Manatee Health Assessment and Biomedical Studies Active
A multi-agency effort assesses the health of manatees and provides baseline information on their health, reproductive status, and nutritional condition.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Federal and state researchers have been involved in manatee (Trichechus manatus) biomedical health assessment programs for a couple of decades. Biologists and veterinarians have implemented training and encouraged multi-agency participation whenever possible to ensure consistency in data acquisition, recording, sample collection, publication integrity, and archival standards. Under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Research Permit (MA791721) granted to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Sirenia Project, federal biologists and collaborators are allowed to conduct up to 10 physiological research studies on wild and captive manatees detailing various aspects of their biology. This research initiative addresses concerns and priorities outlined in the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan. The assessment teams strive to continue this collaborative effort to help advance our understanding of health-related issues confronting the manatee throughout their range.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Researchers with the project have been collaborating on numerous studies over the last several years. One extensive study, initiated in 2006, has focused on health and fitness of the winter manatee population located in the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, in Crystal River, Florida. During those health assessments, training has been afforded to many participants. That study has successfully captured and handled over 200 manatees. Our team has experience in successfully handling more than 1100 wild, healthy manatees. The data gathered has provided baseline information on manatee health, reproductive status, and nutritional condition. Additional manatee health assessments have been coupled with other collaborative research projects in others parts of Florida, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Belize, and Mexico.
Future Steps: Additional health assessments are planned for manatee populations at different locations, with emphases focused along the Gulf of Mexico. These studies will establish the baseline biological, nutritional, and medical data necessary for future comparative studies addressing life history parameters and habitat carrying capacity issues. Genetics will continue to be used as a tool to address fitness and re-sighting capabilities in future generations of manatees. Collaboration with the USGS partners will be encouraged in order to advance our understanding of the biology of this endangered species.
Related Project(s):
USFWS Florida and Puerto Rico Manatee Recovery Plans, USFWS West Indian Manatee 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation, USGS Manatee Individual Photo-identification System, Florida’s Manatee Carcass Recovery and Necropsy Program, USFWS Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Program.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Monitoring oral temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) during capture and handling in the field
Secretion of anti-Müllerian hormone in the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris, with implications for assessing conservation status
Seroepidemiology of TmPV1 infection in captive and wild Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Evaluation of adrenocortical function in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Serum amyloid A (SAA) as a biomarker of chronic infection due to boat strike trauma in a free-ranging Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) with incidental polycystic kidneys
Feeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis
Physiological response of wild dugongs (Dugong dugon) to out-of-water sampling for health assessment
Hematology of healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus)
Validation of a serum immunoassay to measure progesterone and diagnose pregnancy in the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)
Concentrations of trace elements in blood and skin of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Comparison of blood aminotransferase methods for assessment of myopathy and hepatopathy in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Procedures for the salvage and necropsy of the dugong (Dugong dugon)
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Overview
A multi-agency effort assesses the health of manatees and provides baseline information on their health, reproductive status, and nutritional condition.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Federal and state researchers have been involved in manatee (Trichechus manatus) biomedical health assessment programs for a couple of decades. Biologists and veterinarians have implemented training and encouraged multi-agency participation whenever possible to ensure consistency in data acquisition, recording, sample collection, publication integrity, and archival standards. Under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Research Permit (MA791721) granted to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Sirenia Project, federal biologists and collaborators are allowed to conduct up to 10 physiological research studies on wild and captive manatees detailing various aspects of their biology. This research initiative addresses concerns and priorities outlined in the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan. The assessment teams strive to continue this collaborative effort to help advance our understanding of health-related issues confronting the manatee throughout their range.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Researchers with the project have been collaborating on numerous studies over the last several years. One extensive study, initiated in 2006, has focused on health and fitness of the winter manatee population located in the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, in Crystal River, Florida. During those health assessments, training has been afforded to many participants. That study has successfully captured and handled over 200 manatees. Our team has experience in successfully handling more than 1100 wild, healthy manatees. The data gathered has provided baseline information on manatee health, reproductive status, and nutritional condition. Additional manatee health assessments have been coupled with other collaborative research projects in others parts of Florida, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Belize, and Mexico.
Future Steps: Additional health assessments are planned for manatee populations at different locations, with emphases focused along the Gulf of Mexico. These studies will establish the baseline biological, nutritional, and medical data necessary for future comparative studies addressing life history parameters and habitat carrying capacity issues. Genetics will continue to be used as a tool to address fitness and re-sighting capabilities in future generations of manatees. Collaboration with the USGS partners will be encouraged in order to advance our understanding of the biology of this endangered species.
