Students on campus that are enrolled in a science course in which they learn about the environment around them take a trip to the Manatee Viewing Center to see how the endangered species function in their day-to-day lives. They learn not just about how they are endangered but also about the impacts of industrial waste on manatees.
Manatees, commonly known as sea cows, have no natural predators except for humans, and they play a vital role in their ecosystems by grazing on seagrass beds, which helps maintain the health of the marine environment. These species are considered a keystone species in their habitat, meaning their presence and actions have a significant impact on the structure and function of the ecosystem. Their behaviors can alert researchers to environmental changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“It was really good. I had lots of fun, there was a lot of excitement, and I felt like I got more educated on what manatees do and their impact on marine life,” Kendra Assonken (11) said.
“Not only was it fun, but it was also very lively, and there were a lot of other people there as well,” Assonken (11) said.
Kendra Assonken (11) felt as if going to the Manatee Viewing Center was a fun and enjoyable place where you can learn more about endangered species and their impact on marine life.
“I learned that they’re an endangered species and that most manatees had scars on their backs, which was very unfortunate due to interactions with boats and other animals,” Anika Vellanki (10) said.
“They also talked about the impacts of industrial waste and pollution on manatees. I thought that was really interesting. And there were so many of them—40 to 50 to be exact,” Vellanki (10) said.
Most manatees get their injuries from boat strikes, which are a significant reason for how they end up with scars on their backs. This highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect manatees and their environment.
“What surprised me the most was that they were a lot smaller than I expected. I thought they would be huge, but instead, they were the size of a dolphin,” Assonken (11) said.
“I was really impressed also when they mentioned how manatees would eat invasive species, so they are literally protecting other marine life,” Assonken (11) said.
These species may look small, but they are actually huge aquatic mammals that can grow quite big. They spend their time grazing on the seafloor or in shallow waters, and their feeding habits play an important role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.
“It made me more self-aware of how they impact the environment around them and how certain biotic relationships help protect other marine life,” Vellanki (10) said.
