User:Alheilma/Manatee conservation

User:Alheilma/Manatee conservation

Various human activities threaten manatee populations. [Tie in cultural and historical aspects in Brazil, West Africa, and New World from Vieira and Brito paper ]

Fishing nets and lines can cause injuries to manatees that can lead to serious infections. [Find source about infection occurrence in manatee populations

Some manatee deaths are the result of collisions with boats. In a study done in Florida in 2002 it was found that collisions with boats makes up 25% of deaths of manatees but when surveyed the boaters in Florida responded positively to learning more about manatee conservation and their habits in boating areas .

Additionally, coastal development can affect manatee habitats, both positively and negatively. '''One study has found that metal concentration in the blood of manatees found in Florida and Belize needs to be studied and needs a baseline of metal concentrations. '''

Manatees tend to gather in the warm water outflows of power plants and springs during cold weather. Manatees have shown in certain studies that manatee cognition is very good and that have very complex social skills that need more research .

Article body
Sources of Danger

Various human activities threaten manatee populations. There is some cultural significance in certain areas of South America and the Caribbean that manatees are used as a food source since pre-Columbian times. In these areas and the Amazon basin manatees are a center point if folklore and local myths since before European expansion. While manatees are not hunted as a food source in many areas there is a history of hunting and poaching in areas such as Brazil and the West Indies. Fishing nets and lines can cause injuries to manatees that can lead to serious infections. Studies have shown that around 14% of manatees since 1978 have been found with debris in their GI tract which mainly consisted of fishing lines. Some manatees have also been shown to have missing or scared fins due to their entanglement in these fishing lines . Some manatee deaths are the result of collisions with boats. In a study done in Florida in 2002 it was found that collisions with boats makes up 25% of deaths of manatees but when surveyed the boaters in Florida responded positively to learning more about manatee conservation and their habits in boating areas. Additionally, coastal development can affect manatee habitats, both positively and negatively. One study has found that metal concentration in the blood of manatees found in Florida and Belize needs to be studied and needs a baseline of metal concentrations. It was found that there were significant differences in certain metals such as copper and zinc for manatees in different areas as well as differences in wild and rehabilitating, captured manatees. These differences provide necessary information about the health of manatees for clinicians in rehabilitation centers in order to properly care for the manatees. Manatees tend to gather in the warm water outflows of power plants and springs during cold weather. Manatees have shown in certain studies that manatee cognition is very good and that have much more complex social skills than previously known and requires more research to be done.

You can add some hyperlinks to things such as coastal development.