Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

[Pathfinder]

Manatees and Oil Don’t Mix

Exposure to oil is toxic and could potentially cause significant injury or death to manatees. (Photo © David R. Schrichte)

The disastrous oil spill caused by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico has already impacted over 70 miles of Louisiana coastline and is currently drifting toward other Gulf Coast states. If efforts to stop its progress fail, the consequences could be catastrophic for birds, fish, sea turtles, manatees, and other wildlife found in these areas. This is especially troubling since it comes on the heels of the worst manatee winter die-off ever experienced, with over 500 total manatees dead already this year and many of the deaths related to cold temperatures.

The oil spill, estimated to be the worst in U.S. history, could not have come at a worse time of the year for manatees. During the summer months, manatees are widely distributed and can be found along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. In addition, manatees are herbivores, feeding on a large variety of marine and freshwater vegetation. Oil can damage seagrass beds and other vegetation that manatees eat, and it can block sunlight required for vegetation to grow.

“Although there have been incidents involving dugongs and oil spills, there doesn’t appear to be any information regarding manatees and oil spills,” said Dr. Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation for Save the Manatee Club. “But we have seen the effect of oil on other marine mammals like seals and sea otters, and we know that exposure to oil is toxic and could potentially cause significant injury or death to manatees. BP’s own training manual for oil spill responders states that thousands of animals die immediately from being inundated with the oil, and we can expect higher death rates in populations for years afterward. BP is also using chemical dispersants to break up the massive amounts of oil pouring into the Gulf, and there may be both current and long-term effects from these chemicals on marine organisms.”

Oil can damage seagrass beds and other vegetation that manatees eat. (Photo © Patrick M. Rose, SMC)

Both federal and Florida state wildlife agencies have organized preparation efforts and have been conducting aerial surveys to determine where manatees might be located in the Florida Panhandle and into adjacent Gulf Coast states. In addition, these agencies are developing a rescue and recovery plan for manatees. Save the Manatee Club’s Executive Director, Patrick Rose, who formerly headed Florida’s Office of Protected Species and coordinated federal manatee recovery efforts, has pledged the Club’s substantial expertise and resources towards assisting in any way possible. “Dr. Tripp and I are in regular communication with the agencies to ensure we have first-hand information regarding the spill and associated activities and threats," said Rose.

.../

http://www.savethemanatee.org/news_feature_oil_spill_6-10.html

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

Among the surviving marine mammals in the 1989 Valdez spill, there were reproduction problems. One resident pod (aka AT1) of killer (Orca) whales had no remaining females and as of 2004, there were only 7 remaining members. I believe I saw them last summer....so sad this small remaining group.

This sad comment from a national marine fishery study:

Comment 10: NMFS has stated that a
catastrophic oil spill is the single
greatest threat to the stock. The AT1
group has already undergone this event.
Given the data available, it is clear
fifteen years after the oil spill that no
designation or conservation plan could
achieve recovery.

Can the Manatees be captured and relocated???

.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

Good question but I think the oil spill could affect their entire natural habitat. There is the St. John's River in Florida that mostly runs inland. They might be able to go there. I am not an expert on manatees.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V6Jpr9u3xN8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&autoplay=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="425">
Footage of the Florida Manatee courtesy of the USGS Biological Resources Divison.





The Florida manatee, Florida’s state marine mammal, is a large aquatic relative of the elephant. They are grayish brown in color and have thick, wrinkled skin on which there is often a growth of algae. Their front flippers help them steer or sometimes crawl through shallow water. They also have powerful flat tails that help propel them through the water. Despite their small eyes and lack of outer ears, manatees are thought to see and hear quite well.

Fast FactsLength: 10-12 feet.
Weight: 1,500-1,800 lbs.
Lifespan: 50-60 years in the wild.


Diet

Manatees are herbivores; they eat marine and freshwater plants.


Population

The largest population of manatees is found in Florida, where there are over 3,000 individuals.

Did You Know?

Manatees only have molars, which are used to grind food. As they wear down and fall out, they are replaced with new teeth.

Range

Manatees take up residence primarily in Florida’s coastal waters during winter. Some individuals migrate as far north as the Carolinas or as far west as Louisiana in summer. In recent years, a manatee traveled to New York and another swam up the Mississippi River! See a manatee range map >>
Behavior

Manatees can be found in the warm waters of shallow rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal waters. Rarely do individuals venture into waters that are below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Well known for their gentle, slow-moving nature, manatees have also been known to body surf or barrel roll when playing. They normally rest and feed often. Manatees communicate by squealing under water to demonstrate fear, stress or excitement.

