Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists

Florida’s manatees have become an integral part of the state’s marine ecosystem. However, research suggests that these gentle creatures may have only recently made Florida their permanent home. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE on November 20, explores the history of manatees in the region.

Anthropologist Thomas Pluckhahn from the University of South Florida discovered a lack of evidence for a large manatee population in pre-colonial Florida. The study challenges the assumption that manatees were once more abundant in the state.

Archaeologists found very few manatee bones in Florida excavation sites, leading to the hypothesis that manatees may not have been present in pre-colonial Florida at all. The bones found could have been brought to the region through trade with Native Americans from the Caribbean.

Another theory suggests that manatees were in Florida but were not hunted, explaining the scarcity of bones at excavation sites. However, historical expedition logs do not mention sightings of manatees in the region.

The study proposes that warming waters due to climate change played a significant role in attracting manatees to Florida. As the effects of the Little Ice Age faded, manatees expanded their range northward towards the state, where they found suitable breeding grounds.

Today, Florida is home to an estimated 8,350 to 11,730 manatees, with their population status changing from endangered to threatened in 2017. The study sheds light on the complex history of manatees in Florida and the environmental changes that have influenced their presence in the region.

However, despite efforts to protect them, human-caused climate change remains a threat to manatees. There is concern that they may be reclassified as endangered, as their population decreased by seven percent between 2017 and 2019.

“Pollution is a major factor in the decline of manatees as it is killing off the sea grass they rely on for food,” explained Pluckhahn. “Additionally, as we transition away from fossil fuels and close down power plants, we are removing a crucial habitat for them.”