Judging the Florida Manatee Synoptic Survey Results as Compared to Logistic Population Growth

by Eric Robinson

Submitted : Spring 2011

The Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) enjoys great exposure to the public and the media due to current protection measures. One of most well known indicators of the health of the population for the sub-species comes in synoptic aerial surveys that are flown every year. Large increases in the population’s size in recent years have raised the question of the legitimacy of the surveys as an actual indicator of population. Application of a Logistic Growth function will be employed to judge the relevancy that these surveys may have to actual population levels.

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