Endangered Species- Manatees
Avery Dahlberg period 2
Save the Manatees!
Florida Manatee
Name/Also Known As: Florida Manatee, Trichechus manatus
Identifying characteristics: large, gray aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They have two forelimbs, called flippers, with three to four nails on each flipper. Their head and face are wrinkled with whiskers on the snout. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds.
Last seen: location- The Florida manatee occurs primarily in Florida and southeastern Georgia. It is usually found in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater habitats. Biotic factors- Algae, mangroves, sawgrass, stork, manatee, raccoon, skunk, bobcat, deer, orchids. Abiotic factors- water, soil, landforms, elevation. Type of biome- freshwater. Distribution throughout biome- the Florida manatee usually lives around the coasts of Florida during the warm season and migrate south during the winter adaptations- the whiskers on a manatee help it feel things like fingers, manatees carry a layer of body fat which helps to insulate them from the cold water
What has changed for it to be endangered: what has changed in its ecosystem- boat collisions, loss of habitat, pollution, fishing lines/nets and an annual toxic algae bloom known as red tide named after the color change it creates underwater. Current population- 4,831
Suspected culprits: causes of endangered species- boats running manatees over, cold water, toxic algae, pollution, and fishing nets length of endangerment- 1967-2015 onward human actions that endanger species- pollution, fishing lines and nets, boat collisions manatee actions that endanger species- can not live in cold water, has not adapted to know that some algae is toxic
Recovery plan: specific measures being taken to protect species- the development of site-specific boat speed zones for manatee protection, implementation of management plans, posting of regulatory speed signs, levying fines for excessive speed in designated areas, public acquisition of critical habitat, creation of sanctuaries, manatee research, and education and public awareness programs organizations that help protect manatees- FWC, humane society, ISM, save the manatee club funding- Funding for the state of Florida's manatee-related research and management activities is provided primarily from the Save the Manatee Trust Fund (STMTF), which receives money from sales of manatee license plates and decals, boat registration fees, and voluntary donations.
Reward: what value does it have to humans? provide a benefit by processing the vegetation they eat and passing it back out into the environment as a form of fertilizer economical value- tourist coming to visit manatee sanctuaries provides a lot of money to Florida