Manatee population have been under surveillance for a long time. They are one of the most helpless and endangered species on earth.
Their habitat is under threat, and they are constantly injured in boating accidents when people speed in otherwise narrow canals.
They are some of the most benevolent and patient creatures. They are vegetarians and reproduce with difficulty, one calf at a time.
Efforts to safeguard their dwindling numbers are now threatened by a new danger. Red algae blooms are becoming more prevalent in areas where manatees forage and live. And this is due to global warming.
As the temperature of the water off the Florida coast and in the inlets rises, so does the thickness and pervasiveness of the red algae. But red algae are poisonous to most water fauna.
So far 174 manatees have been recorded as dying from the red algae scourge since January. This is the highest number of manatee death ever recorded in a similar period.
Red tides are not unusual, happening every year along the Florida coast's brackish water and inlets. But they usually clear out before severe damage is wrought.
Not any more. The warmer waters are affording the red algae a longer life span, so that its presence has become quite a concern.
And it has lingered in the same areas where the manatee find refuge, as they too prefer the warmer waters.
The algae release a toxin that is highly poisonous. Manatees that have been rescued show signs of nerve damage, muscle tetany and even seizures which makes it nearly impossible for them to breath, since they have to raise their head above water to do so.
Partial Source: CNN 3.12.13
No comments:
Post a Comment