Duval County Manatee Research Project

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 1 Duval County Manatee Research Project

Funded: City Of Jacksonville Jacksonville Electric Authority Jacksonville Port Authority Developed: Jacksonville Waterways Commission Research: Jacksonville University

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 2 Classification of Sirenians

Order: Sirenia (manatees & dugongs) Family: Trichechidae (manatees)

Genus species/subspecies: Trichechus manatus - West Indian Trichechus manatus latirostris -Florida Trichechus manatus manatus - Antillean

Trichechus inunguis –Amazonian Trichechus senegalensis – West African

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 3 Classification of Sirenians

Order: Sirenia (manatees & dugongs)

Family: Dugongidae (dugongs & sea cow)

Genus species:

Dugong dugon – (dugong)

Hydrodamalis gigas (extinct Steller’s sea cow)

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 4 Research Project Components

Manatee aerial surveys

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

Water quality monitoring

Marina surveys

Vessel traffic studies

Power plant surveys

Manatee protection

Manatee education and awareness

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 5 Manatee Aerial Surveys

Bimonthly

Cessna 172 high wing aircraft

500 – 1000 ft altitude

ICW and SJR flight paths

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 6 6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 7 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

Freshwater

Tape grass - Vallisenaria americana

Hyacinth - Eichornia sp.

Algae - Hydrilla sp. Marine

Turtle grass – Thalassia sp.

Manatee grass – Syringodium sp.

Shoal grass – Haladule sp.

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 8 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

Deliniation

Mapping

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 9 Water Quality Monitoring

Weekly at JU dock

Water temperature – STC meter / Tid bits

Salinity – STC meter / refractometer

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 10 Marina Surveys

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 11 Vessel Traffic Studies

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 12 Power Plant Surveys

JEA Southside and Kennedy

Monitored daily between Nov - Feb

Scar patterns recorded

Other sites

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 13 Manatee Protection

Waterways activities/events

Rescues & carcass recovery

Other observations

Special areas

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 14 Manatee education and awareness

JU Speakers Bureau

Duval County Manatee Hotline (904) 256-7575

www.ju.edu/academics/research.asp

6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 15 6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 16 6/19/2009 Jacksonville University 17 Kfish Tournaments

Kfish Tournaments END A Cessna 172 High wing aircraft. A Cessna 172 High wing aircraft. B Manatee feeding near dock @ shoreline. C Manatee traveling under dock. D Manatee traveling open water. E Manatee @ Epping Forest Marina. F Manatee feeding G Manatee traveling inside docks. H Manatee traveling outside docks. I Manatee traveling outside docks. J Manatee traveling outside docks K Water hose Cavorting Manatees L Tape grass @ Bolles School M Ground truthing N Hand held GPS O Trimble GPS P Refractometer Q Inventory of Boat Facilities R Observer watching for traffic. Jefferson Smurfit Back arch SSJEA Winter Sworl & Back arch SSJEA Winter Tail SSJEA Winter Head SSJEA Winter M&Calf Club Cont. May96 Scar pattern Scar pattern M&CalfSSJEA Speed boat races Ski shows Main Street Obs Manatee rescue SSJEA Stumpy Manatee rescued at JU dock broken back later died at Sea World Carcass recovery Oil spill at Mayport Jetties Gas Spill Gas Spill Speakers Bureau M&New Born May 2000 M&New Born May 2000 Source: FWCC, DEP, BPSM, FMRI. Source: FWCC, DEP, BPSM, FMRI. Source: FWCC, DEP, BPSM, FMRI. Bull_Shark_Fendindina Dolphins Sting Rays Ducks Blue Heron Limpkin Fish Sores Development JTB Bridge IR Downtown IR Exchange Island MANATEE SIGHTINGS IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA (SUMMER, 2001) NASSAU CO. Summer01 N

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# ST. JOHNS MANATEE SIGHTINGS IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA (FALL, 2001) NASSAU CO. Fall01 N

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NOTE: Each dot represents the location of asighting, not the number of manatees sighted. MANATEE SIGHTINGS IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA (WINTER, 2001-2002) NASSAU CO. Winter01/02 N

# ATLANTIC OCEAN

Fuller Warren Bridge

Buckman Bridge DUVAL # CLAY

DUVAL

ST. JOHNS

NOTE: Each dot represents the location of a sighting not the number of manatees sighted MANATEE SIGHTINGS IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA (SPRING, 2002) NASSAU CO. Spring02 N

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NOTE: Each dot represents the location of asighting, not the number of manatees sighted. MANATEE SIGHTINGS IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA (SUMMER, 2002) NASSAU CO. Summer02 N

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# # # Bridge # # # DUVAL # # # # ## # # CLAY # # ## # # # # ## ## # # # # # ## # # ### # # # # # ## # # # # # # ## # ## # # ## # # # # ## # # # ## ### # # # # # # ## # # # DUVAL ## # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # ST. JOHNS # ## # ## # # #

NOTE: Each dot represents the location of asighting, not the number of manatees sighted. 20

8 Number of manatee deaths manatee of Number

0 197 197 197 197 198 198 198 198 198 198 198 198 198 198 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 200 200 200 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

Duval WC 2156011274254639222332324110 DuvalDuval TD WC611111137 = Duval County Watercraft 3 related 81691312920131985 manatee deaths 6 7101013911613 D5yr.WCDuval ave. TD = Total manatee deaths33322334444554442233324 in Duval County D5yr.WC ave. = Five year running average for Duval County Watercraft related manatee deaths Average Monthly Salinity at JU Dock

1999 2000 2001 2002

20 2000

Salinity (ppt) 10 1999

2002 5

2001

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Mean monthly salinity recorded at the Jacksonville University dock, Duval Co., FL 1999 - 2002. MANATEES AND DUGONGS John E. Reynolds III and Daniel K. Odell