资源描述：
《文章Manatee of the Month.doc》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在教育资源-天天文库。
1、ManateeoftheMonth:FlickerFlickerchecksoutaresearcherdoingmanateephotoidentificationwork.(PhotocourtesyofFWCC)WhenyoufirstseeFlicker,youcan'thelpbutnoticethemanysmallpropellerscarsthatrunacrossherback.Whenshewasidentifiedin1983nearFt.Myers,Florida,aFloridaFishandWildlifeConserv
2、ationCommission(FWCC)researchercommentedthatherscarslookedlikeflickeringflames.That'showshegothername.Flickerhashadmorethanonerun-inwithaboat.Hertailismissingafewchunksfromcontactwithapropeller,andshe'salsohadhershareofentanglementwoes(moreonthatlater).Butthathasn'tstoppedherf
3、romrackingupmanateemilesonherfrequenttripsaroundTampaBay.Inthewinter,FlickerhangsoutatTampaElectricCompany's(TECO)powerplantinApolloBeach,Florida.Manateescan'ttoleratewatertemperaturesbelow21°C(70°F),andtheygathernearnaturalspringsorwarmwateroutflowofpowerplantswhentheweathert
4、urnscolder.BesidesvisitingtheTECOplant,FlickeralsomakestripsacrossthebaytotheFloridaProgressplantinBartow.Afterall,shedoesn'twanttoplayfavorites!Herdistinctivescarsresemble"flickeringflames"andearnedFlickerhernameAfewyearsago,Flickerliterallygotcaughtupinsometroublethatturnedi
5、ntoarealadventureforherandherrescuers.Oneday,residentsofCoffeepotBayouinTampaBayreportedamanateewithacrabtraplineandabouywrappedaroundhertail.ItwasFlicker.Buttheextraadditionsdidn'tslowherdown.Shetowedthelineandbouyalmost10nauticalmilesacrossthebay!ThensheturnednorthtotheAlafi
6、aRiverwhereshepickedupmorelineandanotherbouy.Andthenshegotcaughtintwomooringlinesattachedtoahouseboat.BythetimetheFWCCrescuestaffhadarrived,Flicker--whoisabigmanatee--hadstrippedoffoneofthebouysandalmostswampedalawenforcementboat.Ittookthreeattemptsbytherescuestaff(alongwithac
7、oupleofcleatsandseveralplanksfromthehouseboat)beforeshewasfree.BothFlickerandherrescuersescapedwithnoinjuries.Andshe'sstillcontinuingtotrekacrossTampaBay.Infact,lastwinter,shewasabay-widetraveler,visitingTECO,theFloridaProgress'powerplant,andCulbreathKey(acrossthebayfromFlorid
8、aProgress)allinoneyear.Thewinterfluctuatedbetweencoldandwarmw
