Temperature inverted haloclines provide winter warm-water refugia for manatees in southwest Florida
Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) overwintering in the Ten Thousand Islands and western Everglades have no access to power plants or major artesian springs that provide warm-water refugia in other parts of Florida. Instead, hundreds of manatees aggregate at artificial canals, basins, and natural deep water sites that act as passive thermal refugia (PTR). Monitoring at two canal sites revealed temperature inverted haloclines, which provided warm salty bottom layers that generally remained above temperatures considered adverse for manatees. At the largest PTR, the warmer bottom layer disappeared unless significant salt stratification was maintained by upstream freshwater inflow over a persistent tidal wedge. A detailed three-dimensional hydrology model showed that salinity stratification inhibited vertical convection induced by atmospheric cooling. Management or creation of temperature inverted haloclines may be a feasible and desirable option for resource managers to provide passive thermal refugia for manatees and other temperature sensitive aquatic species.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Title | Temperature inverted haloclines provide winter warm-water refugia for manatees in southwest Florida |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12237-010-9286-1 |
| Authors | Bradley Stith, James P. Reid, Catherine A. Langtimm, Eric D. Swain, Terry J. Doyle, Daniel H. Slone, Jeremy D. Decker, Lars E. Soderqvist |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Estuaries and Coasts |
| Index ID | 70003603 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Florida Water Science Center; Southeast Ecological Science Center |
Related Content
Catherine Langtimm, Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Scientist Emeritus
Eric D. Swain, Ph.D.
Research Hydrologist (RGE)
Jeremy D. Decker, PhD
Hydrologist
Related Content
- Connect
Catherine Langtimm, Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Scientist EmeritusEric D. Swain, Ph.D.
Research Hydrologist (RGE)EmailPhoneJeremy D. Decker, PhD
HydrologistEmailPhone