The Manatee Scientists( Saving Vulnerable Species)[MANATEE SCIENTISTS][Hardcover]

Scientists in the Field

by PeterLourie

The Manatee Scientists( Saving Vulnerable Species) <> Hardcover <> PeterLourie <> HoughtonMifflin

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Animals, Science Nature, Picture Books, Conservation, Biology

Hardcover

First published March 7, 2011

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So yes, with regard to the presented textual information regarding manatees as a species (and I indeed also much appreciate the included excursion on Manatee evolution pointing out that manatees are NOT related to either cetaceans or pinnipeds but in fact to elephants) I do very much find it cheering that Peter Lourie’s 2011 illustrated non fiction zoological tome The Manatee Scientists: The Science of Saving the Vulnerable not only features the West Indian Manatee (which inhabits the waters off of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico and is especially and universally known and indeed loved by in particular tourists in Florida) and what is being done by biologists like John Reynoulds to count, study and protect them, but yes, that the lesser known manatee species (which inhabit the Amazon River and coastal waters off of much of Africa) are equally and also meticulously described and presented (with information on their physiologies, their lives, but also showing that in the Amazon and in Africa, manatees are still often being hunted for food and that therefore in The Manatee Scientists: The Science of Saving the Vulnerable author Peter Lourie also and by necessity shows how in the Amazon and in Africa Dr. Fernando Rosas and Dr. Lucy Keith are not only monitoring and studying manatees but also trying to convince locals to no longer actively hunt manatees and consume their flesh).

Now with regard to the general set-up and textual presentation (including Peter Lourie’s verbal flow and general writing style), The Manatee Scientists: The Science of Saving the Vulnerable is rather densely penned (and thus not really a book meant for young children), however and in my humble opinion, still verbally simple enough so that the target audience, so that older children from about the age of nine to twelve or so will learn much about manatees without the risk of them becoming narrationally, textually overwhelmed (and that yes, The Manatee Scientists: The Science of Saving the Vulnerable is in fact also suitable for interested adult readers who might want, who might need a basic but thorough introduction to manatees without encountering annoying and frustrating scientific subject specific jargon).

And finally then, combined with the personally totally, absolutely appreciated fact that amongst the many supplemental learning (educational) details encountered in The Manatee Scientists: The Science of Saving the Vulnerable Peter Lourie has also included two specific bibliographies (one listing books, one listing websites), for me, The Manatee Scientists: The Science of Saving the Vulnerable provides a solidly delightful, educational and thorough without ever becoming tedious or dragging introduction to manatees (and with my only reasons for rating this book, for ranking The Manatee Scientists: The Science of Saving the Vulnerable with four and not with five stars being that for one, I do wish that Peter Lourie’s text would also at least briefly mention the closely related to manatees and even more vulnerable Dugong, and that for two, while the accompanying photographs are certainly sufficient visually appealing, they have also not really aesthetically wowed or awed me in any way).

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good information about the 3 species of manatees and the scientific work that is going on to collect information on them so that conservation efforts can be more effective. Great photos, especially of Florida manatees that generally swim in very clear water.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike most manatee books which focus on the west Indian manatee, this book included chapters on the amazonian and west african types too. Very interesting and informative read.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one sucked me right into it from the beginning with those beautiful close-up photos of the manatees. They remind me of playful puppies, and I think they're kind of cute. My favorite picture is near the beginning, showing the manatee swimming upside down--and you can see its bellybutton!! Lourie describes three different efforts by three different scientific groups to study manatees in Florida, the Amazon, and West Africa. I didn't know there were that many species. The one that we know the most about is the Florida manatee, not because it lives off U.S. waters but because its habitat makes it easy to see and therefore study. The manatees of the Amazon live in waters so murky that scientists seldom see much more than a nose and a couple of nostrils sticking up out of the water. The only way to study these manatees is to capture them and tag them with a radio transmitter, and follow their movements. The African manatee likewise is not well studied, because efforts to do so have been scattered, with no coordination of information between researchers. All three species are in the vulnerable category of endangerment. In Africa and the South America manatees are eaten, and you can't blame people who are so desperate for protein. Lourie discusses efforts to protect the manatees, who reproduce at the rate of only one pup every 2 to 4 (depending on the species) years. With that kind of reproductive rate, they could easily be wiped out before they could repopulate themselves, if we don't do something. This book is another winner in the Scientists in the Field series, and highly recommended!