Did You Know?

Manatees only breath through their nostrils, since while they are underwater their mouths are occupied with eating!. Manatee lungs are 2/3 the length of its body.

Reproduction
Mating Season: No specific period.
Gestation: About 1 year.
Number of offspring: 1 calf.
Calves are born weighing between 60 and 70 pounds and measuring about 3-4 feet. They nurse underwater.

Global Warming and Other Threats

Since manatees spend their live in the water, global warming poses significant threats to their well-being. Higher water temperatures along the Gulf Coast has lead to an increase in toxic algae blooms, such as the red tide that killed more than 150 manatees in 1996. Global warming also raises the odds against these already endangered creatures by increasing the likelihood of larger and more frequent hurricanes.

Did You Know?

The closest living relatives to the manatee include the elephant and the hyrax.

Other threats to manatees include destruction and degradation of their coastal and freshwater habitat. The leading known cause of death is by boat strikes; propellers and hulls inflict serious or mortal wounds. Most manatees have a pattern of scars on their backs or tails after surviving collisions with boats. Scientists use these patterns to identify individuals.

Manatees are also vulnerable to cold water. They have also been found crushed or drowned in flood-control gates and suffer harm from exposure to toxic red tide. In addition, a large number of manatees die from unknown causes each year.


.../
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/manatee.php#

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

Saving the Gulf manatees


Oil spill could trigger massive rescue effort of Florida's manatees

By Rich Phillips, CNN<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>cnnAuthor = "By Rich Phillips, CNN";</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if(location.hostname.indexOf( 'edition.' ) > -1) {document.write('June 18, 2010 -- Updated 2150 GMT (0550 HKT)');} else {document.write('June 18, 2010 5:50 p.m. EDT');}</SCRIPT>June 18, 2010 5:50 p.m. EDTJune 18, 2010 5:50 p.m. EDTJune 18, 2010 -- Updated 2150 GMT (0550 HKT)


Crystal River, Florida (CNN) -- With the utmost care and a healthy dose of respect, Monica Ross brought the pontoon boat to a crawl, shut its engine down, and asked for quiet. She was careful not to disturb the small antenna, which floated on the surface of the Crystal River marking the location of Coral, an 800 pound manatee.

She is in a nice, quiet cove. Perfect spot to be resting," said Ross, a marine biologist with Sea to Shore Alliance.

"Nice and protected ... for now," she said.

For now. These are uncertain days on the Crystal River, where boat tours take folks out to see the sea creatures, and where people can swim with them. Knowing where these endangered manatees are will help marine biologists, if Deepwater Horizon oil makes its way into these waters where about 1,000 manatees reside.

"We do know that the oil is toxic and depending on how weathered it is, it can have a lot of harmful effects if manatees come in contact with it," said Patrick Rose, executive director of Save the Manatee Club.

"Everything from coating their skin to getting in their eyes, to being ingested ... We don't know specifically because it's not been documented ... never happened as far as I know," he said.

In winter, the gentle creatures -- sometimes called "sea cows" because of their underwater bucolic nature but actually more closely related to elephants -- congregate in the warm waters of the rivers, estuaries and springs along the Florida Gulf Coast. But in summer, manatees frequently leave the close confines of their winter spas and spread out along the Gulf Coast to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and around the Florida Keys up the Atlantic coast.

With the population more widespread, would-be rescuers face a difficult task.

Long the victims of accidental boat strikes and careless boaters, the West Indian manatee population in the Gulf of Mexico stands at about 5,000, experts believe. This past winter's extended cold wiped out almost 10 percent of their number. And while everyone is hoping for the best, federal and state officials as well as environmental groups are planning for the worst. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead agency protecting manatees and other wildlife from the oil.

"We don't know how detrimental it will be if they inhale it, if they ingest it, if they're foraging in areas where sea grass has been oiled," said Nicole Adimey, the manatee oil spill response coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"We have no idea how that's going to impact them," she said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service says that as its staff monitors the flow of the black crude across the Gulf, they will use aerial flights to monitor manatees and other wildlife. They hope to have about 72 hours to respond to save manatees unknowingly swimming in the path of the oil -- including physically moving these mammals, which can reach 10 feet long and weigh 1,200 pounds. Rescue teams are staging gear and will be ready to move in if necessary to try and capture manatees in distress.

But rescuing large numbers of manatees has never been done before. Is it realistic to capture large numbers of the sometimes uncooperative mammal?

