Manatees and the Mermaid Myth Sailors throughout history often thought they were seeing mermaids when they were really seeing manatees or their relatives. "Sirenia", the order to which manatees and dugongs belong, comes from the word "siren". In ancient mythology, this was a term used for seanymphs who lured sailors and their ships to treacherous rocks and shipwreck with their mesmerizing songs. With a little imagination, manatees can have an uncanny resemblance to human form that could only increase after long months at sea. The manatee probably helped perpetuate the myth of the existence of these "half-human" creatures.

Extinction Isn't a Myth The Steller's sea cow was hunted to extinction in 1768, less than 30 years after its discovery in the Bering Sea. All remaining sirenian species are listed as "endangered" or "vulnerable" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, an independent group representing over 100 countries involved in the conservation of wild living resources. Saving endangered species is a global effort, and we must work together to preserve species and prevent them from passing into the realm of fable and out of existence.

What Extinction Means Extinction means the last individual of a living species has died or been killed, and the species has vanished from the earth forever. If manatees become extinct like the Steller's cow, the will never return. Extinction has been a part of the natural evolutionary process since life began. Mass extinctions occurred during a few geological periods, probably because of abrupt geological or climatic changes. During most of the geological periods, however, new species formed at a rate greater than that of extinction, and Earth's biological diversity gradually increased. Today, however, there is evidence that the world may be experiencing a massive reduction of this diversity. Some biologists estimate that one to three extinctions are now occurring daily, and that the rate will increase to one per hour by the end of the century. It is likely that over one million species will be lost in our lifetime. This time - through habitat destruction, over-exploitation, and population growth - humans are the cause, and it appears that the consequence will be the loss of a substantial part of the Earth's living resources. Reduced diversity will have serious consequences for civilization.

The loss of just one species adversely affects others, just as the alteration of one ecosystem can jeopardize many other ecosystems. As a result of destruction and damage in isolated areas, we ultimately damage the entire planet. As can be seen by the example of acid rain, air and water pollution can cause diversity loss far from the source of pollution.

Growth Management is Needed to Help Manatees A very serious threat to the manatee, as well as to the whole of Florida's environment is our growing population. Manatee habitat, and the habitat of many other species in Florida (the list is far too long to include here), has been lost due to our staggering development on all of Florida's ecosystems. Other stresses on our environment resulting from lack of proper growth management include pollution of water, air and soil; stresses on our water supplies and wetlands; salt water intrusion; soil and beach erosion; and degradation of our living reefs, to name just a few. Even the disposal of our garbage has become a problem of great magnitude. To put it simply, we are running out of space to put our garbage. The problem of overpopulation is by no means unique to Florida, however. Species extinction, pollution, depleted resources, etc., that we see happening in Florida are occurring worldwide. Scientists estimate that an average of 137 species of life forms are driven into extinction every day, or 50,000 each year. The Earth, currently approaching 6 billion people and growing by 90 million people a year, is being devastated by population growth. Among issues of global concern, the loss of the ozone layer (which is linked to population growth) is a frightening phenomenon. Because of our increasing demand for food and living space, we are taxing land beyond capacity. Every year we lose over 78 million acres of invaluable rainforest. If deforestation continues at current rates, scientists estimate nearly all tropical rainforest ecosystems will be destroyed by the year 2030. We cannot continue to add to our population as we are without destroying the very plant on which we live (and, of course, ourselves in the process). Besides the environmental damage, current population growth is also at the root of human hunger, poverty, urban deterioration, and economic stagnation. Worldwide, over 800 million people suffer from malnutrition and 16 million people die from starvation each year. Places like Mexico and Central America, with high unemployment rates, will likely see a tripling of their "potential" workforce in less than 50 years. There are no easy answers. Some nations are now attempting massive education programs, promoting widespread use of contraceptives, offering incentives for sterilization, or offering "perks" to those who cooperate in a one-child-per-family program. But these attempts are small in relation to the magnitude of the problem. It must somehow be demonstrated to all the disaster that lies ahead if population is not controlled. To conclude, let's come back to the immediate problem of population growth in Florida. We are not going to stop the large numbers of tourists and new residents from coming to Florida. What we must consider, in order to protect our fragile environment, is carefully planned growth management. As Florida continues to gorw, critical decisions about managing our fragile environment must be made. We cannot afford to make decisions based on inadequate knowledge, because the resulting impacts are often irreversible and very costly. Floridians must learn to determine the long and short-term consequences of their decision making. Carefully planned growth and protection of the environment can occur, but only through an environmentally aware and informed society. Therefore, it is up to us to become knowledgeable about local issues and to involve our students in these issues, as well as to inform them of the proper procedures for getting involved in local planning to effect positive change and controlled growth.

