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What's killing Florida's manatees?

05:25

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April 4, 2023

A survey headed by the University of Minnesota found that one in every three species could be endangered or extinct by the year 2100. One species that's already threatened is the manatee.

The Everglades at the southern tip of Florida are the biggest stretch of subtropical wetlands in the US. The freshwater marsh land is a habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna, and the region is home to extraordinary biodiversity, including manatees.

After years of decline, their populations had been recovering. Two years ago, researchers counted around 8,000 of the marine mammals here. But since then, there's been an unprecedented number of manatee fatalities.

Septic tanks causing seagrass loss

The human population of Florida is booming, and all the new arrivals need somewhere to live. New housing developments are encroaching on the natural landscape and this unique ecosystem is under threat.

That's due in part to pollution from wastewater treatment plants. Many homes on the Indian River Lagoon aren't connected to the central sewer but have septic tanks. The wastewater goes into the soil and groundwater, filtering into the Indian River Lagoon.

It results in outbreaks of algae that block light, causing seagrass loss. And that deprives marine life — including manatees — of a vital food source, and so manatees are continuing to die at an alarming rate.

Tomorrow Today — The Science Magazine

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