[Lynne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:The book starts with explaining what a manatee is and why they are on the endangered list and if scientist should take them off the list yet The books goes into a description of the different categories of what the animals could fall under and the subcategories of those. There are three different species of manatee, the ones who live in Florida, and then manatees in the Amazon and Africa. People in the Amazon and Africa eat the manatees because they are such slow moving and easy to kill animals. They need the food and looking for manatees is an easy way to get it. Since all species of manatee are on the endangered list, scientists are looking for ways to help their populations recover since they are only able to produce one pup every 3-4 years. They raise some in captivity and release them into the wild when they are older to give them a better chance at survival. They also release these manatees in areas that people support the scientists so they have a better chance of not being killed by people. African manatees do not have as much data since they are not able to be studied as often or as in depth. They educate the local populations and talk to them about making sure they keep enough around for their children and grandchildren to see. The scientist in this area doesn't want to impose her ideals on the natives since they need them for survival, but this approach of making sure they control their hunting as worked.
Reflection: I really enjoyed this book and learned so much information I had no idea about. The pictures are what really got me to stay involved in the book since it is so long. They are absolutely beautiful and show the personality and calmness that the manatees have. It also shows the people that surround these manatees, either trying to protect them or needing them for survival. They are such adorable creatures and being able to see them up close in such detailed pictures is great. I also learned the only place I can go to pet a baby manatee!
Teaching Idea: This is a great book for students to read when they are studying different classifications of animals (bird, amphibian, reptile, bug, fish, or mammal). Students will sometimes get animals confused is they are slightly abnormal from the norm, such as bats are not birds just because they can fly. Reading an informative scientist in the field book can get them excited about the animals and help them look past the weird things that can mix them up on what kind of animal it actually is.

[Amanda Shreve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary
Aquatic Herbivores. In this volume of Scientists in the field we explore the three-different species of Manatees. Many of us only know about the Gulf Manatees who live in the waters of Florida. What we don't know is there are two other species who inhabit the amazon and West Africa. In this book we are given a glimpse into each part of the world and shown the lives of these gentle animals. We learn about projects in place to save the species and how they came to be. Will colorful and informational pictures on each page you are transformed to a world where overgrown puppies graze on water vegetation.
Evaluation
I gave this book a five-star rating and would give it more if possible. This book not only contained multitudes of helpful information but it also talked about where the manatees descended from and how they have come to be endangered. It also includes fast facts about each species, an overview in general, and a glossary to help with vocabulary we may not understand. It gives information about endangered animals and two pages of resources.
Teaching Point
There is so much you could use this book for. Life science and teaching of mammals or ocean life. However, I would recommend using it to talk about endangered and vulnerable animals. This species has been on the endangered list for many years and this book includes two chapters on what the levels of endangered species are and what they mean.

[Madison Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
In this book, scientists work together to save a vulnerable mammal: the manatee. In order to do this, they listen to narratives of people who live near the manatees and collect bone, blood, and DNA samples. They do this to gain a better understanding of the manatee. The scientists study the manatees in many different ways. They work in the clear ocean waters of Florida to the rivers of West Africa.

Review:
This book contains real-life pictures of scientists in the fields. I like this because it gives children a good understanding of what scientists really do and how they do it. Further, it gives them the opportunity to see the places that manatees live. It is possible that the students have never been to the places mentioned in the story, so this gives them a better visual as to what the places look like. This book is geared toward older readers. It has a higher vocabulary and it is pretty extensive.

Teaching:
I would probably use this book in a fourth or fifth grade classroom because of the vocabulary it offers. I would use it when we were talking about the extinction of animals and how many animals are in danger of becoming extinct. This book also does a good job of explaining how the ecosystem would change if manatees did not exist.

[Christy Grizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: The Manatee Scientists is about exploring different kinds of manatees. Throughout the text, we are given views of different parts of the world and the life of animals there. We see different things that are in the works to help save the manatees. The book provides real life images that pull you in and make you want to read and understand what is going on with this species of animals.

Evaluation: I rated this book five stars. It is extremely informative and truly interesting to read about the manatees. The pictures provided really pull you into the text and make you want to continue reading. It includes a lot of information and facts about each species. There is a glossary to help with words and includes resources.

Teaching Point: I would use this book to teach about manatees, conservation, science, and scientists. This book would be a good way to talk about the endangered animals and how there are other kinds out there also. This book includes so much information and facts it would be easy to have the students complete a research based paper or a project about manatees and science.

[Katie Kubas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
This captivating book follows three scientists as they work to save the various manatee species that live in the US, the Amazon and Africa. The book educates readers on what a manatee is, what kind of habitat they live in, and why they are endangered. The book discusses the measures scientists are taking to save the manatees and get them off the endangered species list.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book! I think manatees are cute, and so all the pictures in the books were super exciting to me! I think that they would also be engaging to students as well. This book is informative in an exciting, age appropriate manner. There are also lots of important components of nonfiction books present as well, which can be an excellent teaching point as well.

