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Manatees: an Educator's Guide. Fourth Edition. INSTITUTION Save the Manatee Club, Maitland, FL

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Manatees: an Educator's Guide. Fourth Edition. INSTITUTION Save the Manatee Club, Maitland, FL DOCUMENT RESUME ED 388 523 SE 056 744 TITLE Manatees: An Educator's Guide. Fourth Edition. INSTITUTION Save the Manatee Club, Maitland, FL. SPONS AGENCY Fish and Wildlife Service (Dept. of Interior), Annapolis, MD.; Florida Audubon Society, Maitland.; Florida State Dept. of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee. PUB DATE 94 NOTE 33p.; Funding also received from the Marine Mammal Commission. AVAILABLE FROMSave the Manatee Club, 500 N. Maitland Ave., Suite 210, Maitland, FL 32751 (Free to educators. Please send 9 x 12 envenope and $1.47 for shipping; color poster and 12-minute VHS videotape also available). PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Use Teaching Guides (For Teacher)(052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Animals; *Ecology; Elementary Secondary Education; *Environmental Education; Marine Biology; Science Activities; Science Education; *Zoology IDENTIFIERS Florida; Mammals; *Manatees ABSTRACT The manatee is known for its gentleness and uniqueness and has become a symbol of humanconcern for endangered species. This guide provides current informationon the West Indian manatee as well as strategies for teaching about thisendangered animal. While focusing on the manatee, this guide pointsout the importance of interdependencies within the whole ecosystemwith the goal of promoting informed decision-making, responsiblebehavior, and constructive actions towards the protection of themanatee and its habitat in Florida. The activities includedcan be adapted to suit the special needs, ages and abilities of differentstudents and are designed for multidisciplinary studyareas. Accompanying this guide is a color poster, "Sirenians of the World," depictingthe West Indian manatee and four related species. Topicscovered include: natural history, habitat, the hydrologic cycle, other sirenian species, marine mammals, problems, manatee mortality,research and conservation, and public awareness. A list of manateeresources, reference books and audio-visual aids is included.(JRH) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * I ***** Reproductions supplied by EDRSare the best that can be made * * from the original document. *************** Crl , e1.00.61 00 44 00 LL p .,,.," ,h'.> L. ,..,. '47 , ,..- PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS U DEPANTMENT OF EDUCATION MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Oft.of Educational Research and Improvement 4 EDUCATIO L RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) (AdviL. DocumAntnee been reprOduced as recenved from the personOro(oanution OdlgInahrIQ it 0 MIAwchancles have been made lo improve 1 fPrOductioc thsahty lIlt III41.1'NAt RE S,)LIRCES Posnls of view Or opinions stated m ihts docu. F mint do not necesSerily rePreaant OfhCial tJTi P ERIC OERI POsitiOn Or cokcy AL---miiridEEL' AN EDUCATOR'S GUIDE Fourth Edition printed on tycyclnd par)er BEST COPY AVAILABLE he West Indian manatee has captured the imagination of people across the country during the last two decades. Public awareness in Florida has also increased dramatically, especially since 1975, when the manatee was de- signated as the state's aquatic mammal. Today the manatee is known for its gentleness and uniqueness, and has become a symbol of human concern for endangered species. "MANATEES An Educator's Guide" provides current information on the West Indian manatee as well as strategies for teaching about this endangered animal. Informa- tion about its physiology, behavior, habitat, related species, causes of mortality, and efforts at conservation is included. Of course. a problem with a single species is often a problem interrelated with our environment and the natural resources on which we commonly depend. While this guide focuses on the West Indian manatee, the importance of interdependencies within the whole ecosystem and the role the manatee plays should be kept in appropriate context. We hope that the use of this guide will result in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions towards the protection of the manatee and its habitat in Florida. We encourage you to copy and distribute the material in this booklet. Activities can be adapted to suit the special needs, ages, and abilities of your students and are designed for multidisciplinary study areas. Accompanying-this guide is a 4-color poster. "Sirenians of the World," depicting the West Indian manatee and four related species. Also available are: "Manatee Messages: What You Can Do!" An exciting new education videotape for students and teachers, produced by Save the Manatee@ Club (SMC) with assistance from the Florida Advisory Council on Environmental Education (FACEE). This .1/2" VHS videotape (approximately 12 minutes in length) has been distributed to schools throughout Florida, and educators should check their district media centers for availability. Out-of-state