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Manatee Migration Update: February 20, 2002

Today's Report Includes:

Ranger Wayne's World
Ranger Wayne Greets You
Movie Clip

Ranger Wayne Hartley has invited you to participate in his manatee research at Blue Spring State Park--a hot spring that makes this location a hot spot for manatees in winter! That's great news, because he's been studying them since 1979, he knows almost every one by sight, and there's no one who knows more about the Blue Spring manatees than Ranger Wayne.

In this report, you'll dive into Ranger Wayne's manatee "Roll Call" data, which you'll need to know about when he asks you to get in the canoe! You'll also get a "taste" of what it's like at Blue Spring.

Field Notes from Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park
Orange City Florida

By Journey North's Julie Brophy
Julie and Ranger Wayne

Just a few weeks ago, I traveled to Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, FL to get my first-ever look at the endangered manatee, and my first-ever look at "Mr. Manatee" himself, Ranger Wayne Hartley. Ranger Wayne has been observing and studying the manatees of Blue Spring for over 21 years, and he invited me to join him in the canoe for the morning "Roll Call" of the manatees that migrate to Blue Spring in the winter.

My day began early in the morning, before the usual crowds of people flock to see manatees from viewing platforms on the banks of the Blue Spring "Run". The Run is like a wide stream that "runs" from inside the Park down to the St. Johns River, a distance of about 1/3 mile. The morning air temperature was around 41 degrees F ( 5 degrees C), just one degree warmer than when I left unseasonably warm Minnesota(44.96,-93.54)! But of course Florida in winter is much different than Minnesota in winter. Instead of snow and pale colors, Blue Spring was green and lush with spanish moss hanging from every tree.
When I first saw Ranger Wayne, he arrived in his State Park truck with life jackets, a canoe paddle, and his journal with "scar sheets" folded in between the pages (more on the scar sheets later). I had no idea what to expect, and in fact began to wonder when I heard someone say they thought they had seen an alligator.) Moments later, we were in the canoe marked "Manatee Research", floating on the water where the Run meets the River. With a few gentle paddle strokes, we set out "up" the Run. First we crossed a floating barrier rope with a sign that warns "Manatee Refuge No Canoes or Boat Beyond This Point". The air was cold, and Ranger Wayne wore a scarf and earmuffs. Steam was rising up from the Run. I put my fingers in the water, and it was warm like bath water. In the Run the water is at a constant 72 degrees (22.2 degrees C)!

Take a closer look-see how many manatees you can see!

The water was dark at the start near the River, but as we glided up the run it became very clear, so clear that I could see the sandy bottom about 8 ft down, and clearly see several fish species all around us. Then, before I knew it, a huge gray body swam toward the canoe--I saw my first manatee! And then came another, and another and another. Some seemed as curious about us as I was about them. It didn't take long before I heard Ranger Wayne's warm, low chuckle, as he began talking to each manatee that came in sight as though they were members of his family or old friends: "Hey, you, where's your momma?", "Hello, Georgia, where's Peach?", "You're late! Where have you been?" "Hey, get away from the canoe" (he told me a journalist who rode along last year ended up in the water, when a manatee overturned the canoe). With his keen eye, he greeted them, then picked up his journal and began writing his observations. When we finished the roll call about 90 minutes later that morning, the count was 50+manatees, 0 Alligators and 1 very happy passenger! (I could have stayed all day!)

How does Ranger Waybe know who's who? How can he tell them apart? Has he ever "met" an alligator? I experienced so much at Blue Spring, and there's much more to explore--stay tuned.

Raise Your Flipper When Your Name is Called
Ranger Wayne doing Roll Call

Each day during the winter, Ranger Wayne conducts a manatee "Roll Call" in the Run. From the canoe, he identifies the manatees, records their behaviors and any physical changes, and counts the total manatees present. He also records readings for the River water, Run water and air temperatures, as well as noting how far the dark River water comes up into the Run. Ranger records the daily information in his journal, and then transfers that data to his daily Attendance Sheets.