"I don't know the answer to that question but we're going to move as many as we possibly can," said Adimeyr.
.../

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/06/17/florida.manatees.oil/index.html

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

Thank you Pathfinder

Rescue teams are staging gear and will be ready to move in if necessary to try and capture manatees in distress.

...
.... we're going to move as many as we possibly can," said Adimeyr.
.../

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/06/17/florida.manatees.oil/index.html

... the animal will be transported to a long-term holding facility at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park just south of the Crystal River Preserve, where many manatees have found a haven.

... "Capturing, rescuing hundreds of manatees, it's never been done," said Patrick Rose of Save the Manatee. "We would lose manatees, I believe, if those kinds of numbers of manatees are involved."

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

The Impact of the Oil Spill on Manatees <TABLE border=0 width=450 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>"Because no one has ever seen a spill of this magnitude, we can only make educated guesses about the long-term damages that the oil spill and dispersants used could inflict on manatees and especially on their aquatic habitat," says Patrick Rose, an aquatic biologist and Executive Director for Save the Manatee Club. (Photo ? David R. Schrichte) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Although the Deepwater Horizon oil well has been capped and efforts are being made to kill the well permanently, the impact of the spill is far from over. Even after the majority of the oil is removed from the surface of the water and on the shoreline, it will likely take years for the area to recover. It?s hard to say what impact the oil spill will have on endangered manatees and other wildlife that inhabit the Gulf of Mexico. But we know one thing for certain ? it can?t be good.

?Because no one has ever seen a spill of this magnitude, we can only make educated guesses about the long-term damages that the oil spill and dispersants used could inflict on manatees and especially on their aquatic habitat,? says Patrick Rose, an aquatic biologist and Executive Director for Save the Manatee Club. ?However, we do know manatees can be sickened and aquatic plants can be smothered by the highly toxic oil and chemical dispersants. Manatees can ingest oil and inhale it at the water?s surface when they come up for a breath. Oil can cause lung, liver, and kidney damage and can lead to the eventual death of the manatee.?

<TABLE border=0 width=275 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE border=0 width=250 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>By late June, oil had washed ashore on Pensacola Beach, Florida. (Photo courtesy Florida Department of Environmental Protection.)


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>​

Thankfully, no manatee deaths have been attributed to the oil spill so far. Estimated to be the worst spill in U.S. history, oil from the Deepwater Horizon well has already covered more than 600 miles of coastline in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. To date, over 4,000 birds, turtles, and dolphins have been found dead in the spill area.

In July, Rose flew an aerial survey, looking at the effects of the Gulf oil spill on aquatic habitat and marine life, including surveying for manatees and other wildlife from Florida to Louisiana. ?The damage is undeniable,? said Rose. ?Even though prevailing winds and storms have kept the majority of the oil offshore and away from the seagrasses and estuaries, they have still been damaged. The vegetation that manatees feed on is especially vulnerable to oil exposure and could be dramatically affected, causing changes in manatee habitat use and potentially driving them to less protected or unregulated areas in their search to find food. I remain convinced that the manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, birds, fish, plants, and people of the Gulf, who I saw first-hand, will be living a nightmare for many more years to come. So much of the spill is hidden beneath the waves in a cocktail so rich in oil, methane, and dispersants that it devours the dissolved oxygen, literally smothering the plankton and larvae of myriad species that support the Gulf's ecosystem."

One bright spot in the aerial survey was the sighting of two adult manatees cavorting in the surf near Gulf Shores, Alabama. ?We were delighted to find the manatees and see that they looked healthy,? said Rose.
<TABLE border=0 width=275 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE border=0 width=250 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>Among many other species of wildlife, a pod of dolphins (above) and two manatees (below) were spotted by SMC's Pat Rose near Gulf Shores, Alabama during a recent aerial survey of the area. (Photo by Dean Dugger for Save the Manatee Club.)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Throughout the duration of the spill and its aftermath, both Rose and Dr. Katie Tripp, SMC?s Director of Science and Conservation, have been in regular communication with federal and state wildlife agencies to ensure that the Club has firsthand information regarding the spill and associated activities and threats.
The agencies have also developed a rescue and recovery plan for manatees should they come into any contact with the oil, and the Club has offered assistance with supplies or any support that may be necessary. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manatees rescued from oil-damaged areas will not be released back into the wild until the danger from oil contamination is over.

In addition, the Club is also working with a coalition of groups calling for a ban on offshore oil drilling along Florida?s coasts as well as a federal moratorium on drilling along all of America's coastlines until there has been a full review.

