Behavioural Ecology and Movements of Florida Manatees

Project Title:

Responsible Organisation:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Website:

Organisation Type:

Institute

Project Director:

Partner Organisations:

Florida Marine Research Institute

Administrative Country:

United States

Project Region:

North America

Project Country:

United States

Project Funding:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Save the Manatee Trust Fund

Type of technology used:

Data Management and Information Sharing

Technology Details:

VHF and Argos satellite tracking devices

Support Of Technology Company:

Conservation/Developmant Focus:

Manatee

Project Duration:

Ongoing since 2002

Project Aims:

The program is dedicated to protecting and conserving the threatened Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), through scientific research and education. Biologists help conserve the species by identifying and reducing causes of mortality, disturbance and injury, especially by boats; by protecting essential habitats needed by manatees; by monitoring the status of these endangered animals; and by coordinating activities needed to protect manatees. The aim of the project is to determine the animals’ movement patterns and use of habitat.

Project Activities:

GPS-Satellite and VHF transmitter tags were attached to 10 manatees in 2002. A belt was attached around the base of the tail and connected to a flexible nylon tether with the floating tag. The flexible tether was designed to avoid entanglement in debris, but a machined weak point in the tether allowed the manatee to break free if the tag was caught. Four locations per day on an individual manatee were recorded. Behaviour patterns, associations with other manatees, and the reproductive success of the tagged manatees were made by direct observation using a colour-banding system. The following data was incorporated into the GIS format; carcass recovery sites, locations and numbers of manatees sighted during aerial surveys, locations of animals tracked by satellite, and boating traffic patterns.

Project Results:

Ongoing, integrated research. Individual manatees have been tracked since 2002 to understand their movement and habitat usage. The GIS application has facilitated an ecosystem approach to the conservation of manatees. The Final Biological Status Review of the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), released in December, 2002 by the FWC Florida Marine Research Institute, represents the most comprehensive evaluation of the manatee’s biological status to date.

Future Steps:

Technology Lessons Learned:

Contact Name 1:

Dr. Chip Deutsch

Telephone/Fax 1:

Tel: +1 727 896 8626 Fax: +1 727 893 9176

Postal Address 1:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Marine Research Institute, 100 Eighth Ave S.E, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States

Email 1:

Chip.Deutsch@fwc.state.fl.us

Contact Name 2:

Telephone/Fax 2:

Postal Address 2:

Email 2:

Organisation Summary:

General Text:

Project Image:

Credit Fish and Wildlife Research Institute