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Duval County Manatee Research Project

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Duval County Manatee Research Project 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 # # # # # # # # ## # # ATLANTIC # # # # # # ## # # # OCEAN # # ## # # # Fuller Warren # Bridge # # # ## # # # # # # # ### # # ## # ## # # # # # # Buckman # # # # # Bridge # # # DUVAL # # ## # # # ## # # CLAY # # ## # ### # # # ## # ## # ## ## # # # # # # # # # ## # ## ### # ## # ## # # # # # ## # # # ###### ## # # # DUVAL # # # ST. JOHNS MANATEE SIGHTINGS IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA (FALL, 2001) NASSAU CO. Fall01 N # ATLANTIC OCEAN Fuller Warren Bridge # # # # # Buckman # Bridge DUVAL # CLAY ## # # ## ## # ## # # ## # DUVAL ## ST. JOHNS ## 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 # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # ATLANTIC # # # # # # # # # # OCEAN # #### # # # # # # # Fuller # # # Warren # Bridge # # # # ## # ### # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #### # # ### # ### # Buckman # # # # # # Bridge # ## DUVAL #### ### # ## # # ## # # # # # CLAY # # # # # #### # # # # ## # ## # ## # # # # ## ## # # # ### # ## # # ## ## ## # # # # # DUVAL # # # # ## # # # # # # # # ST. JOHNS 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 # # # # # # # # # # # ATLANTIC # # # # # # OCEAN # # # # # # # # Fuller # # Warren # Bridge # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Buckman # # # Bridge # # # DUVAL # # # # ## # # CLAY # # ## # # # # ## ## # # # # # ## # # ### # # # # # ## # # # # # # ## # ## # # ## # # # # ## # # # ## ### # # # # # # ## # # # DUVAL ## # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # ST. JOHNS # ## # ## # # # NOTE: Each dot represents the location of asighting, not the number of manatees sighted. 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 Number of manatee deaths manatee of Number 4 2 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 3Watercraft 81691312920131985 related manatee deaths 6 7101013911613 D5yr.WCDuval ave. TD = Total manatee deaths in Duval County D5yr.WC ave. = Five33322334444554442233324 year running average for Duval County Watercraft related manatee deaths Average Monthly Salinity at JU Dock 1999 2000 2001 2002 25 20 2000 15 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.
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