| Radio programs for the week of 16 June 2003 |
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The manatee has become Florida's most famous endangered creature, in
part, because of controversy over boat speed limits in areas where
Manatees are found. But science and technology might have an answer.
Listening for Manatees, I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment. A solution in the works would protect Florida's endangered manatees by
making it easier for boaters to know when the creatures are near. It's a
University of Florida effort that uses underwater devices called
hydrophones to listen for Manatees, and if they're present, flashes lights
to signal boaters that they need to slow down. Deke Beusse is with the
University's College of Veterinary Medicine... |
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Boaters might get some relief from manatee speed zones at the same time manatees might be better protected. That's all part of a research project now underway that could warn boaters when manatees are present. School Zones for Manatees, I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment. Some of the greatest controversy over manatee protection in Florida comes where boat speeds have been limited. But scientists might be on to a way to limit those restrictions. They say underwater devices could be developed to signal when manatees are nearby. Researcher Deke Beusse says it's a matter of "listening" to manatees... |
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What if boaters were able to tell when manatees were nearby and could slow their craft accordingly. That's the idea behind new research on the endangered creatures. It all hinges on Getting Manatees to Talk, I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment. Technology that would listen for manatees and could alert boaters of their presence might be the next step in Manatee protection. The devices can pick out the sounds a manatee makes--its vocalizations. Scientists have even figured out how to deal with quiet manatees that might swim into an area without speaking. Researcher Deke Beusse... |
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Manatees are quiet swimmers, making them difficult to detect, unless they're talking. Vocalization is the way the creatures communicate and that could help protect them from boaters. Manatee Communication, I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment. In hopes of better protecting manatees from being hit by boats, scientists are turning to underwater listening, to see if they can tell when manatees are present. Manatees do vocalize, but not all the time, so the scientists are playing recordings of manatees, through underwater speakers, hoping to get nearby creatures to respond... |
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The number of manatees struck by boats each year is still a concern, but new research might help balance manatee protection with the desires of Florida watercraft owners. Coexistence of manatees and boaters, I'm Kevin Pierce with the Florida Environment... A research project at the University of Florida hopes to give better protection for manatees, while giving boaters a little freedom from speed restrictions. It's a detection system that could alert boaters that manatees are nearby and they need to slow down. Researcher Deke Beusse says that situational speed limit might be better received by boaters... |