P-47 Are Florida Manatees Thicker than Caribbean Manatees? An Investigation into Body Shape between the Two Subspecies

The West Indian manatee has two subspecies, the Antillean and Florida subspecies. This research is looking at differences in surface area to volume ratio (SA:V) with respect to total length between the subspecies. It is hypothesized that Florida manatees will have a significantly smaller SA:V, indicating the Florida manatee is more stout in body shape. This hypothesis is based off of Allen’s rule, as Florida waters are on average colder than Caribbean waters. This research may help aid conservation efforts, support Allen’s rule, and indicate that the subspecies are diverging on two separate developmental paths