Manatee
Migration Update: February 25, 2004
Today's
Report Includes:
- This Week's Manatee Migration Update
- Manatees on the Move! Animated Map & Discussion of CQ #7
- Why Does the Daily Count Change? Discussion & Audio Answer of CQ #8
- Try This! Why Can't Manatees Tolerate Cold Water?
- Are You Ready? Ask the Expert Opens This Friday!
- What's This? Looking Ahead
This Week's Manatee Migration Update
This "CQ" Update discusses last week's Challenge Questions, and your answers too. Watch for these CQ Updates every other week, between our regularly scheduled Manatee Updates. You'll also find out what the "What's This?" mystery photo was from last week.
Manatees on the Move! Animated Map Discussion of CQ #7
Last week, the first part of this Challenge Question asked "...tell us which manatee is the marathon swimmer?" In little more than a month, it was Giffer that migrated from the northern edge of the Everglades to the southern edge, and then back again!
Congratulations to the seventh graders Morli, Shanela, Kiran, Smriti, Fawad, Michael, Hiral and Tiffany from Iselin Middle School in NJ, who all correctly identified Giffer as the marathon manatee.
How unique was Giffer's migration path? Watch these animated maps comparing Giffer's and Anna's migrations. And try the Journaling Questions to explore what's really revealed in the different tracking maps and data, and for a little review on why individual manatees go WHERE they go:
| Try This! Watch Migration in Motion |
 |
| Photo Credit: FWC |
In the second half of CQ #7 we asked: "In latitude, calculate the distance it traveled between February 11 and February 13. Then, assume there were 48 hours between these locations, and calculate the hourly rate of travel between the locations, in degrees. What is the hourly rate of travel in miles? "
How far and fast did Giffer travel between February 11 and 13? In latitude degrees, the seventh graders from Iselin Middle School correctly determined that he swam .17 degrees. In terms of miles, we start with miles per degree of latitude, and at that location one full degree of latitude equals about 69 miles. Giffer's migration in miles was about 11.73 miles over two days (69 miles x.17), 5.87 miles per day (11.73 divided by 2 days), or .244 miles per hour (11.73 divided by 48 hours).
Why Does the Daily Manatee Count Change: Discussion of CQ #8
Last time we asked: "Why do you think the number of manatees in the Blue Spring Run changes each day? Can you see any patterns or trends in the data below that explain the reason(s) for the changing number of manatees?"
Congratulations and thanks go to Mallika from Harrington School in Lexington MA and Jared, Jon, Erica, and Darcey from Heyworth High School in Heyworth, IL for their answers. All of you knew that the primary factor in manatee migration is their need to leave cold water and find warm water. Mallika correctly pointed out that at Blue Spring the key factor is the difference between the River and the Run temperatures: "there will be more manatees in the Run when the water temperature there is higher (warmer) than the River."
As to just why the number of manatees in the Run changes from day to day, we look and listen to Ranger Wayne:
Listen to Ranger Wayne explain the answer |
 Mystery Photo Revealed: Ranger Wayne Measuring Water Temperature at Blue Spring |
Date
Temp
Low(C)# of Manatees 11/14 11/28 11/30 12/12 12/22
*(All temperatures are in degrees Celcius; "nt" = temperature not taken)
Try This! Why Can't Manatees Tolerate Cold Water?
Have you wondered why a large marine mammal like a Manatee cannot tolerate cold water? Try this "cool" experiment to explore the answers. This may be a bit messy, but the experience is worth it! Then try the Journaling Question below
Journaling Questions:
- Why do you think a large marine mammal like a Manatee cannot tolerate cold water when another large marine mammal like a Whale can?
- What are the differences in their bodies that make a difference?
Are You Ready? Ask the Expert Opens This Friday, February 27
Is there something about manatees that you're just "itchin'" to know? Do you think you can stump the expert with your toughest manatee questions? Beginning this Friday, and for the next two weeks, you'll have your chance to ask Nancy your questions.
What's This? Looking Ahead
 |
What
happened to this manatee's tail, and how do Scientists make use
of its condition in their research? Credit: FWC |
Next week we'll tell you more about it. See you then!
The Next Manatee Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 3, 2004.
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