Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Rycyk, Athena

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology and Environmental Studies

Abstract

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) possess highly sensitive vibrissae across the surface of their body. These structures enable manatees to detect water flow and the changes in water flow that may result from the presence of nearby objects such as other manatees. This project examined vibrissae growth rate and possible effects a changing environment may have on these structures. We monitored 40 vibrissae follicles on two captive Florida manatees over ten weeks and experimentally manipulated pH levels in tanks that contained trimmed vibrissae. To understand growth, vibrissae length at each follicle was measured periodically and mean growth rate was found to be 0.64 mm per day across manatees and the mean vibrissae length across manatees was 7.22mm. In order to study the possible effects of ocean acidification, 40 vibrissae were trimmed and randomly assigned a tank with a pH value of 7.95, 8.05, 8.15, 8.25 (a typical value for their natural environment), or 5.60 (deionized water). They were studied after five weeks and again after eight additional weeks. Different visual characteristics were used to classify changes of the vibrissae when viewed under a compound microscope including transparency changes, roughness of the surface of the vibrissae, and bends in the vibrissae. The vibrissae left in water with a pH of 8.25 had the lowest level of changes, while those in water with a pH of 5.60 had the most physical changes, followed by the vibrissae in the most acidic water. Future research to understand if these physical changes in the vibrissae alter the functionality of their hydrodynamic sense would help predict the impact ocean acidification may have on Florida manatees.

Download

Share

COinS