Why is studying manatees so important? 
All animals are important because they are all part of the cycle of life and each is dependant on others. In addition to this general reason, they have been around for a very long period of time (perhaps even back to the dinosaurs); studying them gives us insight into the adaptations which have resulted in their long-term survival. Finally, because manatees have no natural enemies (only man) they are a very good barometer of the general health of the marine environment. If their numbers decline, we can assume that it is human action which is leading to their decline. The good news about that is man can do something about that!

How many manatees are there in Florida?
An aerial survey is done in Florida each year to count the manatee population. It is similar to the US Census count done every 10 years. Just as we do not always count every person in the census, it is impossible to count every manatee, but it is possible to get a general idea of how many there are. In 2001, the most recent year for which I was able to locate data the count was 3,276.

How's the weather?
The weather has been beautiful! Just like it is in RI in the middle of the summer. The temperature has been in the mid-80's most days and we have had no rain. I am very fortunate to get to spend many hours each day outside in this beautiful weather. It does get quite hot at times on the boat and it is essential that we wear sun screen, shirts and hats while on the water.

Are manatees edible?
Yes, they are but because they are now classified as an endangered species it is against the law to hunt them. In other countries (Central and South America and Africa) they are eaten. This is allowed because it is part of the people's native culture even though the animals are protected.

What's the biggest one you have seen?
I do not know as far as weight is concerned, but I would say close to 10 feet. They really do get quite large. Hopefully you can get a sense of their size in some of the photos I have sent. There really is quite a range in their size. An interesting fact is that females are generally larger than males.

How big are sea turtle eggs?
I have not seen any actual eggs, but I have seen a display at the Mote aquarium. If you take a look at the picture on Saturday's journal you can see the approximate size. They are quite small. I was surprised to learn that sea turtles often live as long as humans.

Did you see some sea turtles?
Yes I have, although not in the wild. I saw several loggerheads at Mote on Saturday. Take a look at the Saturday journal for some pictures and other interesting facts about the sea turtles here.

Do manatees gain weight / blubber to prepare for the winter months or do they simply migrate to warmer waters? 
Manatees actually have very little fat; they are almost all muscle. They do not gain add blubber in preparation for colder weather. They must find warmer water, usually at power plants or near thermal springs. If you read Monday's journal there is a discussion of this very topic!

In your opinion do you think the manatee will get off the endangered species list? What will it take?
It is possible that one day the manatee will get off the endangered species list, but not right away. The counts of manatees seem to be increasing, but at the same time death rates are up and fewer calves are being born. Perhaps the increasing numbers has to do with better methods of counting them. In any case there are several degrees of protection. If the manatee were no longer classified as endangered, they could be categorized as threatened or vulnerable so there is a ways to go! The real danger of taking them off the list is that people might begin to disregard the regulations which have been put in place to protect them. Education is the key to protecting not only manatees but all species of endangered life.

Have you touched a manatee yet? What did its skin feel like?
Until yesterday my answer would have been no, but now I can say yes. If you read the May 8th journal you will read all the details and can even view a video. The manatee's skin feels quite rough and very "leathery". It is amazing just how large they are.

Can three scientists simultaneously monitor a manatee using VHF, radio and sonic? Woould they ever do it?
Yes, scientists can monitor the animals using several methods simultaneously. Often the method used depends on the location. For example to monitor the animal using a satellite locator you would need to be connected to a computer and that would usually be done in the lab. The VHF receiver is most often used in the field, and sonic can be used only underwater so you would need to be very close to the animal to use that. Often the researcher in the field who is using the VHF will call back to the lab to get a satellite location update. We actually did that the other day when we were trying to locate Blinky.

Do you usually see manatees alone or in groups?
We have seen them both ways. More often we have seen them in groups. Sometimes the groups are small - 4-5 manatees. What is significant is that manatees do not form permanent associations. They might be with one group one day and another group another day. The only permanent association is between a mother and her calf or calves. Another time when you might see a group which stays together for a longer period of time is during mating season; these groups are called mating herds. 

Is it hard to understand what the scientists are saying?
Good question. Since science is not my field, some of the terminology was not too familiar to me. I did my "homework" before I came however. I did a great deal of reading before I arrived so I had a good foundation of knowledge. I have also found that the scientists here are not only very knowledgeable, but they are very willing to help and will often explain things more than once. My Earthwatch partner, Miss Plante, is a science teacher, so I have can always ask her questions.

What kind of personalities do manatees have?
Like humans, they have different personalities. We have observed some that seem very docile. They simple come up for a breath and then go back underwater. Others are quite lively and seem to enjoy socializing with one another. Yesterday we saw one manatee which was in a rush! He was traveling very quickly - we were in a race in the speedboat. I am sure if I had more time to observe them I would notice still more distinctive personalities.

Are manatees scars really easy to see?
Unfortunately, they are. The scars are a very light color compared to the rest of the manatee so when they are under water sometimes it is the scars which you first see. There are very few manatees without scars. It is a shame because injuries to manatees could be easily avoided if people would use a cage on their outboard motor and follow the boating regulations. There are many places where boats can go fast. It does not seem too difficult to go slow in the areas where slow speed is required.