Center for Biological Diversity’s Post

Manatees, often referred to as “gentle giants,” are more than just iconic symbols of aquatic life—they are essential to the health of our coastal ecosystems. Manatees, are also often called “ecosystem engineers,” as they play vital roles in maintaining the health and balance of local ecosystems. However, their populations are declining due to habitat loss, water pollution, and collisions with boats. This decline threatens not only the species but also the ecosystems they help sustain. Here are some of the vital roles manatees play in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity: 1. Grazing on Seagrass: 🌱 Manatees consume large amounts of seagrass, preventing overgrowth and promoting the health of seagrass beds. This grazing helps maintain biodiversity by allowing sunlight to reach the seabed, benefiting various marine species. 2. Nutrient Cycling: 🔄 By feeding on aquatic vegetation and excreting waste, manatees contribute to nutrient cycling. Their waste acts as a natural fertilizer, supporting the growth of seagrass and other plants. 3. Sediment Redistribution: 🪨 As manatees move through shallow waters, their movements stir up sediment, which can help prevent the buildup of organic matter that might otherwise smother seagrass beds. 4. Habitat Creation for Other Species: 🐟 The maintenance of healthy seagrass beds by manatees provides habitat and feeding grounds for fish, crustaceans, and other marine organisms. 5. Indicator Species: 🌎 Manatees serve as indicators of ecosystem health. A thriving manatee population often signals clean, healthy water and balanced aquatic ecosystems. 6. Preventing Algal Blooms: 🦠 By keeping aquatic vegetation in check, manatees help reduce the risk of algal blooms, which can deplete oxygen in the water and harm marine life. 7. Promoting Biodiversity: ☮️ Their role in maintaining seagrass beds indirectly supports a wide range of marine life, fostering biodiversity within the ecosystem. By protecting manatees, we’re also safeguarding the ecosystems that countless other species—and we—depend on. Let’s work together to ensure these incredible animals thrive for generations to come. #manatees #biodiversity #ecosystems #protect #support

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to expand manatee habitat protections for the first time in over 50 years, but it can go even further. Join us in urging the agency to expand the proposed updates to critical habitat – this is one of our best chances in decades to deliver enhanced protections for manatees: https://dfnd.us/4gJAGca

🐊 Urgent request for all who care about clean air in the Southeast and friends of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge! Please respond by this Monday (Nov. 18)❗ Last month, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a proposed boundary expansion of the refuge, adding approximately 22,000 acres. The expansion would allow the refuge to work with landowners to explore voluntary management actions that would protect the swamp’s hydrologic integrity, conserve wetlands, and safeguard the swamp and landowners from wildfires. This is our chance to protect the swamp for future generations, and we need your help to ensure the expansion moves forward. Here's how YOU can make a difference: ✅ Visit the One Hundred Miles website, where you’ll find all the info you need on the proposed expansion: https://lnkd.in/e9JCMUnJ. ✅ Send a quick email: The website provides a simple template you can use to express your support directly to the USFWS. It takes just a few minutes! The clock is ticking! USFWS must receive your email by Monday, Nov. 18! We need to show the USFWS that there is strong, widespread support for this expansion. Every email counts in helping ensure the protection of this vital ecosystem. The Okefenokee Swamp is a national treasure—a vast, biodiverse wetland that provides critical habitat for countless species. Let’s stand together and make sure the Okefenokee Swamp stays protected for generations to come! #Wildlife #WaterConservation #Conservation #Nature #RootLocal

Big news for the ducks! Please consider giving the ducks a follow!

🛑 National Wildlife Refuges are facing an unprecedented crisis 🛑 Staff cuts, reduced public programs, and even closed refuge areas are the result of severe underfunding, leaving critical habitats and wildlife vulnerable. This #RefugeWeek, we ask for your help in raising awareness about the importance of protecting the National Wildlife Refuge System. These lands don’t just support wildlife—they protect our communities and provide opportunities for recreation and conservation education. Find out how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/gpFYPpNU #WildlifeCrisis #WildlifeRefuge #SaveOurRefuges

Just some of the 72 This image shows wildlife rescuer and carer Emma from Bungalook Creek Wildlife Shelter weighing just some of her 72 rescued Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) pups in care. At one stage Emma had 109 to look after! Wrapped in ‘mumma rolls’ to keep warm and secure before being weighed, the majority of these pups were found alone in colonies. Why? Maybe their mums didn't make it home due to being caught in barbed wire, illegal fruit-tree netting or were electrocuted. There was also a starvation event this year. By helping disperse pollen and seeds up the east coast of Australia, Grey-headed Flying-foxes are keystone species (which is an animal that helps define an entire ecosystem, and without them, ecosystems would be dramatically different or even cease to exist altogether) and so are vital for the health and regeneration of many of our forests. Listed as vulnerable to extinction, significant threats include continued habitat destruction and climate change (e.g. heat stress, cold snaps) related events. #greyheadedflyingfox #fruitbat #bat #mum #pup #baby #vulnerable #keystonespecies #conservationphotography #wildlifephotography

Such important work to save such an important species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recent report reveals that wetlands (mostly freshwater) now cover less than 6% of the lower 48 states, half their original area. Loss rates have increased by 50% since 2009. The report calls for action to reverse this trend and continue providing future generations with clean water, protection against natural disasters, resilience to climate change, and habitats for wildlife. #Wetlands #Conservation #NatureBasedSolutions

There is NO evidence that supports hunting #grizzlyBears as an effective tool in reducing human-bear conflict. 🐻 ℹ️ The Government of Alberta recently made changed to the Wildlife Act, without consultation with conservation groups or the public, to permit the hunting of "problem" grizzly bears. 🐾 We and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Southern Alberta have key concerns, which are highlighted in the statement below. Ultimately, the most important step that SHOULD be taken to achieve grizzly bear recovery and manage human-bear conflict is prioritizing the conservation, restoration, and management of grizzly bear habitat – a step that has been sorely overlooked.

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