?As an aquatic biologist with nearly 40 years studying and protecting manatees, marine mammals and other marine protected species, I have an understanding of the damage that uncontrolled oil releases can cause,? said Rose. ?The Exxon Valdez, the Trans-Alaskan pipeline, and the Deepwater Horizon were all promised to be safe but have caused great harm to the environment because the appropriate care was not exercised in their construction and/or operation. We need to shift our attention and tax dollars away from drilling and focus on the development of renewable sources of clean energy that will carry us sustainably into the future.?
<TABLE border=0 width=450><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>SMC Executive Director Pat Rose (at right in blue), on a recent trip to the Gulf, discusses oil spill protection with Florida Governor Charlie Crist. (U.S. Senator and Club Co-Founder Bob Graham is in the foreground.) (Photo by Dean Dugger for Save the Manatee Club)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=120 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD><TD>

</TD><TD>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
.../

http://www.savethemanatee.org/news_feature_oil_spill_8-10.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

<TABLE class=blockFormat cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 align=center><TBODY><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD vAlign=top colSpan=4 align=left><TABLE class=blockFormat cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 align=center><TBODY><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD vAlign=top colSpan=4 align=left>Deepwater Horizon Research and Monitoring

Title of Activity: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Effects on Manatee Distribution in AL and MS


</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD vAlign=top colSpan=4 align=left>Abstract:</B>
Compiling current and baseline data on distribution, movement patterns, and population structure of manatees in AL and MS relative to oil movements. Data include sightings, baseline aerial surveys for manatees in AL (~3 year dataset, plus historical data), and tracking of 2 tagged manatees, which are migrating. There are plans to capture and tag 2 additional manatees later this summer. All 4 animals will be tracked during the fall migration out of the northern Gulf. A portion of the work is funded.

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Survey ID: 2010-08-11.541353589558</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Start Date: 2010/05/01</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Anticipated End Date: Ongoing</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Classification of Activity:</B>
Restoration

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Location of Work:</B>
Alabama state waters, Mississippi state waters, Alabama, Mississippi

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Funding Agency:</B>
Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Type of Work:</B>
Fieldwork

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Name:</B>
Ruth H. Carmichael

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Organization:</B>
Dauphin Island Sea Lab

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Phone Number:</B>
251-861-2141X7555

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Email:</B>
rcarmichael@disl.org

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Environmental Theme:</B>
Coastal and nearshore habitats, Ecosystem and community structure, Impact on life stages of aquatic animals, Restoration

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Economic Theme:</B>
Tourism

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Social Theme:</B>
Unknown

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Types of Samples Collected:</B>
Biological

</TD><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Species of Interest:</B>
Trichechus manatus

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=blockFormat cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 align=center><TBODY><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD vAlign=top colSpan=4 align=left></B>

Title of Activity: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Effects on Manatee Habitat and Food Supply


</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD vAlign=top colSpan=4 align=left>Abstract:</B>
Data on conditions at known key manatee habitat sites in Alabama water (CTD, sediment and water column organic composition, and isotope ratios in available foods for manatees). Directly assessing presence of oil in water and on food resources (PAHs in water and sediments), plus other changes in habitat and food resource composition. A portion of the work is funded.

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Survey ID: 2010-08-11.0973381591669</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Start Date: 2010/06/01</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Anticipated End Date: Ongoing</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Classification of Activity:</B>
Research, Monitoring

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Location of Work:</B>
Alabama state waters, Alabama

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Funding Agency:</B>
Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Type of Work:</B>
Fieldwork, Laboratory work

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Name:</B>
Ruth H. Carmichael

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Organization:</B>
Dauphin Island Sea Lab

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Phone Number:</B>
251-861-2141X7555

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Email:</B>
rcarmichael@disl.org

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Environmental Theme:</B>
Ecosystem health and indicators, Coastal and nearshore habitats, Ecosystem and community structure, Trophic dynamics and food webs, Impact on life stages of aquatic animals

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Economic Theme:</B>
Tourism, Ecosystem valuation

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Social Theme:</B>
Unknown

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Types of Samples Collected:</B>
Water quality, Sediment, Biological, Chemical, Physical

</TD><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Species of Interest:</B>
Trichechus manatus

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></B>


Title of Activity: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Manatee Aerial Monitoring


</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD vAlign=top colSpan=4 align=left>Abstract:
Manatee emergency response and direct monitoring: To conduct aerial surveys for manatees for the duration of the spill. Weekly surveys are ongoing. This work is an NRDA collaboration with Sea to Shore Alliance in Florida and part of a coastwide survey effort that includes LA, MS, AL, and FL. Aerial surveys are funded, but emergency response is not funded.