Take a look at some of Ranger Wayne's Attendance Sheets, then, see if you can answer

Challenge Question #4:
A) "December 23: How many manatees were counted between transect 1 and 2?"
B) "December 31: If Ranger Wayne didn't see a manatee in transect 16 & 18, how did he know they had been there?"
C) "January 15: What did Ranger Wayne record seeing in transect 13? Why could that be a serious problem for manatees?"
D) "February 8: Who is Manatee #234, and what did he have yesterday evening?"

Attendance Sheets (Click on image to enlarge and print)

Blank Attendance Form

December 23

December 31

January 15

February 8

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

Try This! Hungry for Geography? Make an Edible Map
To really get a detailed understanding of the layout of the Run at Blue Spring, make this edible Map. You'll get your hands, eyes and teeth into this project:

One Day They're Here, The Next Day They're Gone
Ranger Wayne's Attendance Sheets show that the number of manatees can vary from day to day, from none to ninety. What might explain the changing numbers of manatees that Ranger Wayne counts? A table of Ranger Wayne's data from his Attendance Sheets is below.

Challenge Question # 5:
"Can you see any patterns or trends in the data that explains the reason(s) for the changing number of manatees?"

Date

Air
Temp
Low(C)		 Air Temp High(C)

River Temp (C)

Run Temp. (C)

# of Manatees

12/19

5.1

28.5

21.6

nt

0

12/23

9.5

23.5

17.9

22.5

34

12/31

-1

24.0

15.1

22.5

73

01/05

-1.5

10

11.7

nt

97

01/15

6

19

13.9

22.4

67

01/31

16.5

30

22.1

22.4

0

02/03

15

24

22.3

nt

0

02/08

8

18

17.9

22.6

30

02/09

9

17

17.6

22.6

61



*(All temperatures are in degrees Celcius; "nt" = temperature not taken)

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

Welcome Airborne Ackerman
We're thrilled that we also have manatee population expert Dr. Bruce Ackerman back again. Dr. Ackerman is a manatee biologist and population expert with the Florida Marine Research Institute. He has the far-reaching task of coordinating the State's annual aerial manatee census, which uses crews across the State of Florida in small planes, helicopters and ground crews to count the manatees at all the wintering sites on both coasts. But this year, the annual aerial census has not been able to take off!

Field Notes From Dr. Ackerman
Here I am next to one of the planes he flies--a Cessna 172

Hello Students--It's great to be back with you for another Manatee season with Journey North! So far this year, we haven't been able to conduct our statewide aerial manatee census. Why? One word: Weather! I don't mean stormy, rainy, ugly weather. Indeed, it's been warm and sunny; the problem is its just been too warm and sunny! Last year, when we had one of the longest cold spells on record, the conditions were ideal and the manatee count was the highest ever.

A Rx for Aerial Surveys
In order to have an effective aerial census, we have a prescription (Rx) of weather conditions:

1) A prolonged cold front,
2) A significant drop in water temperature, and
3) A sunny and windless day following the cold front

Challenge Question #6:
"Why is this the perfect prescription for manatee surveys? Give reasons why you think each of the three weather factors might make counts higher."

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

We'll be watching to see if this long run of unusually warm weather will affect the manatee population in other ways. I look forward to bringing you more news in the next report.

Dr. Bruce B. Ackerman
Research Scientist
Florida Marine Research Institute
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
St. Petersburg FL 33701-5095

Latest Satellite Migration Data

Latest All Manatee Migration Map

We have compiled the latest satellite tracking data for you below. Plot the latest data of the manatees on your map.
(Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey's Sirenia Project)

Latest Field Notes From Cathy Beck
Hello students! Last week it was Dean's turn to spend the week in the field observing and tracking the manatees, and Dean related some interesting news.

Dean in the field

Dean saw Actual with her calf near Camp Lulu Key. She spends a lot of time here--seems to like this area. For several of our other manatees the Cape Romano area seems to be a real popular place). Dean saw Albert, Peggy Lee, Megan and Grace there at different times. Dean said Grace was closely accompanied by "Deano" (another of our tagged manatees actually named after Dean!)

