Study shows Florida manatees were rare before colonization, becoming more common as waters warmed.

A new study suggests Florida manatees were originally more like tourists than permanent residents, rarely visiting from the Caribbean until after European colonization. The research, published in PLOS ONE, indicates that manatees became more abundant in Florida as waters warmed following the Little Ice Age. Despite their growing numbers, manatees face threats from pollution and the loss of warm-water habitats provided by power plants.

November 20, 2024
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