Manatee photo-identification project. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant 1999-0273-001. Draft final report.

Abstract

Manatee photo-identification surveys were conducted in Charlotte, Lee, and Sarasota counties to further develop and increase sighting histories of manatees in the southwest subpopulation. Data collected during these surveys will update, expand, and improve the collaborative statewide scar catalog (MIPS) by documenting individual manatees at primary and secondary winter refuge sites, as well as non-winter sites, and establish sighting histories for new distinct individuals. Additionally, data collected at the primary are being used as part of another collaborative study with U.S. Geological Survey Sirenia Project and FWRI to develop models to predict when and how manatees use winter refugia.