As human population growth and development continues waterfront Florida, manatees are losing habitats they rely on to survive. Development can damage seagrass (the main food source of dugongs "), degrade water quality and reduce the availability of warm water from natural streams provide manatee refuge during periods of cold weather . At temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the stress of cold can be dangerous, or even fatal for manatees.
Problem
residential development and trade has reduced the number of natural warm springs that manatees once used to keep warm in winter. Now, most manatees rely on warm water outlet that the power plant production. But if the plant is shut down, or their equipment, manatees will remain in the cold. The Florida manatee survival will depend on the protection of natural warm springs that they rely on, and make sure they can enjoy a safe place.
How We're Helping
We have been campaigning for the establishment of more protected areas for manatees, including Three Sisters Spring in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and Kings Bay Manatee Refuge, to manatees can shelter in the hot springs which they need for their travel and reducing the threat from speeding boats. And we continue to advocate for increased protection and restoration of natural stream so that more manatees can use them to keep warm in winter. Defender also commented on the plan of conservation and management of these and other protected areas to ensure that healthy seagrass for manatees.
We are also encouraged agencies and utility companies to develop plans for manatees in mind so that any future changes in power plant operations do not endanger species marine.
And finally, the defender is working to ensure that critical manatee habitat - that is, a special habitat for manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act - will be modified to include most important areas, such as warm water, travel corridors, and food sources. Although Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the United States revision of critical habitat manatees "is necessary, it has not made this modification is a priority, so we continue to promote this essential step.
0 comments:
Post a Comment