productive and are ideal for nurseries and providing a relatively safe habitat and shelter from predators (Hughes et al. (2008). Seagrass is not just a food source for micro species, but also macro species such as manatees, turtles, dolphins and dugongs (Yamada and Kumagai 2012). These marine organisms are all supported directly and indirectly by seagrasses, with some entirely dependent on it. Seagrass is often underestimated in its significance as the vast role that it plays in the oceans ecosystem
Steller’s Sea Cow Have you ever met a prodigious manatee or dugong? Georg Wilhelm Steller has, this marine mammal was called Steller’s sea cow. This prehistoric animal was discovered in 1741 and disappeared from the face of the earth in 1768. Steller’s sea cow is an important animal to learn about because of the way they looked, the time period they lived in, and the surprising facts about them. One way to understand Steller’s sea cow is to know what they looked like and why. First of all, this
world, although there is not a huge variety of species, there is roughly only around 60 species and over 14% of them are endangered. Seagrass is not just a food source for macro species such as manatees, turtles, dolphins which graze directly and dugongs which primarily only eat seagrasses as their diet. but seagrass also indirectly provides nutrients storage. Seagrass restrict excess nutrients from phytoplankton by sequestering it from the surrounding environment, which in turn helps prevent the
saving these sea cows. The Florida Manatee’s scientific name is Manatus latirostris. The scientific genus name Trichechus, means hair in Latin. The name manatee comes from the Haitian word, "manati". A common term for manatees and dugongs is the “sea cow”. This name is most likely from the fact that manatees are herbivores, just like cows. Most manatees live in warm tropical and subtropical waters. Areas such as rivers, bays, canals, and estuaries are populated by these sea
Personal Narrative, Manatee-fueled Trip The feeling of the cold water around me was really waking me up. Swirling crystal green-blue water and tree branches gently floated past me as my mom and I made our way into the lagoon. I blinked my blue eyes to clear the liquid from my goggles. And then I saw it; a grey manatee, swimming slowly in the water with it’s tail swishing up and down softly. The real mermaids. We weren't allowed to (deep breath) yell near/at, touch, feed, hit, kick, poke, kick sand
The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a marine mammal that lives in the coastal waters and around the offshore reefs of Belize. Manatees have large gray bodies covered with algae or barnacles. They are herbivores that consume marine vegetation such as sea grass and surface regularly to breathe. They reside in sea grass beds and in mangroves that provide them with shelter. The West Indian Manatee is listed as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and may eventually be
Jaden Knutson Mrs. Urbanec English 10 9 April, 2014 Save the Sea Mermaid Manatees, also known a sea mermaids or cows, are on the brink of extinction with funding and environmental protection required to save these amazing animals. Humans are the biggest threat to their existence. Humans have carelessly injured and killed thousands of manatees by slicing and dicing them with boat propellers, all in the name of entertainment. Other negative factors include pollution, environmental reduction
Everyone loves the Florida manatee because they look like big puppy dogs with a cute endless smile. In addition, they are beautiful creatures that bring a smile to every face that sees them floating along in their natural habitat or in the local aquarium. Undoubtedly, the Florida manatee is one of the friendliest species in the world even though they are huge animals weighing up to twelve hundred pounds and reaching ten-foot long. Despite what this gentle creature has been through at the hands of
Manatees are marine mammals that need warm water in the colder months of the year to survive; which makes Florida a prime location. (Blitz, 2016). For the most part, manatees depended exclusively on warm water springs (a water-filled sinkhole) during the winter months, but with the discovering of power plants a large number of manatees started utilizing these release basins as sources of warm water for refuge. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “It is estimated that currently
For the purposes of this discussion paper, I have chosen the film The Kiwai: Dugong Hunters of Daru to analyse. The film takes a look at the traditional rituals associated with dugong hunting among the Kiwai. Viewers also learn about the impact which new technologies have upon hunting methods and the scientist who are working to protect the dugong from extinction. Primarily I will be focusing on Claude Levi-Strauss’ chapter “The Science of the Concrete” in The Savage Mind. Levi-Strauss’ argues that
