I see the manatee didn't survive the trip back to FL.

 

 

[QUOTE=Legal Bill,Oct 8 2008, 09:14 PM]A manatee showed up on Cape Cod.

 

And, of course, critters get lost in all sorts of directions. Now that the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has merged into my university, we're hearing all sorts of news (which I guess I just ignored before) about arctic seals and other confused beasties being rescued by their team of marine mammal people. (Marine mammal people have gills behind their ears, like in that WaterWorld movie.) Some survive, some don't (the critters, I mean). HPH

 

The warmer waters seem to be screwing up migratory patterns for a number of species, which doesn't bode well for biodiversity. Along with the migration impact, I'm also waiting to see some studies on how those higher temperatures are affecting the habitat ranges of various parasites and pathogens.

I don't do it any more, living here away from the coast, but I've worked very closely with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, here in FL and TX. They're a great bunch of very dedicated folks. At least as far as dolphin-hugging hippies go.


BTW, I spent the weekend before last in Boca. I can't believe how much FAU and the surrounding area has grown. The place was nearly unrecognizable.

 

Five million years from now I'm sure there will be plenty of new biodiversity.

 

The problem is that I don't have another five million years left in me, I don't think. It's bad enough that, at the present rate of collapse, I'll live to see the loss of the vast majority of the world's coral reef communities.

 

I have a couple of colleagues there who grew up in the area, and that's their take as well. For recent arrivals such as me, though, it's just the way it is, and it sucks.

We actually have some of those critter-hugging hippies still around, working on sea turtles, manatees, and corals, or what's left of them. Also wading birds -- there's lots of work on 'Glades kites and the usual cadre of herons and so forth. And so we soldier on. HPH

 

But will there be a single amphibian left way before that? They seem to be way more attuned to climate and environment change than the rest of us. I see fewer bull frogs, toads, and salamanders year after year when they used to be plentiful around here.

 

Florida is way over populated!