Distribution of the 14 seagrass habitat types and mosquito net trawl hauls sampled in the study area in the Bay of Toliara, Southwest Madagascar. 1: mixed seagrass beds (three species) dominated by Cymodocea serrulata; 2: mixed beds (three species) dominated by Syringodium isoetifolium; 3: mixed beds (three species) dominated by Thalassia hemprichii. 4: mixed meadows (Thalassia hemprichii and Halodula uninervis) dominated by Thalassia hemprichii; 5: mixed meadows composed by Halodula uninervis and Thalassodendron ciliatum; 6: mixed meadows composed by Syringodium isoetifolium and Thalassodendron ciliatum; 7: mixed meadows with Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea serrulate, 8: monospecific meadows of Cymodocea serrulata, 9: monospecific meadows of Halodula uninervis, 10: monospecific meadows of Syringodium isoetifolium, 11: monospecific meadows of Thalassia hemprichii, 12: monospecific meadows of Thalassodendron ciliatum; 13: bare sand, and 14: bare mud. Dotted white line: trajectory of the pirogues sampled.