Manatee Photo ID survey

The Manatee Research team at FAU’s Harbor Branch campus regularly conducts photo id/surveys on Florida manatee that frequent campus. The Harbor Branch channel plays a vital role as a thermal refuge, with >100 manatees congregated in the basin during recent winter cold fronts. The goal of this research is to develop an integrated system using existing (photo-identification) and new (remote sensing) techniques to continuously monitor manatee behavior and habitat.

For the next two weeks, the library’s staff science guy (or gal) will be conducting these surveys and posting about it here. You can also find the HBOI research team on facebook here. Find them and follow, so you can keep updated on all things manatee!

Survey field notes: 7/6/2016

The survey was conducted on July 6, 2016 from 2:00 pm – 2:30pm. One adult manatee was present in the HBOI channel [located close to the small boat marina at a day dock area]. The manatee was observed surface resting, with very little activity. Breaths were taken every few minutes; with little movement, most of the body of the manatee was submerged. No manatee were spotted in the second survey location.

Here are the photos.

What’s the deal with the algae all over the manatee? Here are some peer reviewed articles on the topic.

Interactions between non-native armored suckermouth catfish (Loricariidae: Pterygoplichthys) and native Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in artesian springs Leo G. Nico1*, William F. Loftus2 and James P. Reid1 1 U.S. Geological Survey, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653 USA 2 Aquatic Research & Communication, LLC, 1759 NW 20th St., Homestead, FL 33030 USA E-mail: LNico@usgs.gov (LGN), arc_wfl@bellsouth.net (WFL) * Corresponding author

The tanaid Hexapleomera robusta (Crustacea: Peracarida) from the Caribbean manatee, with comments on other crustacean epibionts. Benjamín Morales-Velaa1, Eduardo Suárez-Moralesa1 c1, Janneth Padilla-Saldívara1 and Richard W. Hearda. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK / Volume 88 / Issue 03 / May 2008, pp 591-596

A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE BIOFOULING PROBLEM FOR THE ENDANGERED FLORIDA MANATEE AND OTHER SPECIES BY KATHLEEN D. OPPENHEIMER* AND TODD K. BENDOR. TOJCI.OPPENHEIMER.DOC

Here is some internet stuff on the topic:

The Benefits Of Having Stuff Grow All Over You. Cameron McCormick, 2009.

Research Field Notes: No. 2

5/28/2014 Dolphin Boat Survey

Today’s survey extended from the Jupiter Inlet (N 260 56.624' W 800 03.805') down to the Lake Worth Inlet [aka the Palm Beach Inlet] (N 260 46.300' W 800 03.500').

Water conditions: Southeast WINDS 10-17 mph. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET +

Duration: 8:15am-1:30pm

Research Organization: Taras Oceanographic Foundation

Recorded dolphin photo ID:

Today’s trip had three encounters. The first was with two males. They were foraging and bottom feeding. The second group “acted like” moms that were “napping” on the surface with several juvenile calves close by engaging in “play time”. We witnessed one tail slap behavior and one jump out of the water as the animal was traveling.  The third group were heading south in the same direction as our survey and traveled parallel to the boat for a good distance. They initially engaged in a short bow ride. This group produced the best photo ID images. It is hard to estimate the exact number of animals encountered. This will be determined once the images have been examined.

                                          Taras Oceanographic Foundation NMFS (GA LOC) No. 13386

Other: An offering to King Neptune

Being out on the water doing field research is always enjoyable. However, some days the ocean and weather conditions make it harder than others. Students should be aware that conditions are not always perfect. This trip was no different.  One of our team members was feeling a little queasy, so she made an offering to King Neptune and all his fish! She recovered quickly though and rejoined the team. The winds and sea heights began to pick up for the second part of the survey.

Extras:

Why do dolphins jump out of the water when travelling? Go here to find out.

Zoonotic disease and human interaction with marine mammals

Risks and information

Marine mammals can be infected and are carriers of bacterial, fungal and viral organisms that are known to be zoonotic pathogens (have the ability to transfer to a human). 

The risk of contracting one of these diseases differs depending on the interaction (e.g. fishing, harvesting, research, rescue staff, marine park workers). There have been reports of food-borne illness when harvesting an animal; however the risk of disease by scientists, rescue and trainers is not as well understood.

According to University of California (Davis School of Veterinarian Medicine); the following list are diseases that have been transferred to humans from contact with marine mammals:

·         Calicivirus (San Miguel Seal Lion virus) from northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus).

·         Blastomyces dermatitidis from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). 

·         Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae from a beached pilot whale (Globicephala melaena).

·         Influenza A virus from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)

·         Leptospira spp. from California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) carcasses.

·         Mycobacterium bovis from a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).

·         Mycobacterium marinum from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

·         Sealpox virus from gray seals (Halichoerus grypus). 

Additionally, this is a list of potential zoonotic pathogens from marine mammals:

Bacterial	Viral	Fungal
Aeromonas Burkholderia (formerly Pseudomonas) Clostridium Edwardsiella Staphylococcus Streptococcus Vibrio	Influenza B Rabies	Aspergillus Candida Coccidioides Histoplasma

To find out more about each of these diseases you can click here    and  here   and here .

You may also go to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) by clicking here and searching each disease. 

References:

UC Dvis Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/MMZ/defaultnew.cfm

 

image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rescuemmc.jpg

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