Teaching Point:
I would use this book to teach about habitats, ecosystems, and conservation to students. This book is a great conversation starter about what we as humans can do to protect some of the incredible yet endangered species of animals. This book is also a great way to connect literacy and science.

[Julie Atteberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is chock full of scientific information and detailed images of manatees and profiles three influential scientists that study them in Florida, West Africa and the Amazon. Manatees are docile, large sea mammals who can weigh up to 3600 lbs, grow up to 13 feet and are herbivores. Manatees are a protected species and cannot be hunted in the United States. In Africa and the Amazon where food can be scarce, manatees are still hunted, sadly. It is tough to push conservation efforts in those areas where villagers are poor and need to feed their families. In other areas of Africa, villagers fear that the breath of the manatee could kill them and are feared. The West Indian manatee in Florida are the most studied due to the clear waters and access to their population. Scientists there can observe the population through aerial photos and gps tracking. Scientists study their reproduction rates, one calf every 2-3 years, life span - about 30 years, and environmental disease and damage - cuts due to boat propellers. In the Amazon and Africa, manatees are studied in captivity as they are hard to spot in the vast expanses of murky waters.
This book has a guided reading level of W and lexile level of 1210. It is most appropriate for 5-7 graders due to the detailed scientific information. Before reading the book, I would ask the students if they have ever seen in person or a picture of a manatee. I would utilize the website savethemanatee.org to show them videos, pictures and live webcams of manatees in their natural environment. After reading the book, I would discuss with the students some of the main threats Florida manatees face. I would also request a virtual presentation from savethemanatee.org and at the end of the unit of study have them take a brief quiz (included in the educator's guide) to test their knowledge. https://www.savethemanatee.org/wp-con...
Having grown up in Florida and having had the privilege to view them in their natural habitat above and below the water, manatees are one of my favorite animals.

[Jenna Paolazzi]

Summary of the book: In this story, scientists are working very hard to save the manatees, which are endangered due to hunting, human encroachment, disease, and other environmental hazards. This book talks about what is happening to the manatees and the different ways in which we can help save them.

Evaluation of the book: I liked this book a lot. I learned a lot of new information that I had never known about the manatees and found it to be quite interesting. I don't think I would use this book with the younger grades, as there are a lot of words on the majority of the pages. I feel that 4th and 5th graders would be able to comprehend the book much better than someone who is in 2nd or 3rd grade.

Teaching idea: I would use this book to teach about sea animals for upper grades (4th and 5th grade).

[Pug · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous book, with many wonderful and colorful photos of manatees! Very informative and educational (even if it was a bit wordy). I laughed at the part: "...the last animal on earth to jump out of the water with that kind of dramatic energy would be a manatee."

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from the Scientists in the Field series!

[W.H. Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the "Scientists in the Field" series. Wow! If you love animals, this is a great nonfiction series to look for. Every time I read one of these books, I am ready to jump on a plane and fly off to some place in the world to help out these scientists and animals. A great series.
Some of my other favorites from the series are:

[Cynthia Housianitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Junior Book Project
Category: Literature Circle #5
Source: Kimmel

Lourie, Peter. The Manatee Scientists: Saving Vulnerable Species. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011.

The three scientists in this nonfiction text research the endangered species of manatees in three distinct parts of the world in order to protect and preserve these aquatic herbivores from dangers. The author joins three scientists: Fernando Rosas in Brazil (along the Amazon River basin) to track two manatees that are released into the wild; John Reynolds in Florida to conduct population surveys by airplane; and Lucy Keith in West Africa (Senegal) to interview local fishermen/hunters about manatees in the area and their living habits.

Along with the text, the clear, colored photographs (in snapshot style) help guide the reader to understand terms and what the scientists are actually doing with the manatees in their various habitats as they collaborate with locals that interact with the manatees. In addition, the profiles and experiences of the three scientists captures not only the science and politics of animal conservation, but their dedication and passion for their chosen profession: manatee biology. Readers are able to join these scientists as they watch manatee behaviors (both in captivity and in the wild) and attempt to protect the three worldwide species of manatees that are threatened by human actions (hunting, pollution, and recreational boating).

Manatees are on the Endangered Species List and on a Red List of Threatened Species put out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (an organization that monitors endangered species worldwide). Since manatees face an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future, it is evident that these three scientists are using multiple methods for such conservation.

