Manatee grazing survey of Cumberland Island 1989
1989. Manatee grazing survey of Cumberland Island 1989
A survey of manatee grazing was conducted along the west coast of Cumberland Island to see what the manatees graze on and to determine what the impact that manatee grazing had on the aquatic flora. Manatees (Trichechus manatus) are known to frequent Georgia coastal waters, particularly Cumberland Sound. Cumberland Island National Seashore, located within Cumberland Sound, is 36,415.09 acres in size and is separated from the mainland by several kilometers of salt marsh, river, and sound. Although Georgia's coastal salt marshes have been identified as an important manatee habitat, manatee use of Cumberland Island salt marshes has never been studied. It is vital for park managers to understand manatee use of Cumberland Island National Seashore if the National Park Service is to develop management policies conducive to the survival of manatees. A survey of manatee grazing on Spartina alternaflora and Ulva sp. was conducted along the west coast of Cumberland Island.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Date of Issue
- 1989
- Units
- CUIS
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Browse, food habitats, Food Preference, Forage Plant, Mammals, Manatee Habitat, manatees, Wildlife Monitoring