FINAL Manatee Migration Update: April 30, 2003
Special Thanks to the Manatee Scientists!
Thank you Cathy Beck, Jim Reid, Bob Bonde, Susan Butler and Dean Easton from the Sirenia Project; Bruce Ackerman from the Florida Marine Research Institute; Ranger Wayne Hartley from Blue Spring State Park; and also Nancy Sadusky from Save the Manatee Club. It's been another fantastic season studying the Manatees!
We'll be sure to forward your notes to them. Final Field Notes from Cathy Beck
Hi Students: Link to Latest Data and Maps:
During his time in the field last week, Jim was able to deploy GPS tags on Anna and Actual. This is noteworthy because, as you already learned, using GPS tags will allow him to receive even more detailed information on these two manatees' use of the Port of the Islands area. One Last "Look" at
Your Tracked Manatees Tipper and Red Tide
Do you know what Red Tide really is? Did you know that it can affect more than manatees, such as other aquatic life like fish, mollusks, and other marine mammals? Did you know that it can even affect land animals like humans, and possibly even "man's best friend", the dog, too? Learn more about Red Tide:
What Has Our Manatee Tracking Study Told Us?
As you saw this season, manatees moved between the seagrass beds and inland sites - either Port of the Islands or to the numerous creeks and rivers. As you know, these inland sites are the areas where manatees go when they are thirsty. Did you notice from the location data that each manatee often has a preferred inland area to acquire freshwater, and some appear to be very loyal to his or her site? Why is our study data important, and how will they be used? Take a look at my Full Season Summary on the web, and compare your conclusions to ours. And take a look in the Summary at my comments about the movements of those manatees that we've studied over several seasons. There are some interesting differences between the movements of Actual and Santina. Did you see them too? So Long for Now
Wow - I can't believe this is the last Manatee report! Each year our time sharing manatee data with you seems to pass more quickly! We hope that studying manatees with us has made your school days more interesting. From your excellent answers to the Challenge Questions, we can see you've really given the Manatee study your full attention. By learning about the world around you like this, you are becoming empathetic and independent thinkers--good for you! Thank you from all of us at the Sirenia Project! I hope you will all check in with us again next year. We may still be following the movements of these manatees, maybe some new ones as well. We look forward to sharing our data with you, and hope you look forward to learning more about manatees and the habitat they depend on for survival. Cathy A. Beck, Jim Reid, Susan Butler, Bob Bonde Ready for Summer Vacation? As you finish up school and get ready for summer, ask yourself how is a human vacation different from an animal migration? For example, have YOU ever traveled without a suitcase? When people go on a trip, a lot of planning and preparation takes place. How about a manatee? Compare and contrast the purpose of travel, the preparations required, and the consequences of any mistakes. You're sure to appreciate an animal's remarkable journey even more after comparing their abilities to our own. More Manatee Adaptations: Skeleton, Flippers and Fat
Learn more about these adaptations, and then be sure to "Bone Up" on the others too because we're ready to wrap them all up into the Adaptation Matching Game. Remember: There's always a WHY behind WHAT you see. Whenever you see an unusual behavior or body part, ask yourself WHY. The Match Game: Can You Make a Match? This season we've looked closely at Manatees and have seen some very unique abilities from head to peduncle! Could you do some of the things Manatees do everyday?
A Manatee easily does all these things and more, thanks to special adaptations. But you would need some help to do the same things! Try This! Imagine yourself doing the things that Manatees do. Can you match the Manatee adaptation to a human invention? If Manatees Had a TV Show In 2001, the year of the highest Manatee count ever (3,276 manatees), there were 325 Manatee deaths counted. Of those deaths, 81 deaths, or almost 25% were caused by boat injuries. In 2002, while the total number of manatee deaths was down to 305 deaths, the number of boating related Manatee deaths rose to 95 (or 31% of all manatee deaths). The rising number of boating deaths--moving from one in every four Manatees deaths in 2001 (almost 25%) to almost one in every three in 2002--is a clear reason by itself why Manatees need protection.
Save the Manatee Club biologist Patti Thompson said in an earlier Palm Beach Post interview that these boating deaths are something that is "preventable just by being more careful." She added that if a single thing was causing 25% of human deaths (or worse yet 31%) "don't you think we'd be pretty worried about that?" "If we were doing these same things to any dolphin species, I guarantee you there would be a public and government outcry from here to Washington," said Greg Bossart, Director of Marine Mammal Research and Conservation at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in the same article. "Animals that have more appeal to our emotional needs or spiritual needs or whatever get more attention. They (Manatees) didn't get a TV series (like Flipper)." What are the other reasons to protect Manatees?: Then come back and discuss the questions below, which all play a role in understanding how fragile the Manatee population really is:
The Human Imprint: Our Impact on Manatees
Rapidly increasing human population in Florida impacts the Manatees in many different ways. More people in Florida means more boats and in turn more boating deaths for Manatees. But did you know that more people can also impact Manatee food sources and habitat? When you were mapping this year's Manatee migrations, do you remember how they regularly visited certain offshore areas over and over to feed in the lush seagrass beds. But what would happen if the seagrass beds were threatened? Dr. Ackerman indicates that seagrass bed damage is a risk with a growing population in Florida. In addition to damage from boat propeller scarring, he says that "seagrass beds are very sensitive to having good water clarity, and seagrasses are declining in some areas due to poor water clarity. And pollution continues to increase in some areas, from pesticides and herbicides, urban run-off, and septic tanks. That causes problems for seagrasses too. After all, it is every bit as important to have enough habitat for Manatees. You can't have enough Manatees without enough habitat!" Measure Your Footprint--Take the Ecological Footprint Quiz! Among all species, humans have the greatest capacity to shape and adapt to our physical environment, but ALL species have one thing in common: We all depend on the Earth for survival. (PhotoCredit: Rainbow TLC)
Sharing the Planet: 200,000 More People Every Day As we end another Manatee season, consider what human resource use and population growth mean to all living things. How fast are humans being added to the planet? Listen carefully:
In recognition of Earth Day this year, our "Signs of Spring" report reflected on human population growth, and its impact on the natural world. Beginning in about 1750, the Industrial Revolution improved the standard of living so dramatically that the human population began to grow exponentially. In less than 250 years, world population went from under 1 billion to 6 billion people. At current growth rates, we add one million more people to the planet every 5 days. How have humans managed to populate the entire globe? Learn about human invention and population growth from an historical perspective: More Manatee Math: Discussion of CQ #30
Assuming a 1,000 pound Manatee, eating 10% to 15% of its weight per day, several groups from St. Johns Greek Orthodox School, Iselin Middle School and Highview School correctly calculated that the Manatee eats 100 pounds to 150 pounds (10% to 15%) every day! Pizza Percentages
Here are some pizza percentages from the Iselin, St. John's and Highview School students:
A Conveyor Belt of Teeth: Discussion of CQ #31 and #32
In CQ# 31, we asked "What dental problem do Marching Molars solve for Manatees? Do humans have the same problem? How do you solve it?" Here are some of the excellent answers we received:
In CQ #32 we asked "How does tooth loss and replacement in a manatee's mouth compare to the way your teeth are lost and replaced?" Again everyone from St. John Greek Orthodox School took a second bite at the question with these answers:
Year-End Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts! Please take a few minutes to share your suggestions and comments in our Year-End Evaluation Form below. The information you provide at the end of each year is the single most important tool used to guide our planning.
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