With this book, teachers can have third grade students explore the basic needs and life processes of organisms, their physical characteristics, orderly changes in life cycles, behavioral and physical adaptations, and survival/perpetuation of species. Teachers can use the book "Sam the Sea Cow" to introduce students to manatees and give them an overview of manatee biology and threats that result in the declining number of manatees. Providing additional resources, such as this text, will reinforce adaptations, characteristics of mammals, methods for survival, and marine pollution.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start by saying that I really like the Scientists in the Field series, and this one is no different. The high quality photographs and straight forward writing make these books fascinating to read. I didn't like this one quite as much as some of the others that I've read, but it is still good and shows the impact that field work can have in the real world.

In this book, the author follows the efforts of three groups of scientists who are studying the three different species of manatees, in Florida, the Amazon River basin, and coastal West Africa. Lourie makes it clear that the Florida manatees have been studied the most because they are the easiest to locate. The Amazon River Basin is enormous and the murky water makes it hard to see these creatures who spend much of their time well below the surface. The same problem exists in West Africa.

In the Amazon River Basin, Dr. Fernando Rosas and his team keep thirty plus animals in captivity in order to study them, but they are also tracking two manatees that they released into the wild. In Florida, Dr. John Reynolds and his team conduct population surveys by airplane, in addition to photo identification and mark-and-recapture modeling (capture a certain number of animals, then tag and release, and come back later to capture the same number, estimating population by number of already tagged animals they recapture). Biologist Lucy Keith spends a lot of time interviewing local fishermen and hunters in order to get estimates on how many manatees live in the area and how they live, she also strives to encourage conservation.

The design of this book, as in all the others in the series that I've read, is high, the photographs nicely compliment the writing as much as possible (considering that several of these teams can't find the animals in the wild). The writing is clear and crisp and easy to follow. Highly recommended for those who love learning about how science works.

[Paper Privateer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, scientists detail their work with manatees and what goes into deciding that a species should be on the endangered list. In the Amazon, Dr. Fernando Rosas specializes in manatees and how to help them survive in that area. He tracks manatees with a transmitter so he can study manatee physiology in the wild along with his studies of manatees in tanks when baby or injured manatees are brought to the scientists. For him, a major challenge is finding a safe place to release these manatees into the wild. Other scientists study Florida manatees and do population surveys to see how healthy the manatees are and how many are in the wild. More scientists, particularly Lucy Keith, explores a third manatee species in West Africa work to combine information on what is known about manatees so that people can determine how endangered these animals are and study manatee bones to find additional information.

This book is a terrific resource for students to learn about manatees, conservation, science, and how scientists work. Each section discussing one type of manatee and the scientist that studies that type is color-coded so it is easy to see the sections at a glance. Each section gives some information about that type of manatee, the specific work that scientist does to learn more about these creatures, and details a particular activity. High-color photographs of manatees, scientists at work, and the people who interact with manatees in daily life help break up the large amount of text about the scientific work done to learn more about these animals. There is a lot of information in this book, so some readers might want to read only one of the sections or skim to get the basic ideas about researching manatees. This book helps readers feel like they’re on a scientific expedition themselves and will help them become more familiar with the work that scientists do and this particular species.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Informational
Summary: This book out of the Scientist in the Field series, takes the reader on a journey through text and pictures to three different locations where scientists are researching manatees. Scientists are searching for information and studying all they can about the manatees to make sure that they stay in our ecosystem.

Critique:
a. The area for critique is the way the author chose to present the information.
b. This particular book in the series is very informational but still an extremely read. While there are some difficult words, there is an index in the back to help. The information is laid out in a way that is easy to read and follow. This book also includes a large amount of pictures which make it fun to read and easier to understand, when talking about research. On many of the pages, the reader can see the scientists working on the manatees. The information is presented in such a way, that even a young reader can understand and learn about saving the manatees!
c. The pictures along with the text, guide the reader to help understand terms and what the scientists are actually doing with the manatees. On page 35, the reader is learning about how the scientists research the manatees and there are a few pictures of them working on the manatees. One pictures involves a biologist listening to the manatee’s heart rate. The pictures help the reader understand why the scientists are there.

Curriculum Connection: This is a perfect book to teach students how to research. Through the use of the table of contents in the beginning, students can flip to the piece of information that they need. Students will find it interesting to read also because the text is easy to understand and includes plenty of exciting pictures. It helps that the manatees are adorable too!

[Crystal Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Manatee Scientists Saving Vulnerable Species by Peter Lourie as my Scientist in the Field choice. This book entailed several scientists conducting research, explaining research, and finally it gives important facts about manatees. This book is filled with dozens of photographs taken in the field to help bring realism to the book. The book was well developed with great insight into the wonderful world of the endangered manatee. There are several different studies which are shown in this book and lead to a full picture of where the manatee specie is today.

