Manatee Conservation and Research

The video discusses the declining manatee population in Florida and the research by Dr. Edmund Gerstein on why manatees don't avoid boats. It reveals that manatees have poor low-frequency hearing, which is why they don't detect slow-moving boats. Dr. Gerstein and his wife developed a high-pitched alarm to alert manatees of approaching boats. Tests showed a 100% success rate in manatee reactions to the alarm, suggesting a potential solution to protect these animals.

What is one of the main threats to manatees in Florida?

• Pollution

• Boat propellers

• Predators

• Climate change

What question did Dr. Gerstein aim to answer with his research?

• How manatees communicate with each other

• Why manatees are declining in number

• What manatees eat in the wild

• Whether manatees can hear approaching boats

What did Dr. Gerstein discover about manatee hearing?

• They have excellent low-frequency hearing

• They hear better at high frequencies

• They can hear all frequencies equally well

• They are deaf to all boat noises

What was the purpose of the high-pitched alarm system?

• To attract manatees to boats

• To communicate with manatees

• To scare manatees away from boats

• To alert manatees to approaching boats

What was the outcome of the alarm system tests?

• Manatees reacted too late

• Manatees ignored the alarms

• Manatees responded well before the boat arrived

• Manatees were confused by the alarms

How many alarm runs resulted in a 100% reaction from manatees?

• 17

• 10

• 25

• 30

What percentage of silent runs showed no reaction from manatees?

• 100%

• 75%

• 50%

• 97%

What is the estimated cost of the alarm device for boats?

• $125

• $300

• $50

• $200

What is the main benefit of the alarm system for boaters?

• Improved navigation accuracy

• Reduced fuel consumption

• Increased safety for manatees

• Faster travel times

What is the ultimate goal for the alarm system according to Ed?

• To patent the technology

• To equip all manatee-filled waters with it

• To sell it internationally

• To make it mandatory for all boats