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Survey ID: 2010-08-11.572940461491</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Start Date: 2010/06/08</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Anticipated End Date: Ongoing</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Classification of Activity:
Monitoring

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Location of Work:
Alabama state waters, Mississippi state waters, Alabama, Mississippi

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Funding Agency:
NRDA

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Type of Work:
Fieldwork

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Name:
Ruth H. Carmichael

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Organization:
Dauphin Island Sea Lab

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Phone Number:
251-861-2141X7555

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Email:
rcarmichael@disl.org

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Environmental Theme:
Coastal and nearshore habitats, Dispersants, Impact on life stages of aquatic animals

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Economic Theme:
Tourism

</TD><TD class=col-1 vAlign=top align=left>Social Theme:
Unknown

</TD></TR><TR style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.2em; PADDING-LEFT: 0.2em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0.2em"><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Types of Samples Collected:
Biological

</TD><TD class=col-2 vAlign=top colSpan=2 align=left>Species of Interest:
Unknown

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://igulf.noaa.gov/collection/br...lterby=topic&sorton=activity&sortby=ascending

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

Cold weather in early 2010 took toll on manatees

News Release
December 10, 2010
Contact: Carli Segelson, 727-896-8626

The cold weather earlier this year led to a record high number of manatee deaths in 2010. From the beginning of the year through Dec. 5, biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) documented 699 manatee carcasses in state waters.

This preliminary data indicates the number of manatee deaths documented from Jan. 1 through Dec. 5 is nearly double the five-year average for that time period.

The "cold-stress" category accounts for 244 documented manatee deaths, which were caused by exposure to low water temperatures.

However, it is likely the cold temperatures also contributed to many of the 203 deaths in the "undetermined" category and the 68 deaths in the "unrecovered" category.

The 2010 cold-related manatee die-off was unprecedented in both numbers and geographic extent. A large number of manatee deaths identified as cold-related occurred throughout much of the state, as far south as the Everglades and the Florida Keys.

Although the cold weather was a natural event, this die-off underscores the importance of warm-water habitat for the long-term survival of the species.

"We are very concerned about the unusually high number of manatee deaths this year. Data from our monitoring programs over the next few years will tell us if there are long-term implications for the population," said the director of FWRI, Gil McRae. "The cold-related deaths this past winter emphasize the importance of warm-water habitat to Florida's manatees. Maximizing access for manatees to natural warm-water sites will continue to be a focus for the FWC and our partners moving forward."

The cold weather likely was responsible for fewer watercraft-related mortalities earlier in 2010. However, later in the year, watercraft-related deaths trended higher than average and as a result, the year-end total for watercraft-related deaths will likely be similar to that of previous years.

FWC researchers, managers and law enforcement staff work closely together to evaluate mortality data and identify necessary actions.

Managers focus on actions that can reduce risks to manatees and protect foraging and warm-water habitat. The FWC's Division of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with partner agencies, uses knowledge of local boating habits, well-posted speed zones and up-to-date manatee information as part of its on-the-water enforcement operations. Enforcing manatee protection zones and informing boaters about manatee conservation is a priority for the FWC.

To learn more about manatee conservation, go to MyFWC.com/Manatee. For more information on manatee mortality research, go to http://research.MyFWC.com/manatees.

Residents can help manatees survive by purchasing the manatee specialty license plate, available at all tax collectors' offices. The funds collected for these plates go directly to manatee research and conservation. To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

http://www.myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/10/statewide/News_10_X_ManateeDeaths10.htm

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Manatees and Oil Don?t Mix

Sea life still struggling from oil spill

by WWLTV.com
wwltv.com
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:29 PM
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GULFPORT, MS - Scientists at the institute of Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport are studying why two endangered manatees died near the Gulf Coast in the past two weeks.

According to the Institute's Executive Director Dr. Moby Solangi, cold water killed the manatees, but they should have migrated to warmer water.

Scientists are finding an unusually large number of Gulf of Mexico animals out of place since the BP oil spill began.

"It is no different than having a forest fire," Dr. Solangi said Thursday.

"The oil spill expanded, it went thousands of square miles and as their habitat shrunk, these animals moved to areas that were not affected."

The problem, according to Dr. Solangi, is those unaffected areas were also unfamiliar to the animals.

Full text and video:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Sea-life-still-struggling-from-oil-spill-112693774.html