educators and other interested parties may purchase a video for $9.00 (total cost). The following formats exist: (1) Secondary Level (Grades 6-12), (2) Open Captioned Secondary Level, (3) Elementary Level (Grades K-5) and (4) Open Captioned Elementary Level. Written permission may be obtained by writing Save the Manatee@ Club to &plicate and/or broadcast this program. Adopt-A-Manatee Program: School groups or classes can adopt an endangered manatee for $10.00 through Save the Manatee@ Club. With adoption/membership, classes will receive an adoption certificate, an underwater photo and case history of the adopted manatee, and a variety of educational materials. In addition, classes will receive the Save the Manatee@ Club Newsletter four times a year, complete with adoption updates. education articles, and information on manatee-related issues. We hope that this manatee package will encourage you and your students to become more aware of our fascinating natural world and work to preserve its wonders for generations to come. EDUCATION IS THE KEY... First Edition 19K5 Written h Judith Delane. Wendy Hale. and Renee Stone Second Edition Igx9 Res ised and ssritten by Majorie Lamphear Giaphics and illustrations by Mary Ruth Sprankel Thanks to Beth Beeler, Marie Bienkoss ski. Dar I Domning. Wend> I tale. Rand I..ess is. Patrick NI. Rose. and Vi Steck art for their help in rolesing this guide and to Pegg> Lanti tor her editing help. Third Edition I (N2 Reised hs Nanc .1 hanks to: Unice B A keiman. ViL ki 1.1annagan. Caiolma Garion. Ralik NI Rose. Nant- Sadusk. and Patti Thompson toi their help in re less nig this guide. Fourth Edition 10114 Res ised h Nanc Sadusk. Judith Vallee. and Patti Thompson. rhanks to lAtie Ousle and Bruce B Ackerman. ed h St c thy \ t,tii_iiut I hit,I ot NON Hiloi motion on mandice.. it liic ihc \ l,tnttciIItib.iil I \ \ c. I.1 's I ofAll I 8(N) i2 11 tr., Natural History DescriptionWest Indtan Manatee he West Indian manatee is a large, gray-brown, aquatic mammal. Its seal-like body tapers to a flat, paddle- shaped ta.1, and two small forelimbs on the upper body have three to four nails on each flipper. The head and face are wrinkled and the snout has stiff whis- kers. Adults have been known to exceed lengths of thirteen feet and weigh over 3500 pounds: however, this is quite above average. Manatees usually av- erage around 10 feet in length and weigh somewhere between 800 and also for putting food into the mouth). 1200 pounds. At birth. manatees are Young manatees seem to propel them- three to four feet long and weigh be- selves with their flippers. tween 60 and 70 pounds. bulls, forming a mating group. They Behavior appear to breed at random during this Physiology Manatees spend most of their time time. Although breeding and birth Manatees have a large digestive sys- feeding (six to eight hours a day) and may occur at any time during the year. tem, and unique, continuously re- resting (two to twelve hours a day). there appears to be a slight spring calv- placing molars to cope with an They graze for food along water bot- ing peak. herbivorous diet. The manatee eats toms and on the surface. They may Manatees usually hear One calf, al- abrasive plants that wear down these rest submerged at the bottom or just though twins have also been recorded. molars. As an adaptation, new molars below the surface, coming up to Intervals between births range from form at the back of the jaw and move breathe on the average of every 3 to 5 two to five years (a two year interval forward, pushing out the oldest, most minutes. Intervals between breaths de- may occur when a cow loses a calf worn-out teeth. The rate of molar pend upon activity level. When the soon after birth). The gestation period movement depends on how fibrous the manatee is using a great deal of en- is approximately thirteen months. plants are. ergy. it may surface to breathe as often Mothers nurse their young for a long The manatee's eyes are small and as every 30 seconds. When just rest- period and a calf may remain depen- have a nictitating membrane that can ing, manatees have been known to dent on its mother for up to two years. be drawn across the eyeball for protec- hold their breath as long as 20 min- The cow assumes total responsibility tion. Manatees have fairly good visual utes. for raising the calf without the bull. acuity arid can distinguish between Manatees are agile and have been Calves nurse under water from a different-sized objects, different col- observed in loosely organized, playful nipple located behind the cow 's flip- ors and patterns. activities such as body-surfing and per and begin to eat plants a few weeks Manatees emit sounds underwater barrel rolling. after birth. that are believed to be used in commu- Manatees are not territorial. Because Scientists believe females do not be- nicating with one another, and not for the manatee has evolved with no natu- come sex wily mature until five to navigational purposes. Vocalizations ral enemies, it has not needed the nine years of age. They live long may express fear, anger, or sexual protection/cooperation of a herd.
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