The Effect of Water Temperature on Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Abundance in Port Everglades

Port Everglades, located near Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center, is a wintering area for the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), because it is a warm-water habitat. This study used data that were collected on trips through the Port, which was then examined with the following criteria for comparison: past water temperature versus current water temperature, past surveyed manatee numbers versus current manatees surveyed, and water temperature versus manatees surveyed. These comparisons were examined to illustrate any climate change trends that have occurred, as well as how those have affected the manatees in Port Everglades. These data were then compared with the numbers found by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission synoptic surveys that are conducted annually throughout the state of Florida. The first null hypothesis for this study was that there has been no change in the water temperature in Port Everglades, and the second null hypothesis was that there has been no change in the number of manatees present. However, the data demonstrate a trend of rising manatee population in Port Everglades between the years of 2008 – 2010, allowing us to reject the second null hypothesis