![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Our oceans are home to many marine mammals, fish, turtles, corals and others. The delicate balance between man and the ocean is constantly being challenged by the demands of our society. Most of our planet is covered by water, a necessary ingredient of human life. The state of our oceans should be uppermost in our minds in order for quality of life for all species to remain as it is.
Manatees - an endangered species The common name for Florida's gentle giants is the West Indian manatee. They are found throughout rivers, springs and shallow coastal waters of Florida and adjacent states. Weighing up to 3500 pounds and having a bulbous face and rotund shape, scientists believe they are the 'mermaids' identified by sailors in historical lore. Manatees consume 5-10 percent of their body weight daily and spend 6-8 hours a day feeding. They are plant-eaters and are commonly found grazing along the same areas as recreational boaters. This fact accounts for numerous killings and maiming of manatees in Florida each year. Propeller scars are so common on manatees that there is a computerized catalog of photographs to enable identification of individuals by their scars.
According to the February 2004 count of manatees in Florida by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission there are only 2568 remaining in Florida. Even with this low number, there are efforts by some to remove manatees from the endangered species list.
Dolphins - our favorite ocean mammal Humans love dolphins because of their smiling face. Dolphins aren't really smiling, this is just the shape of their mouths. Dolphins are mammals. They have hair, breathe air and give birth to live young. The hair is visible at birth, a few whiskers here and there. Dolphins can weigh up to 800 pounds and have lived up to 50 years--the period we have been tracking them. Dolphins eat fish and swallow them whole. Dolphins give birth to one baby at a time and the baby usually stays with the mother the first three years, growing rapidly on mother's milk. Dolphins are not endangered at this time, but the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 requires us to steer clear of them. So enjoy them from afar!
Sea Turtles-Florida's efforts for recovery All species of sea turtles are endangered or threatened and many of them lay their eggs along the coast of South Florida. Loggerheads, Leatherbacks, Green sea turtles have all been nesting here. South Florida is also one of the nation's best tourist destinations. The beaches are populated with high rise condominiums and hotels. Some cities have passed 'no lights' laws to help these hatchlings find their way to the ocean instead of the highways to be killed as the babies follow the brightest light. Turning the lights down or off late at night helps protect these babies. The rare Kemp's Ridley has also been spotted in Florida. Many of our local nature centers lead guided tours to watch the huge turtles come to shore every year or so to lay their eggs. Each turtle might lay up to 100 eggs. Within 43-75 days the hatchlings are ready to find the ocean, and fight for survival. They will return to the same beaches 25 or more years later to lay their eggs. Stay tuned for the news of this years' counts of nests in South Florida.
WHAT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF WATER POLLUTION? Most pollution comes from general locations of pollution discharge rather than one specific location. Florida's pollution is stormwater runoff. This is rainwater flowing off the land's surface which carries litter, oil and chemicals into the closest waterway either directly or through storm drains.
A pamphlet made through the Youth Environmental Programs, Inc states: "Water pollution prevention does not begin when you are in or near the water. It is a practice which needs to be implemented in all areas of your life."
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?
1. Use a canvas bag for shopping instead of paper or plastic and reusable plates and cups instead of disposable ones.
2. Support recycling efforts in your community.
3. Clean with non-toxic products such as lemons, vinegar and baking soda instead of harmful cleaning solutions.
4. Save water by turning off the shower when soaping up and the faucet when brushing your teeth.
Adopt a dolphin!
Dolphin Research Center
58901 Overseas Highway
Grassy Key, FL 33050
305-289-1121
Adopt a manatee!
Save the Manatee Club
500 N. Maitland Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
1-800-432-5646 or 407-539-0990
Additional source used for this newsletter:
Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, Florida Marine Research Institute,
100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, Florida
33701-5095.
Kathy Runk is owner of www.myoceantreasures.com marine jewelry and gifts and is actively involved in marine conservation including volunteering for non-profit agencies concerned with our oceans and their inhabitants.
There appears to be a way to control the safety... Read More
Energy ESP #7 - America and its Collision CourseCrude oil... Read More
I am being allowed time out to raise a subject... Read More
Many Shamans will go into a sweat house to get... Read More
What happens if the world is faced with a Pandemic,... Read More
ICE AGES: - The impact of the ice ages and... Read More
Recently in a coffee shop I met a gentleman who... Read More
Whenever there's a drought, someone will come up with the... Read More
We need to design tiny robotic bees, which can mimic... Read More
When the Egypt Exploration Fund was created they had memoranda... Read More
Destruction! Blow Up! Eliminate! These are not pleasant words!Unfortunately, when... Read More
Research Method:Quantitative determination by contrasting HBV-DNA of cases before and... Read More
Most people assume that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.... Read More
Using Smart Dust which is sprinkled onto a rock it... Read More
The reason for the apparently absurd question in the title... Read More
Remember when the Russians shot down a Korean Airlines 747... Read More
MAV Micro Air Vehicle Based on Organic Hummingbird Model. There... Read More
We propose a Stealth Aircraft or non-stealth composite aircraft to... Read More
In any important task you need to stay alert and... Read More
Binoculars and telescopes and other astronomy equipment and accessories are... Read More
The ancient history of of man and bees has been... Read More
When using a CO2 Laser to shoot down an incoming... Read More
In our present period we are continually reminded that we... Read More
High Tension Power lines and transmission line towers make noise,... Read More
Well many people out there are asking is there really... Read More
To properly understand marketing one needs to understand the natural... Read More
Research Method:Quantitative determination by contrasting HBV-DNA of cases before and... Read More
Perhaps we should be looking into advancing the propulsion systems... Read More
I am being allowed time out to raise a subject... Read More
Some skeptics of the geology text books we had in... Read More
With the rising cost of fuel prices, industries that use... Read More
Remote Control Bacteria. Why not, we have remote control everything.... Read More
Is it possible to build an active aerial minefield to... Read More
In a defensive move to eliminate communication of an enemy,... Read More
Energy in the form of heat is obtained when fuel... Read More
The Hubble Space Telescope received its first Service Mission in... Read More
The crop circle enigma is not always a hoax. I... Read More
Tree hugging is a thing of the past. It is... Read More
Transfer Technologies and Advances in Future CombatThe human visual ability... Read More
Some say the weather is totally random and does not... Read More
Let's describe this idea as a Self Generating a Tsunami-Perpetual... Read More
Destruction! Blow Up! Eliminate! These are not pleasant words!Unfortunately, when... Read More
Complex control systems all make use of signals that can... Read More
'Kenyanthropus platyops': - Perhaps the 6,000,000 year old men found... Read More
Recently scientists were amazed that the space probes now leaving... Read More
Let us discuss the patent for the Submarine, which is... Read More
The drought of the West appears to be the worst... Read More
Binoculars and telescopes and other astronomy equipment and accessories are... Read More
We propose single man underwater vehicles (attack submarines), which have... Read More
INSPIRATIONAL COMMENTS:"There is a principle which is a bar against... Read More
Science Articles Science Articles |