Manatees are one of my favorite animals and I jumped at the chance to read this book. I was not disappointed once I opened the book. Almost every page is photographs which bring parts of the information alive. This book really captured me and I felt like I was there with the scientists and seeing these animals released back into the wild. I felt connected to the material from before I opened the book and it continued as I read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel I have gain some great knowledge about one of my favorite animals.

I could definitely see using this book in the classroom for grades 4 or 5. I think it would be great to use in developing research projects. The students could do a report about their favorite animals and this series of books would be a great place to start. I think this book in particular should be used to help a student’s understanding about the importance of caring for endangered species.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been intrigued by manatees, partly because of the way they almost seem to float in the water, partly because they seem to be such gentle creatures who do harm to no other living things, and partly because there future is uncertain. In another wonderful addition to the Scientists in the Field series, Peter Lourie provides engaging text and photographs that focus on three different scientists who are studying the manatees in different parts of the world: Fernando Rosas in Brazil, John Reynolds in Florida, and Lucy Keith in West Africa. All three face different challenges with their work in the field, and Lourie provides interesting details about that work, some involving flights above the areas, some requiring boat trips through rivers, all necessitating dedication and passion for these marine animals. The author also explains the status of manatees and describes the difference among the three species of manatees, something I didn't realize. There are so many facts about the habits of manatees included in the text; for instance, the relationship between their farting and their buoyancy! Young readers will love the photographs of manatees being bottle-fed and be saddened when an attempt to return two manatees to the river doesn't go quite as planned. Surely, this book will inspire manatee-lovers everywhere to take action that makes conservation a priority.


This is another required text for the classroom collection.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Peter Lourie meets three scientists working to understand and save manatees in Florida, the Amazon, and Africa.

The comparison between the different fields of study is quite interesting between the various methods of study and the challenges in each region. I found it surprising that Florida's manatees are fairly well-studied while the Amazonian and African manatees are very elusive and little is known about them. It gives a great picture of how scientists studying the same thing face unique challenges in different settings.

Notes on content: The bones of manatees are shown in pictures, including those of one that was raised in captivity and then released. Some kids may find that section of the book hard to read.

[Jessica Riojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin Text paired with: Secret of the Sirens By: Julia Golding

The Manatee Scientists is all about manatees and the conservation efforts used to save them, but the book starts off by describing the mythology of sirens and how seafarers of old used to mistake manatees for mermaids who would sing and lure weak-willed sailors to their doom amongst the rocks. The Secret of the Sirens pretends that the mythology is real and that there really is a race of sirens (who look like humans, not manatees) who live amongst people in a secret society. The sirens in this story are in danger of being exposed and so efforts are also being taken in order to preserve them. Students could compare both the real-life and pretend sirens and the perils they face as well as the efforts made to preserve them.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest entry in the Scientists in the Field series examines manatees and the scientists who study them. Although Florida manatees are relatively easy to study in the clear waters of Florida rivers, there are two other species of manatee - Amazonian manatees and West African manatees - which are much harder to study. Large, bright photographs add to the appeal of this title, which will please future marine biologists.

Review on my blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/...

[Stacy Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Manatee Scientist is chock full of great graphics and captions that engage the reader. There is specific detail given to the West Indian, Amazonian and West African Manatee. This is a thoughtful look at the effect of human interaction with animals in the wilderness. It is also very engaging to see how the three related species are similar and different. The table of contents, index, glossary and suggested list of resource make this a good book to use for parts of a book.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea that manatees were so fascinating. They've always seemed like sea sloths to me. This book is another fine entry in the consistently good Scientists in the Field series. Includes a glossary and additional sources in the back.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice intro to manatees. I don't remember a thing about them from my childhood. As far as I can remember, the first time I heard of them was in the 1990s. Very interesting species. I learnt a lot about them, which was easy since I knew almost nothing to begin with!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great photography and a LOT of information (for a creature scientists don't know that much about.) In the hands of a manatee-mad child it would probably be great, but I (as an adult) was overwhelmed by the amount of information.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well done book in the Scientists in the Field series. Excellent photographs, maps, a glossary and an index are all included. Information is presented so that youngsters can understand what is happening with the scientific fieldwork being done.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

SOOOO detailed - lots of info. Great pictures but a bit repetitive. Get if you are REALLY into learning about Manatee Rescue. We ended up just skimming it.

In conjunction with Reading Rainbow episode called "Sam the Sea Cow."