What would happen if dugongs went extinct?

If dugongs went extinct, it would disrupt marine ecosystems where they play a crucial role as herbivores, primarily by grazing on seagrass. This grazing helps maintain healthy seagrass beds, which are vital for carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and providing habitat for various marine species. The loss of dugongs could lead to overgrowth of seagrass, negatively impacting species that rely on these habitats and potentially altering the overall dynamics of marine ecosystems. Additionally, their extinction would diminish biodiversity and affect local communities that depend on them for cultural and economic reasons.