Activities Arrange for a trip to a county commission public hearing or a planning meeting. Discuss reasons for overpopulation. Name five ways overpopulation can directly affect animal populations. Animal extinctions are a result of overpopulation - why? Discuss ways that problems caused by overpopulation could be solved. Write to an organization that deals with population to find out more information. What are the growth management laws in your state? You can contact the Florida Department of Community Affairs to find out about Florida's growth management laws (904-488-8466). How does growth management in Florida help protect the manatee? Compare the population of a country in South America with one in Africa. What is the current population, and what is the projected population for the year 2000? What is the percentage of growth? At this rate of growth, what will the population of each country be in 2050? 2075? What are the problems both countries are facing as a result of overpopulation? Next, locate both countries on a world map. Compare latitudes. What kind of climate does each country have? Is there a correlation between climate and population size? Discuss. Finally, what kinds of species are indigenous to these countries? Fond out names of other endangered species in both countries and study them. Are there any species related to the West Indian manatee in either country? Trace the 'life' of a bottle from purchase to waste site. How long will this bottle remain in the environment after disposal? Make it a class project to find out more about solid waste and disposal. Discuss concern over the rapid destruction of our rain forests. What is "slash and burn"? Talk about what it means to be an "underdeveloped nation". What are some of the things that happen when a country becomes industrialized? What are some possible solutions to stop the destruction and poisoning of our environment? Write a letter to the president of a particular nation and ask what steps are being taken to control population growth. How does the destruction of rain forests effect all the world's citizens? People accept the idea of a "global economy" - what about a "global environment"? Discuss how things that happen in Africa or Australia affect people and animals living in California. Have a debate on this issue or present arguments in a "mock" world court. Find out what organizations are working on the problem of overpopulation. What is the U.N. doing with regard to overpopulation? Write to one such organization and find out what students can do to help.

Throwing Away Fishing Line in Florida Waters is Now Against The Law Manatees are sometimes unintentionally killed or injured by fishing activities. They can drown in nets or they can die from infection caused by entanglement in crab trap lines and nylon fishing line or hooks. A rule by the Marine Fisheries Commission now makes it a second degree misdemeanor to intentionally discard any monofilament fishing line or monofilament netting into or onto the waters of the state of Florida.

Endangered Species & Conservation Manatees are listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an endangered species. A species is endangered when it is considered in danger of extinction. Many other species are listed as threatened, which means they are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. "Endangered" and 'threatened" are United States designations, which closely parallel the international terms, "endangered" and "vulnerable" established by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The listing of a species as endangered or threatened brings it under the protection of the law and signals that efforts should be intensified to preserve it. Preservation of a species is a complex endeavor. Scientific research must be conducted to learn what manatees need to survive, how they behave, and what endangers them. With such data, scientists can provide the information and documentation that will lead to their protection. With so many manatees dying or being injured due to human activity or encroachment, education must also be heavily stressed. Education must be constant and unending. Florida, currently the nation's fourth largest state, is growing at an alarming rate, with just under 1,000 new residents every day (not to mention tourists). Many of those moving here are attracted by the state's unique and natural beauty. People are drawn to Florida by spectacular beaches, warm temperatures, and fascinating wildlife. And while Floridians may take pride in unique wildlife found here, they have no idea how their everyday actions threaten such life. People who are thrilled to see a pelican dive under water to scoop up an unsuspecting fish, or a manatee surfacing to breathe, also need to know that pesticides poison coastal birds, that collisions with boats kill manatees, and that destruction of habitat for new buildings creates a perilous balance with this state's natural resources. Unless those who are lured by Florida also understand and respect it, they will continue to unknowingly mistreat it. Helping people of all ages to understand the environmental issues we currently face in Florida will create the public concern necessary to insure that the sound protection for natural resources will be legislated and enforced. Establishing and enforcing laws and guidelines is the third vital step in the conservation of endangered species. Establishing regulatory zones, appropriating funds for research, developing and implementing management plans, acquiring land, creating protection zones, and penalizing violators of the law are essential if manatees are to be preserved. However, these protective mechanisms cannot be executed without strong citizen support and involvement - and it's never too early to start. Young people should be introduced to government processes that shape natural resources policy locally, statewide and nationally, so that they are aware they have a voice in our earth's future.

Establishing Laws and Guildelines Growth Management Plans must include plans for the protection of wildlife and its habitat. How strong these plans are depends on citizen involvement. With many interest groups gearing up to participate in the planning process, it is vital that those concerned with manatee protection and Florida's environment make their wants and needs known. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is involved in preparing and implementing area-specific manatee protection plans. These plans will involve studying particular areas involving high manatee mortality and ultimately making management recommendations for habitat and wildlife protection. Citizen support is vital to the implementation and execution of such plans.

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