Challenge Question #7:
"What do you think is attracting the manatees to the Cape Romano area?"

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

Dean also observed that as he slowly drove his boat, a few of our manatees wisely moved away. Peggy Lee, who bears scars from several previous encounters with boats, moved deliberately and skillfully to avoid Dean's boat; so did Santina. Many manatees are not so lucky. Most manatees bear scars from being hit by boat motor propellers and skegs. And power boat strikes are one of the leading causes of manatee mortality each year.

Cathy Beck
Sirenia Project
Gainesville, FL

Capture Recap: Discussion of CQ#1
In our last report, we asked you to go back in time and "Compare the overall health of manatees captured this year to those captured in 2001" and describe the reasons for any differences from one year to the next.

New Jersey's Iselin Middle School students Nathaniel, Stephen L., Stephen M., and Alex looked into both years and "captured" the answer themselves.

"In 2001 the captured manatees were showing cold stress. In 2002 they were in good condition and seemed quite healthy. They were tagged and released. We think the reason for the difference is that the water was warmer this year." Ms. Eckstein, Grade 7, NJ

Cathy Beck confirmed the students' answer, noting "the captures were very successful! Unlike last year when the manatees were showing the physical effects of enduring a hard winter, all the manatees this year are in great condition!"

Measuring Manatee Movements: Discussion of CQ #2
By mapping the manatees' movements, you were able to uncover the answers to where and how far the manatees traveled between January 29 and February 1:

(a)"In what direction has each manatee traveled?"
The manatees moved in many different directions. Actual, Addison, Grace and Peggy Lee all moved northwest; Albert went southeast; and Megan went east while Santina headed west.

(b) "Which manatee had the greatest change in longitude? How many degrees of longitude did it travel between January 29 and February 1?"

(c) "Which manatee had the greatest change in latitude? How many degrees of latitude did it travel between January 29 and February 1? How many miles does that represent in total? As a daily average distance? "

As it turns out, Peggy Lee had the biggest change in both longitude (.192 degrees) and latitude (.085 degrees). Her latitude change represents movement of about 5.84 miles, which divided by three days gives an average daily latitude distance change of about 1.95 miles.

What's in a Date? Discussion of CQ #3
In this question we asked you about a different type of calendar: "What is the name of the standard calendar/date system we use in our daily lives? What is the name of the calendar/date system that ARGOS uses? (Hint: "Hail Caesar!") How would the ARGOS calendar/date system indicate the following dates?"

In our normal lives, we use the Gregorian calendar, which uses months and days of the month to track time. However, as Cathy Beck explained, the ARGOS satellite system uses a "Julian" calendar (named after Julius Caesar), which simply designates days by their chronological order in a year without regard to month. So the following Gregorian dates have the following Julian dates:

Gregorian Date Julian Date
(a) February 14, 2002 Day 45
(b) March 20, 2002 Day 79
(c) December 31, 2002 Day 365
(d) January 1, 2003 Day 1

Manatee Ask the Expert Now Open!
We're lucky to have Nancy Sadusky back as our expert for her sixth year to answer your questions! Nancy is the Communications Director of Save the Manatee Club. Hurry, Nancy will accept your questions until March 1.

Coming in the Next Reports
  • Where Will Your Manatees Travel? Get the Latest!
  • Warm Weather Worries
  • Ranger Wayne Wants You! (to Take the Roll Call)
  • Dark and Deep Waters
  • Manatee Adaptations

How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions

IMPORTANT: Answer only ONE question in each e-mail message.

1. Address an E-mail message to: jn-challenge-manatee@learner.org
2. IMPORTANT: In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #4(OR #5 OR #6 OR #7)
3. In the body of the EACH message, give your answer to ONE of the questions above.

The Next Manatee Migration Update will Be Posted on March 6, 2002

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