Brrr ... Manatees catch cold.When winter rolls around, tourists flock to Florida's warm coastal waters. But for one giant bather--the Florida manatee--the sunshine state's winter waters simply aren't warm enough. In fact, when Florida's water temperature dips below 20[degrees]C (68[degrees]F), manatees can get skin lesions Skin Lesions Definition A skin lesion is a superficial growth or patch of the skin that does not resemble the area surrounding it. Description Skin lesions can be grouped into two categories: primary and secondary. and infections, such as pneumonia, that eventually lead to death. To stay healthy, Florida manatees used to migrate to warmer waters. But years ago, they stumbled upon winter retreats that are much closer to home: balmy outflows around Florida's power plants. Now 60 percent of Florida manatees bask in these "hot tubs" every winter. But scientists are worried: Many of these power plants are aging and they have to be shut down. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Gregory Bossart, a marine-mammal veterinarian veterinarian /vet·er·i·nar·i·an/ (vet?er-i-nar´e-an) a person trained and authorized to practice veterinary medicine and surgery; a doctor of veterinary medicine. vet·er·i·nar·i·an n. at Florida's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, also commonly referred to as HBOI, is a private non-profit oceanographic institution located in Fort Pierce, Florida, USA. , "As the plants close, the manatees may be at risk of dying from cold-water-related illnesses." That's because manatees only have a thin layer of blubber, or fatty tissue, to keep warm. The blubber works as insulation--trapping heat, like a down jacket. But a manatee's blubber layer measures a measly measly said of beef, pork and mutton because infected meat has a speckled appearance thought to resemble measles (1) in humans. See also cysticercus. 5 millimeters (0.2) inches). Compare that with a bottlenose dolphins, for instance, which is an 18 mm (0.7 in.)-thick layer! Bossart recently discovered that with such thin padding, cool winter water slows the manatee's metabolism (chemical processes that fuel the body). Result: They have trouble digesting food and even stop eating. Without enough nutrients, these vegetarians become susceptible to deadly illnesses. So what's a Florida manatee to do? Having gone years without migrating, many Florida manatees have lost the instinct to travel to warm waters and depend on the power plants to survive. Bossart suggests creating warm-water areas specifically for manatees. This way, even if a power plant closes, the manatees could continue to winter along Florida's coast--with all the tourists. GENTLE GIANTS: Adult manatees grow to about four meters (13 feet) long and weigh 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds). COZY See COSE. CREATURES: Florida's coast isn't the only place to see manatees. They live at subtropical sub·trop·i·cal adj. Of, relating to, or being the geographic areas adjacent to the Tropics. subtropical Adjective of the region lying between the tropics and temperate lands and tropical latitudes in warm coastal waters. WINTER ESCAPE: More than 500 Florida manatees have been spotted snuggling in heated water of a single power plant. |
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