Manatees AN EDUCATOR’S GUIDE Photo © David R. Schrichte Florida Manatee Fast Facts KINGDOM: Animalia HABITAT: Manatees are found and/or drowned in canal locks and PHYLUM: Chordata in shallow, slow-moving rivers, flood control structures. They can CLASS: Mammalia estuaries, saltwater bays, canals accidentally ingest fishhooks, litter, ORDER: Sirenia and coastal areas, particularly and fishing line, or become entangled FAMILY: Trichechidae where seagrass beds or freshwater in crab trap lines. Manatees can GENUS: Trichechus vegetation flourish. also die from natural causes such as SPECIES: manatus RANGE: West Indian manatees cold-related disease, gastrointestinal SUBSPECIES: latirostris are found throughout the wider disease, and pneumonia. DESCRIPTION: West Indian Caribbean basin and within the LEGAL PROTECTION: Manatees manatees are large, gray aquatic southeastern United States. Florida in Florida are protected under two mammals with whale-like bodies manatees are concentrated in federal laws: The Marine Mammal that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped Florida in the winter. Each summer, Protection Act of 1972 and the tail. They have two forelimbs, called sightings of Florida manatees Endangered Species Act of 1973. flippers, with three to four nails. occur in other southeastern states Manatees are also protected by Their head and face are wrinkled including Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary with whiskers on the snout. South Carolina. Manatees have been Act of 1978. SIZE: The average adult manatee documented as far west as Texas CONSERVATION: The Florida is about three meters (9.8 feet) and as far north as Massachussetts. Manatee Recovery Plan is coordi- long and weighs between 362–544 FOOD: Manatees are herbivores. nated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife kilograms (800–1,200 pounds). They eat aquatic plants and can Service and sets forth a list of tasks BEHAVIOR: Manatees are passive, consume about 10–15% of their geared toward recovering manatees slow-moving animals. Most of their body weight in vegetation daily. from their current endangered time is spent eating, resting and RELATED SPECIES: The West status. These tasks include: the traveling. Manatees are often shy Indian manatee belongs to the development of site-specific boat and reclusive. scientific order Sirenia and the speed zones for manatee protection, Florida manatee is a subspecies of implementation of management SIGHT: Manatees can distinguish plans, posting of regulatory speed between different-sized objects, the West Indian manatee. Other sirenians include the Amazonian signs, levying fines for excessive colors and patterns and have been speed in designated areas, public known to respond to visual cues manatee, dugong, Steller’s sea cow (extinct), and West African manatee. acquisition of critical habitat, from distances of up to 35 meters creation of sanctuaries, manatee (115 feet) away. REPRODUCTION: As with most research, and education and public HEARING: Anatomically, manatees large mammals, manatees have awareness programs. a low reproductive rate. Manatees have large ear bones and have a If you see an injured, dead, tagged good sense of hearing. It appears are not sexually mature until they are about five years old. On average, or orphaned manatee, or if you see a that they can hear sounds at a wide manatee being harassed, please call range of frequencies, but their sound one calf is born every two to five years, and twins are rare. 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC localization is poor. or *FWC on your cellular phone, COMMUNICATION: Manatees MORTALITY: Many manatee or use VHF Channel 16 on your make sounds that can be described mortalities are human-related. Most marine radio. as chirps, whistles or squeaks. human-related manatee mortalities Most communication appears to in Florida are caused by watercraft be between mothers and calves. collisions. Manatees are also crushed Table of Contents Page Save the Manatee Club ................................................... 2–3 West Indian Manatees: Natural History ....................................... 4–5 Sirenians of the World ....................................................6–7 Sirenian Scientific Classification .............................................8 Aquatic Mammals .........................................................9 Florida Manatee Habitat ....................................................10 The Four Necessary Elements of Habitat ......................................11 The Hydrologic Cycle ..................................................... 12 Threats to Manatee Survival ............................................. .13–14 Conservation Efforts ...................................................... 15 Tracking Manatee Movement ................................................16 Other Manatee Research Programs ..........................................17 It’s the Law! ............................................................ 18 Manatee Protection Tips ................................................... 19 Growth Management ......................................................20 Classroom Resources ......................................................21 What You Can Do To Get Involved ....................................... 22–23 Classroom Activity Ideas .............................................. 24–26 Cooperative Learning Activity: Sirenian Species ............................. 27–28 Classroom Activity: Public Opinion Poll ......................................29 Classroom or Club Activity: Skit and Manatee Drawing Contest .................... 30 Manatee Pre/Post Test ................................................... 31 Habitat Pre/Post Test .................................................... 32 Answer Keys ..........................................................33 Glossary ............................................................... 34 References. 35 Notes ................................................................. 36 For more manatee education materials and resources for teachers and students, please visit our web site at www.savethemanatee.org/info Copyright ©2010, Save the Manatee Club. Produced by Save the Manatee Club and partially funded through the generous support of the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund. Edited by Nancy Sadusky with assistance from Valerie Gohlke. Graphics by Mary Ruth Sprankel. This is the 7th edition of Manatees: An Educator’s Guide. The material in this guide is based on information from the following sources: the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Power & Light Company, the Marine Mammal Commission, Save the Manatee Club, Sea World Orlando, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey, Southeast Ecological Science Center, Sirenia Project. Special thanks to Patti Thompson and Judith Vallee, Save the Manatee Club; Dr. Daryl Domning, Howard University; and Dr. Daniel Odell, Sea World Orlando, for reviewing the educator’s guide. In addition, special thanks to Alice Bamberger, Chris Taylor and Carrie Grant-Snyder from the University of Central Florida College of Education for reviewing the classroom resources section of the guide. Thanks also to the Sea Turtle Conservancy and Mary Bourassa for activity ideas used in the classroom resources section of the guide. The front cover photo features a Crystal River manatee with boat propeller scars. Special thanks to David R. Schrichte for donation of the image. Special thanks also to Robert Rattner and to the U.S. Geological Survey, Southeast Ecological Science Center, Sirenia Project for the donation of photos for the back cover. Text and artwork may be copied for educational purposes only and must include reference to Save the Manatee Club as the source. printed on recycled paper ave the Manatee Club waterproof banners that alert boaters to educators across the U.S. and (SMC) is an award- to the presence of manatees. They internationally. In addition, SMC winning 501c3 nonprofit are distr ibuted free to Florida boaters has produced the video Manatee S conservation organization, and shoreline property owners. The Messages: What You Can Do! The established in 1981 by singer/ Club also produces posters with video has been distributed free to songwriter Jimmy Buffett and a manatee conservation message schools, libraries, state parks, and former Florida Governor and U.S. that are distributed free to marinas, environmental education centers Senator Bob Graham. Its mission schools, libraries, businesses, and throughout Florida. The Club also is to protect endangered manatees other organizations. provides volunteer speakers when and their aquatic habitat for future In conjunction with the U.S. available to schools and civic generations. SMC raises public Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), groups in Florida and select areas awareness; educates; sponsors SMC has produced brochures high- across the U.S. In addition, SMC research, rescue, rehabilitation, lighting the problems associated staff work with local, state, and and release efforts; supports land with feeding manatees. national agencies and organizations acquisition; promotes aquatic In addition, SMC has created a on manatee education and public habitat protection; advocates for brochure with manatee protection awareness initiatives. improved protection measures, and tips for divers, swimmers and boaters aids education and conservation with support from the Professional International Activities efforts in other countries. SMC Association