Suggestions for Student Research With Satellite Data Migration Behavior from One Year to the Next The migration data that will arrive from our satellite-tracked manatees this spring provides an opportunity for you to do your own research. Read the objectives of the scientist's study. Then consider how you might design a study of your own, using the same migration data. Make a hypothesis, then compare and contrast the data from each migration. At the conclusion of your study, write a scientific paper and/or hold scientific research conference in your class and share your results. Sample Research Questions Come up with your own questions! You may look for similarities and differences between: Manatees Wintering in Different Regions How do you think manatee migration in the different regions might compare? For instance, compare previous years' manatee migration data in a different region to the migration data of manatees you are studying now. What factors do you think might make them different and/or similar? Migration Behavior from One Year to the Next Do you think a manatee follows the same route every year? Do you think the timing of the migration is similar from year to year? Migration Behavior of Adults vs. Juveniles Would you expect the migration of an adult to be the same as that of a juvenile manatee? Why or why not? Migration Behavior of Females vs. Males Would you expect the migrations of males and females to be the same or different? Why? What can you learn from comparing the migration behavior of a male and a female? Links to Data and Helpful Charts Spring 2003 Data Past Year's Data (Spring) Scientist Says: How Scientists Communicate the Results of Their Research Copyright 2002-2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form