Related Project(s):
USFWS Florida and Puerto Rico Manatee Recovery Plans, USFWS West Indian Manatee 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation, USGS Manatee Individual Photo-identification System, Florida’s Manatee Carcass Recovery and Necropsy Program, USFWS Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Program.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 37Monitoring oral temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) during capture and handling in the field
West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) are captured, handled, and transported to facilitate conservation, research, and rehabilitation efforts. Monitoring manatee oral temperature (OT), heart rate (HR), and respiration rate (RR) during out-of-water handling can assist efforts to maintain animal well-being and improve medical response to evidence of declining health. To determine effects of captAuthorsArthur W. Wong, Robert K. Bonde, Jessica Siegal-Willott, M. Andrew Stamper, James Colee, James A. Powell, James P. Reid, Charles J. Deutsch, Kendal E. HarrSecretion of anti-Müllerian hormone in the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris, with implications for assessing conservation status
Environmental and anthropogenic stressors can affect wildlife populations in a number of ways. For marine mammals (e.g. the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris), certain stressors or conservation risk factors have been identified, but sublethal effects have been very difficult to assess using traditional methods. The development of 'biomarkers' allows us to correlate effects, such as imAuthorsRhian C. Wilson, John E. Reynolds, Dana L. Wetzel, Leslie Schwierzke-Wade, Robert K. Bonde, Kevin F. Breuel, William E. RoudebushSeroepidemiology of TmPV1 infection in captive and wild Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
In 1997, cutaneous papillomatosis caused by Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris [Tm]) papillomavirus 1 (TmPV1) was detected in seven captive manatees at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Florida, USA, and, subsequently, in two wild manatees from the adjacent Homosassa River. Since then, papillomatosis has been reported in captive manatees housed in other locations, but not inAuthorsMaria Gabriella Dona, Manuela Rehtanz, Nicole M. Adimey, Gregory D. Bossart, Alfred B. Jenson, Robert K. Bonde, Shin-je GhimEvaluation of adrenocortical function in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
The study objectives were to determine the predominant manatee glucocorticoid; validate assays to measure this glucocorticoid and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH); determine diagnostic thresholds to distinguish physiological vs. pathological concentrations; identify differences associated with sex, age class, female reproductive status, capture time, and lactate; and determine the best methods fAuthorsK.M. Tripp, J.P. Verstegen, C. Deutsch, Robert K. Bonde, M. de Wit, Charles A. Manire, J. Gaspard, K.E. HarrSerum amyloid A (SAA) as a biomarker of chronic infection due to boat strike trauma in a free-ranging Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) with incidental polycystic kidneys
Watercraft-related trauma is the predominant cause of human-induced mortality in manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a federal- and state-listed endangered species. Pyothorax (documented in this case report) and other secondary infections are common sequelae of inhalation of water and the open wounds caused by boat propellers. These secondary infections can lead to the demise of the animalAuthorsKendal E. Harr, Renee Rember, Pamela E. Ginn, Jessica Lightsey, Martha Keller, James Reid, Robert K. BondeFeeding preferences of West Indian manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico as indicated by stable isotope analysis
The endangered West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus has 2 recognized subspecies: the Florida T. m. latirostris and Antillean T. m. manatus manatee, both of which are found in freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. A better understanding of manatee feeding preferences and habitat use is essential to establish criteria on which conservation plans can be based. Skin from manatees in Florida, BAuthorsChristy D. Alves-Stanley, Graham A.J. Worthy, Robert K. BondePhysiological response of wild dugongs (Dugong dugon) to out-of-water sampling for health assessment
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a vulnerable marine mammal with large populations living in urban Queensland waters. A mark-recapture program for wild dugongs has been ongoing in southern Queensland since 2001. This program has involved capture and in-water sampling of more than 700 dugongs where animals have been held at the water surface for 5 min to be gene-tagged, measured, and biopsied. In 2008,AuthorsJanet M. Lanyon, Helen L. Sneath, Trevor Long, Robert K. BondeHematology of healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus)
Background: Hematologic analysis is an important tool in evaluating the general health status of free-ranging manatees and in the diagnosis and monitoring of rehabilitating animals. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate diagnostically important hematologic analytes in healthy manatees (Trichechus manatus) and to assess variations with respect to location (free ranging vs captive),AuthorsJ. W. Harvey, K.E. Harr, D. Murphy, M.T. Walsh, E.C. Nolan, R. K. Bonde, M.G. Pate, C. J. Deutsch, H.H. Edwards, W.L. ClappValidation of a serum immunoassay to measure progesterone and diagnose pregnancy in the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)
The objective was to validate a high-sensitivity chemiluminescent assay of serum progesterone concentrations for pregnancy diagnosis in manatees. Assay analytical sensitivity was 0.1 ng/mL, with mean intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of 9.7 and 9.2%, respectively, and accuracy had a mean adjusted R2 of 0.98. Methods comparison (relative to Siemen's Coat-A-Count RIA) demonstrated r =AuthorsK.M. Tripp, J.P. Verstegen, C. J. Deutsch, R. K. Bonde, M. Rodriguez, B. Morales, D.L. Schmitt, K.E. HarrConcentrations of trace elements in blood and skin of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
[No abstract available]AuthorsH.-C.W. Stavros, R. K. Bonde, P.A. FairComparison of blood aminotransferase methods for assessment of myopathy and hepatopathy in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Muscle injury is common in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Plasma aspartate amino-transferase (AST) is frequently used to assess muscular damage in capture myopathy and traumatic injury. Therefore, accurate measurement of AST and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is important in managed, free-ranging animals, as well as in those rehabilitating from injury. Activities of these enzymAuthorsK.E. Harr, K. Allison, R. K. Bonde, D. Murphy, J. W. HarveyProcedures for the salvage and necropsy of the dugong (Dugong dugon)
Data and specimens collected from dugong carcasses and live stranded individuals provide vital information for research and management agencies. The ability to assign a cause of death (natural and/or human induced) to a carcass assists managers to identify major threats to a population in certain areas and to evaluate and adapt management measures. Data collectedfrom dugong carcasses have contribuAuthorsCarole Eros, Helene Marsh, Robert K. Bonde, Thomas A. O'Shea, Cathy A. Beck, Cheri Recchia, Kirstin Dobbs, Malcolm Turner, Stephanie Lemm, Rachel Pears, Rachel Bowater - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.