Introduction:
The West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus, is a distinct species of manatee that is found in the warm coastal waters and rivers of Florida (Lefebvre et al. 2001). Globally the West Indian manatee is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (2014). The populations of West Indian manatees that call Florida’s waters home are not doing as well. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) list the West Indian manatee as endangered (2014).
The predominate cause of declines in Florida’s manatee populations are considered to be anthropogenic. Anthropogenic activities strongly influence manatee behavior and food sources (FFWCC 2007). Manatees have a relatively slow life history manatees calve approximately every three years, gestation is eleven to thirteen months and sexual maturity is reached between four and seven years old (FFWCC 2007). Calves are dependent upon their mothers for at least the first two years of life and Manatees life expectancy is approximately 60 years old (FFWCC 2007). The primary threats that manatees face from anthropogenic influences include entanglement, habitat loss, and watercraft collisions.
Entanglement:
Manatees can become entangled in traps and fishing gears that can cause drowning and scarring (FFWCC 2007). Entanglement may also lead to crushing by watercraft, canal locks, or other structures (FFWCC 2007). Manatees can also drown because manatees may become trapped in or by structures and pipes used for water control devices. Debris from fisheries operations or pollution can be accidentally ingested and this is very harmful for manatees.
Habitat Loss:
Manatees are a highly migratory species, locat...
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...selected power plants in winter. Marine Mammal Science 10(2):163–177
Runge MC, Sanders-Reed CA, Langtimm CA, Fonnesbeck CJ 2007 A quantitative threats analysis for the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). USGS Open-File report 2007-1086. 34 pp
Weigle BL, Wright IE, Ross M, Flamm R 2001 Movements of radio-tagged manatees in Tampa Bay and along Florida’s west coast, 1991-1996. Florida Marine Research Institute Technical Report TR-7. St. Petersburg, FL. 156 pp
Wright SD, Ackerman BB, Bonde RK, Beck CA, Banowetz DJ 1995 Analysis of watercraft-related mortality of manatees in Florida, 1979-1991. Population Biology of the Florida Manatee. National Biological Service Information and Technology Report 1. Washington, D.C.
USFWS 2001 Florida manatee recovery plan, (Trichechus manatus latirostris), third revision. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, Georgia.
1. Alden, Peter, Rich Cech, and Gil Nelson. 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. New York: Knopf.
The efforts taking place through different conservation organizations and the State of Florida are making a mixed impact on the survival of Manatees and Sea Turtles. The decline in manatee population has decreased, but due to low reproduction rates, more needs to be done to avoid extinction. The sea turtle outlook is more species specific. Some species of turtle are seeing stabilization in population, while others are not. The State of Florida has a large array of custom license tags that support the conservation efforts taking place within the State. The proceeds go to benefit the local marine life in Florida. With financial resources, state and local cooperation, and through constant research and observation, we are able to learn more about both of these gentle animals. With human awareness of those living in Florida, these two animals will survive
Levin, T. (1998, June/July). Listening to wildlife in the Everglades. National Wildlife, 36, 20- 31. McCally, D. (1999). The Everglades: An Environmental History. Gainsville: University Press of Florida.
The Everglades is a diverse ecosystem located in southern Florida, yet urbanization has created a considerable amount of impact that has altered the physical landscape of the region, resulting in a symbiotic environment between humans and nature. Based on geographical research, the original Everglades spanned an area of approximately 12,000km2, and now because of urbanization and agricultural growth in this sub-region the area of the Everglades has been condensed to half of its original size (Willard et al 1-2). The Everglades is actually a sub-region of the Southern Coastlands region of the United States. It is comprised of a unique climate, divided into sub-provinces that create a diverse pallet of environments for wildlife to thrive, yet the impact of human modifications over a period of decades has drastically effected animal populations, and changed the functionality and physical landscape of its expanse. Despite the differences of urbanization and wildlife, major cities and the ecosystem of the Everglades thrive and fuse together to form the diversely changing landscape of the modern Everglades.
The Florida Everglades have been slowly and steadily diminishing in size for over many decades. Throughout the years, the Everglades have had an abundant, healthy environment. The massive swamps were once rich with marshland, and had ecosystems chock-full of wildlife. However, due to large corporations, natural disasters and most importantly, the growth of the human population, the Everglades are 50% smaller than they were hundreds of years ago. The destruction of the Florida Everglades includes not only a diminishing number of the marshland, but also the lessening of wild life, such as alligators, herons, and exotic plants. While there is a government plan set for the restoration of the everglades, it will take many years to make up for the
The range-wide population of manatees is assumed to be at least 13,000, with more than 6,500 in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. There was “aerial surveys” that began in 1991. Info from the survey stated it was an estimation of 1,267 manatees in Florida. Today there are more than 6,300 in Florida, indicating a major increase over the last 25 years. The Conservation Commission (FWC)” recently led two natural status reviews of the Florida manatee that involved complete collection and mixture of population and range data; along with a wide spread display of population projections (FWC 2002, 2003; Haubold et al. 2006). Enduring studies of the Florida manatee show that there are four separate regional subpopulations, as
The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a marine mammal that lives in the coastal waters and around the offshore reefs of Belize. Manatees have large gray bodies covered with algae or barnacles. They are herbivores that consume marine vegetation such as sea grass and surface regularly to breathe. They reside in sea grass beds and in mangroves that provide them with shelter. The West Indian Manatee is listed as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and may eventually be listed as endangered. They are at a huge risk of decline due to coastal development and other changes to the environment (Auil). Manatees are facing countless risks and deaths as the human population increases in varying locations. According to the National Geographic, in the year of 2013, there have been a total of 829 known manatee deaths which has been the highest toll since biologists started to keep records of this species. Manatees have no natural enemy, so their deaths are caused by human interaction. These are entanglements in nets, destruction of habitat, collisions with watercraft, and hunting.
The author of the article states, according to the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service, it estimated that 6,350 manatees reside along the coastal Southeastern states, a count that led the
A huge array of plants and animals surrounds you. You take a deep breath inhaling the magnificent scents of the blooming flowers and marshy wetland. Birds darken the sky as they fly overhead and crocodiles lay resting in the sawgrass. Animals live in harmony with each other everday.This place although seems like a fairytale is actually very similar to a well-known place called the Florida Everglades, a subtropical wetland ecosystem with an amazing biodiversity. However, this ecosystem is falling apart due to a variety of reasons. For example, snakes not native to this wetland are introduced threatening this ecosystem's food web. The Florida Everglades is a wetland worth preserving though, because it provides a habitat for wildlife, essentially supports the economy of the United States, and humans benefit from this ecosystem.
Everyone loves the Florida manatee because they look like big puppy dogs with a cute endless smile. In addition, they are beautiful creatures that bring a smile to every face that sees them floating along in their natural habitat or in the local aquarium. Undoubtedly, the Florida manatee is one of the friendliest species in the world even though they are huge animals weighing up to twelve hundred pounds and reaching ten-foot long. Despite what this gentle creature has been through at the hands of human beings, the Florida manatee looks as happy as ever when they are sighted feeding in their natural environment. However, the manatee population is being threatened and needs help to prevent further decline. The reduction in the Florida manatee
Rising sea levels are becoming a prominent issue along with global warming and climate change for many regions near costal areas, Miami, Florida being one of the most detrimental areas. With a current population of 413,892 living just 6 feet above sea level, Miami is positioned as one of the first areas to feel some of the disastrous effects of climate change (Johnson). Within the next 100 years rising sea levels have the ability to damage South Florida’s fragile barrier island, the population that lives near costal areas, and its appealing subtropical beaches (Madigan A12). Coastal areas, which provide the largest area for disaster, however are not the only area that will experience the effects of climate change. Looking further inland, the Everglades, which provide Miami with source of fresh water could be contaminated through the high salt levels of the ocean, rendering them unusable (Madigan A12). The everglades of Miami depend upon precipitation as source of fresh water, however with the rise in sea levels the overwhelming amount of saltwater is detrimental to their health (Linhoss, Chambers, Wozniak, and Ankersen). The rise of sea levels will result in the plunge of the Florida Keys along with the Key West (Madigan A12). The high risk of flooding that the Florida keys are faced with propose a decline in environment for various species that are endangered (Linhoss, Chambers, Wozniak, and Ankersen). By the end of this century, effects from melting snow and ice reserves and the thermal expansion of the ocean water mass are significant factors attributed to the rise in sea levels affecting Miami (Sea level rise). Thermal expansion that was once the main factor in sea level rise has decelerated causing the acce...
The Florida Manatee’s popular marine species in the tropical environment of Florida are currently considered an “endangered species”. The ecology (the relationships between living organisms and their interactions with their natural or developed environment), for the manatee (trichechus manatus), requires and is generally restricted to the inland and coastal waters of peninsular Florida during the winter, when they shelter in and/or near warm-water springs, heated industrial effluents, and other warm water sites (as stated in Research Gate (1997) Hartman 1979, Lefebvre et al). The Florida (West Indian) Manatee, An Endangered Species, has no known predators other than humans; in the past, humans hunted
In the end, manatees are good-hearted, wild animals that needs our help from being wiped into extinction. Fan boats need to be used or other inventions need to be generated to prevent the barbaric flesh tearing effects of our propeller driven boats. Funding for red tide control technology is needed for the manatees as well as other sea life. We need to help these manatees survive as so many other animals have been. Over the last 50 years, humans have greatly decreased the manatee population (Lapham). Each year manatee population decreases by 10%, with 2013 being the worst year of all (Halls). The problem is evidently getting worse, not better. The time for resolve is now. If not, it will not be long until the loving nature and face of the manatee goes blank in the world of existence.
The Leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, is the largest sea turtle species and is highly migrational. They inhabit every ocean and are endangered in all of them (James et al. 2005, Roe et al. 2014). They require warm waters and tropical beaches for nesting and juvenile development, and cold Northern waters for foraging (Eckert 2002). Their diet is dependent on gelatinous zooplankton (Jones et al. 2012). Their major threats include pollution, bycatch, and egg harvesting. Many initiatives have been created to help their recovery including protecting critical beach and adjacent water habitats and stricter fishing regulations. Important nesting beaches in the discussed area are in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Florida (NMFS 1979, NMFS and USFWS 2013). Due to their expansive migrations, international cooperation has been necessary and resulted in international conventions to help regulate international trade of eggs and individuals and protecting ocean habitat between countries (CITES 1973, CBD 1992, IAC 2001, CMS 2011).
Sandy beaches are highly dynamic environments that have many valuable environmental impacts including: providing protection to inland areas, dissipation of wave energy, are important tourist destinations, and serve as a home to a variety of marine and coastal species such as sea turtles and coral reefs (Absalonsen and Dean, 2010). Both of Florida’s coasts have many sandy beaches, and climate change has impacted many species of fauna such as sea turtles and coral reefs, as well as the shoreline position of Florida’s coastline. In order to understand the impacts of climate change on Florida’s coastline, it is important to describe Florida’s geologic and climate settings.