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Endangered Ocean: Manatees

2 minutes 24 seconds

Now Playing As: Captioned (English) (change)

In the "Endangered Ocean: Manatees" video from the "Endangered Ocean" series, viewers learn about the gentle and graceful manatees, also known as sea cows, which are crucial to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. Related to elephants, these large aquatic mammals primarily feed on seagrass, helping to control the plant's growth. The video highlights the three manatee species: West Indian, West African, and Amazonian, all of which face threats of extinction due mainly to habitat loss and boat collisions. Viewers learn about the significance of seagrass ecosystems and the detrimental effects of human activities, such as construction and water pollution, on manatee populations. Important conservation strategies include boat safety education and the creation of slow-speed zones in Florida. The video emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness to protect these endangered species to maintain a balanced ocean environment.

Media Details

Runtime: 2 minutes 24 seconds

Manatee swimming in the water. Person in scuba gear in the background. Caption: Manatees are actually incredibly graceful creatures.
Endangered Ocean
Episode 6
2 minutes 24 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Person on boat holding a rope attached to a whale in the water. Caption: But steps continue to be taken to help protect this species.
Endangered Ocean
Episode 2
2 minutes 18 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Close up of a sea turtle swimming on the ocean floor. Caption: There are seven different species of sea turtles,
Endangered Ocean
Episode 4
2 minutes 40 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Human hand holding a small, thin brown shark. The shark fits neatly into the palm of the hand. Caption:  Photo by Chip Clark, Smithsonian Institution. Caption: the small dwarf lantern can fit in the palm of your hand.
Endangered Ocean
Episode 3
2 minutes 14 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Close up of a sawfish on the ocean floor. It has a large flat body with a long tooth-lined shaft from the mouth. Caption: (male narrator) Sawfish are large, shark-like rays
Endangered Ocean
Episode 1
2 minutes 25 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Tryptic of a coral reef, ice shelf, and seal on a beach. Caption:  Endangered Species Act. Caption: under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Endangered Ocean
Episode 7
2 minutes 37 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12

Viewer Comments

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    Katie O. (Oceanside, CA)
    October 8th, 2020 at 05:01 PM

    This is an excellent film regarding Manatees. I recommend it as a supplement if you are teaching any kind of biology.