As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Die of Starvation

Provided by: NPR |Published on: April 27, 2021

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Synopsis

This NPR article and short podcast discuss the poor health of the Indian River Lagoon in Florida and the declining local manatee population.
The lagoon's health has been suffering from increased pollution, which leads to algae blooms that kill the manatees' food source, seagrass.
The podcast summarizes the article and has a written transcript that is accessible by clicking the paragraph icon in the podcast bar.

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Subjects: Biology

Authors: Greg Allen

Region: North America, USA - South, United States, Florida

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This article and podcast use statements from multiple sources to create a clear and concise argument.
This resource has links to additional information that support the claims that are made and give more details.
There is a focus on biodiversity, the importance of conservation, and solutions to the problem.

Prerequisites

There is a strong focus on biodiversity and how ecosystems can be damaged, so students should be familiar with the concepts of "algae super blooms" and "estuaries."

Differentiation & Implementation

This would be a great resource to use in a biology class when learning about ecosystems and food chains.
Parallels can be made to other unique ecosystems, and this resource could be used to start a conversation about the unique ecosystems in other parts of the country or globe.
Some other related resources are Estuary and Marine Monitoring Manual and The Solution to Climate Change Is All Around Us.

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As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees Die of Starvation

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources