Experts uncover alarming side effects of shutting down industrial coal plants: 'We need to put … efforts in place soon'
Posted by Staff of goGardenNow on
The Cool Down reports, "As detailed by National Geographic, a combination of urbanization, expanding industry, and rising sea levels has altered Florida manatees' access to food and their natural habitats. As a result, the creatures have begun teaching their offspring to depend upon warm water discharges from coal-fired plants during the colder winter months.
"This is because manatees can suffer from cold water syndrome when temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, as they don't have insulating blubber.
"Clearwater Marine Aquarium director of manatee research and conservation Monica Ross explained to the publication that manatees' "very opportunistic" nature is one reason they have zeroed in on the warm water discharges rather than migrating south to historic ranges in tropical waters or north to thermal basins and springs."