Marine Life

By Diana Wilson and Brandy Hammett, Grade 6

We both chose this topic because we want to be marine biologists. We love to see and learn about our future careers. We wanted a little bit of a head start on our careers, and we thought it would be fun to do a project on Florida since we live here. Our project will deal with marinelife, what can happen if we do not take care of it, and what we can do to help the endangered marinelife.

The Florida Manatee

Florida Manatees eat water plants, sea grass, and algee. They are active both day and night. They have a social life and they live in small groups. The manatee is an endangered species. That means that the manatee might not be here five, or maybe even one year from now. They are poached and they swim slowly and so close to the surface that they are hit by motor boat propellers. You can Adopt a Manatee!

The Harbor Porpoise

The harbor porpoise is found from Newfoundland, Canada, to Florida. There are thought to be three populations: Newfoundland, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Gulf of Maine-Bay of Fundy. However, there is not enough evidence prove this. Summer aggregations occur in the Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrece, and east coast of Newfoundland. The winter distribution us poorly understood.

The Harbor Seal

Harbor seals, year-round residents of Maine and eastern Canada, are seasonal-winter residents in southern New England . Harbor seal numbers have apparently increased in recent years, due primarily to protection under the MMPA . Recent surveys suggest that 26,000 harbor seals occur in the Gulf of Maine, and they are increasing. But catch levels are relatively low, and major concerns are competition with fisheries and periodic disease outbreaks.

The Bottle- nosed Dolphin

Bottle-nosed dophins are the best known species. Their short beaks give these dophines an expression that looks like a smile, most performing in aquariums and zoos are botttle-nosed dophins. Members of this species measures up to 15 feet long and can weigh as much as 440 pounds. They are gray, but their backs are darker than their undersides. Bottle-nosed dophins show apparent great friendiless toward people and often swim a long side ships. They also adapt well to life in captivty. If you really like dolphins, you can visit the Dolphin Page for more information.

Gray Whales

Gray Whales live in the North Pacific Ocean. In spite of their name they may be black or dark gray. Their skin is dotted with white blotches, some of which are shellfish called barnacles. Gray whales eat small animals that live on the sandy ocean bottom.

Gray whales have a series of low humps on their lower back. The whales suck up the sand and use their balleen to strain out the animals. They also feed on plankton and small fish. These whales measure up to fifty feet long.

Works Cited

MidLink Magazine, April/May

Diana Wilson and Brandy Hammett, grade 6, Discovery Middle Sghool