Florida Manatee Conservation Efforts Saving Term Paper

Further efforts to secure warm water wintering sites need to be initiated as well as ongoing maintenance of critical spring flows in the Upper St. John's River and other reliable sites in northwest, southeast, and southwest Florida. And finally, it is essential that conservation efforts focus on ensuring that there is enough seagrass and other aquatic vegetation available to support a recovered population.

Overall, it appears that the greatest threat to the manatee is the human. Whether through pollution or water-craft, our actions have caused the most damage to this peaceful species. In some ways, this is encouraging because we actually have the power to become aware, change our habits, and turn this situation around. "Perhaps the most important gesture not just for the manatee but for us all -- would be to recognize that our culture has put us out of balance with nature. This is what the amazing Kogi people call "Koyaanisqatsi." A human culture more in tune with its natural surroundings would instinctively and reflexively choose manatees over speed boats." (Mickey Z.)

Citations

Endangered Species Act of 1973. o16 U.S.C. 1531

Frohlich, Kipp. Personal communication. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, Bureau of Protected Species Management (2000). Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. SEC. 17. o16 U.S.C. 1543

Odell, D.K. "The West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus Linnaeus." Wild Mammals of North America. J.A. Chapman and G.A. Feldhamer (eds.). 828-837. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

O'Shea, T.J., J.F. Moore and H.I. Kochman. "Contaminant Concentrations in Manatees in Florida." Journal of Wildlife Management. (1984.) 48(3):741-748. Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

Reynolds, John E., III, and Daniel K. Odell. Manatees and Dugongs. Facts on File, Inc.

New York, NY. (1991.) Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North Florida Ecological Services Office Website. 26 Feb. 2006.

Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region. West Indian Manatee 5-Year Review:

Summary and Evaluation. (2007). 1-86. Web. 30….....