that islanders have ate, are sweet potato, taro and yams, native plum, berries, coconuts, animals, cows and pigs, and seafood, fish, dugong, turtle, squid, and octopus. Similarly, the islanders still eat such traditional foods in some feasts, for example, a celebration, and a gathering of friends. For instance, in the feasting, they eat meats, fishes, turtle, dugong, and vegetables (Anderson, Fredericks and Lee Brien 2014, p. 30) and these are almost same as traditional foods. There is another similarity
The Great Barrier Reef What is the Great Barrier Reef? The Great Barrier Reef is a huge, colourful and bright coral reef, situated off the coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea. It is so big that it is the only living thing that can be seen from Space! It consists of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands that stretch over 348,700 km². It is in a wet, tropical climate with reasonably warm Winters and a high humidity in the Summer. Water temperatures span from 14 degrees Celsius in the Winter
Exhibit Overview and Rationale: The “The Myth And The Reality” exhibition is intended for the visitors who are interested in previous historical, religious, human behaviors, mythological material, nature of animals, and the world we live in. Mythical creatures are created by people’s imaginations, hopes, fears, and most passionate dreams. The exhibition I am designing uses a method of comparison, comparing real animals to mythical creatures. The intent is to arouse the imagination of the visitors
the seafloor is home to many plants and animals (“Threats”). Many animals throughout The Great Barrier Reef have been affected massively by illegal fishing and the occurrence of bycatch. Dugongs that live in the shallows of The Great Barrier Reef have been affected by illegal fishing. Due to illegal fishing Dugongs, an already endangered species, get entangled in fisheries gear and become bycatch which is making their numbers in the marine park dwindle. If illegal fishing continues at the rate it’s
Global Perspective: Individual Research Climate Change: To what extent do global warming effect the wildlife? Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth's climate. While it changes the Earth’s climate it takes away different species that we depend on and some which other species depend on and also effect (in a bad way) the environment in which we
about mermaids have come from many different places around the world, each carrying their own version of the myth. Another common term used for mermaid is the term siren. Mermaids are often a visual depiction of powerful water spirits. Manatees and dugongs are often mistaken for mermaids. For example, in 1493 when Columbus was sailing towards Haiti he had claimed to have seen three mermaids, but they were “not as pretty as they are depicted, for somehow in the face they look like men” (“Becoming Mermaids”)
For example, the population of Africa doubles every twenty-four years. This means forests are destroyed to create space for people, to live and to grow crops, with the wood fro... ... middle of paper ... ...ustralias-most-endangered-species>. Dugong, n.d. World Wildlife, accessed 17 March 2014, . Unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade, n.d. World Wildlife, accessed 17 March 2014, . Students, n.d. Tigers, Edu, accessed 17 March 2014, . Bove, J n.d. Why does it Matter if Species go Extinct?,
and grow. The Great Barrier Reef has the largest collection of coral reefs and consists of over 400 types of coral, 1500 species of fish, and 4000 types of mollusc. It’s also the habitat for dozens of species of sharks, rays and mammals like the dugong and the green sea turtle. The main vegetation includes over 300,000 hectares of sea grasses and various types of algae. Human activity has significantly altered the reef, mainly due to coastal development, pollution, overfishing and tourism. Climate
would collapse. The presence of a keystone species allows for an environment to function properly.Tiger sharks are a keen example of a keystone species. “These sharks will eat practically anything. This helps control populations of sea turtles and dugongs who may cause overgrazing of the seagrass in Western Australia. Since seagrass is where fish lay their eggs, overgrazing would lead to fewer fish.” This represents just how important one organism is to the whole circle of life and how it’s presence
evidence to back it up. The “landscape of fear” theory does not just apply to elk but to many other predator prey relationships. Yong goes on to say, “Ecologists are studying landscapes of fear in animals as diverse as wolves and elk, sharks and dugongs, spiders and grasshoppers,” (ll28-29). The fear that predators instill in their prey is not confined to one group of animals. In fact, it seems that this trait can be seen in every predator-prey relationship. This was something thought improbable