Manatee Reproduction Study

Miccosukee Nation University

Dr. Scott Templin, Director
Department of Sirenian Biology
Miccosukee Nation University

28 November 2004

Save the Manatee Club
500 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, Fl 32751

Friends of the Manatee:

We would like to thank the Save the Manatee Club and the Jimmy Buffett Foundation for the opportunity to apply for the Save the Manatee Scientific Study Grant. As your organization is already aware the Department of Sirenian Biology at Miccosukee Nation University is the leading research facility on sirenian biology in the world. We would like to propose a study on Manatee reproduction issues as related to mercury poisoning.

Specifically, we would like to study the effects of mercury poisoning on the manatee population along the coast and waterways of Lee County, Florida. Lee County, Florida is among the cleaner 30% of all counties in the U.S. However, Florida Power and Light (FPL) Ft. Myers (Florida) Power Plant is among the top 10% of the dirtiest facilities in the U.S.

As you know, the manatee is at a fragile stage of its existence. Reproduction rates continue to decrease and the gestation period for a manatee calf is one year. With an already low reproductive rate of one calf every 2-5 years, it is imperative that manatee reproductive research be conducted for the survival of the species.

Manatee Mother and Calf

We would like to study the effects of mercury runoff from the FPL Ft. Myers Power Plant on the sperm production of male manatees. We hypothesize that the mercury levels resulting from runoff are negatively impacting the male manatees’ ability to produce sperm. We are highly confident that the results of this study will be found in the affirmative. While we are nearly certain of the effects of mercury on manatee sperm production, it is imperative that a study such as this be carried out in order to approach the EPA on the manatees’ behalf.

Our study will consist of capturing 25 male manatees of breeding age in order to secure a sperm sample (the manatees will be immediately released) this group will be our study group. In order to attain an accurate picture of the manatee sperm production rates, we will also capture and release 25 male manatees off the coast of Jamaica in order to secure sperm samples for comparison, this group will be the control group.

The dependent variable in this experiment will be the actual sperm counts from the study and control groups. Numerous factors could affect the outcome of this study. The most important standardized variable, however, will be the amount of mercury found in the estuaries surrounding the study sites. Consequently, we have chosen the site in Lee County for its high mercury levels, and the site in Jamaica for its low mercury levels.

While we are not planning to propose any specific treatments for low sperm production rates in the manatee population, we believe this could be a catalyst for the clean-up of mercury run-off from facilities in the US.

Thank you for your time and your tireless efforts to save the manatee.

Thank you,

Dr. Scott A. Templin, Director
Department of Sirenian Biology
Miccosukee Nation University

Word Count: 520
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References

Environmental Defense. Scorecard: 33901 Lee County, Florida. No date. http://www.scorecard.org/community/index.tcl?zip_code=33901&set_community_zipcode_cookie_p=t Downloaded 28 November 2004.

Save the Manatee Club. Manatee Info: Manatee Birth and Reproduction. No date. http://www.savethemanatee.org/repro.htm Downloaded 28 November 2004.