than other seagrasses, and the cellular content (CC) of Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis was higher than of Syringodium isoetifolium and Thalassia hemprichii. The cell wall (CW) content showed an inverse relationship to CC. At Amami Island, the NDF content of Halophila ovalis was higher than that of other seagrasses, and the CC content of Halophila ovalis was higher than that of Halodule uninervis. The CW content showed an inverse relationship to CC. Halophila ovalis was found to have higher protein content at Amami Island than at Okinawa Island. This study indicated differences in content of protein and NDF for different growing area and species.
