In this lesson, students will research the manatee to find out why it is endangered. They will write speeches they might give to boaters who are interested in helping protect the manatee.

Geography, life science

Standard 8: "The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface"
Standard 14: "How human actions modify the physical environment"

Two to three hours

• Computer with Internet access

Students will

• view pictures of manatees and maps showing their migration patterns, and describe the manatees' range;
• hypothesize the impact of Florida's recreational activities on manatees;
• research and answer questions about manatees and the human and environmental factors that threaten them; and
• write presentations they would give to boaters who want to protect manatees while continuing their boating activities.

Have students look at some pictures of manatees. Explain that these are West Indian manatees. This species lives in the Caribbean, along the northeastern coast of South America, and in the Southeastern United States, particularly in the waters off the Florida coast.

Have students look at manatee spring migration maps to see where individual manatees have migrated in the springtime over the past few years. Ask students to describe the manatees' range and preferred habitats. Students should notice that manatees like estuaries (places where fresh and salt water meet) and areas that are very close to the coast, but that they will travel into inland rivers and lakes.

Students are probably aware that Florida is a popular vacation and recreation destination. Inform them that the manatee ranges they have seen are very popular locations for boating, jetskiing, and other recreational activities. Can they think of any ways that these activities might affect manatee populations?

Have students write the following manatee research questions on their own paper, leaving about 1/2 page space between each one for their answers.

• What does a manatee need to survive?
• What human activities are threatening manatee survival?
• What manatee behaviors and characteristics make them vulnerable?
• How quickly does the manatee reproduce? How does this reproduction rate affect its population numbers?
• What can be done to help the manatee? What is being done?

Ask students, either individually, in pairs, or in groups, to use these Web sites to answer the research questions.

National Geographic: Endangered Manatees Face Risks
Manatees & Dugongs
PBS: Nature—Monsters or Mermaids?
Save the Manatee Club

Discuss students' findings as a class. In particular, ask students to explain how manatees' "personalities" and human actions can combine to place the species in peril.

Ask students to pretend they have been asked to give a presentation to an association of boaters who use the Florida coast for recreation. These people are concerned about the manatees, but they don't want to give up boating. Have students write speeches (approximately one page) that describe:

• the reasons why manatees are endangered, including the behaviors of both manatees and boaters;
• actions that have already been taken to help manatees; and
• specific ways that the boaters can participate in this effort.

• Have students read the first paragraph of Monsters or Mermaids?, describing how early explorers in Florida perceived manatees. Ask students to use what they have learned in this lesson to write statements they might make to these early explorers explaining the true nature of manatees.
  
  
• Have students read about the Columbus Zoo's manatee habitat. Ask them to describe the things this zoo has done to simulate the manatee's natural habitat.
  
  
• Have students answer the journal questions about manatees' range in the Home on the Range activity.

Manatees & Dugongs
National Geographic: Endangered Manatees Face Risks
PBS: NatureFloridas Fountain of Youth
Save the Manatee Club