Mote Marine Laboratory Manatee Training and Research

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Mote Marine LaboratoryManatee Training and
Research

• Monika Weinacht
• Spring Quarter
• March28-May28

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Mote Marine Lab Background

• Founded 1955
• Originally Shark Research
• 10.5 acre campus in Sarasota, FL
• 3 field stations in Key West, Summerland Key
  Charlotte Harbor
• Focus on Southwest FL coastal region
• Advancing the understanding of ocean science to
  the general public

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Mote Background Continued

• Seven Major areas of research
• Aquaculture Research Development
• Coastal Ecology
• Coral Reef Research
• Ecotoxicology
• Fisheries Enhancement
• Marine Mammal Sea Turtle Research
• Shark Research

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MML Manatee Training History

• 1st facility to train manatee husbandry behaviors
• Designed to ease and enhance medical procedures
• 1 of 2 facilities permitted to conduct research
  on captive manatees in the U.S.

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MEET the BOYS!

• Hugh
• Born _at_ Miami Seaquarium 6/28/84
• Weighs 1200 lbs
• Hugh is the active, never stops swimming one

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MEET the BOYS!

• Buffett
• Born _at_ Miami Seaquarium 5/16/87
• Weighs 1700 lbs
• Buffett is the slow moving, people watching one

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MEET the Boys!

• Hugh and Buffett are half brothers
• Same father different mothers
• But, Hughs mom is Buffetts sister

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Their Exhibit

• Holds 70,000 gal.
• 30 by 60
• with 9 depth in deep area
• 4 depth on the shelf in med tank

• Visitors view the boys through four 6 by 10
  underwater viewing windows
• Able to hear the sounds through a live hydrophone
  system

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Target Training 101

• Each animal has personal target (PT)
• Touch the PT with snout
• Bridge the animal (whistle)
• Reinforce with food and verbally

• Move PT along wall
• wait for animal to reposition touch PT
• Bridge reinforce with food
• Continue procedure till _at_ correct location

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Targeting
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Ventral Up Position

• Sweep down shoulder
• Animal extend pectoral flipper
• Bridge
• Reinforce

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Oral Examination

• Tap on the chin twice
• Insert 2 fingers
• Animal should open mouth
• Animal should stay relaxed

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Wound Care

• 2 trainers
• Station the animal
• 1st trainer lift the head
• 2nd clean wounds
• 1st should bridge and reinforce

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Research Training

• Sound Localization
• Measure the abilities of manatees to localize
  sounds
• My Job was On-Deck Trainer
• Keep one animal distracted while the other is
  being tested

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Manatee Care

• Water Quality
• Free Total Cl done hourly
• Salinity and pH daily
• Temperature
• Hourly
• Ensures the safety wellbeing

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Manatee Care

• Food Prep Feeding
• Training food
• Apples, Beets, Carrots, Monkey Biscuits
• Vitamins
• Hidden in Monkey Biscuits
• Grazing
• Kale and Romaine Lettuce
• ½ case of romaine every half hour

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Personal Project

• EED
• Cant be swallowed
• Cant be torn or ripped
• Cant be crushed or broken
• Cant trap or entangle the animal
• Covering Jug

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Overall Experience

• Amazing Opportunity
• Worked with many experts in their fields
• Opened many doors
• Would DEFINITLY recommend this internship to
  anyone looking into the Marine Mammal Field

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Any Questions?
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Other Mote Residents