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Spring 2017

Keep a lookout for manatees in motion this spring

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In balmy spring weather, both manatees and boaters are cruising through Florida’s waterways.
For manatees, it is a seasonal ritual when they abandon winter retreats and head north along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and through inland waters. For boaters, it is a critical time to be on the lookout for manatees to avoid colliding with these large, slow-moving aquatic mammals.
From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being struck by motorboats or personal watercraft.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement officers will be on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions when necessary.
Because manatees are difficult to detect when underwater, operators of boats, including personal watercraft, need to take basic steps to avoid causing injury to manatees:

  • Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees.
  • Look for large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below.
  • Look for a snout sticking up out of the water.
  • Follow posted manatee zones while boating.

FWC biologists, managers and law enforcement staff work closely with partners to evaluate current data and identify necessary actions to protect this iconic animal. Florida has invested over $2 million annually for manatee conservation, and the FWC will work toward continued success for manatees in our state.
Manatee zones and maps are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee, where you can select “Protection Zones” for links to county maps.
The FWC also asks anyone who sees an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee to call the agency’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or dial #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone.
You can watch manatees without disturbing them by following “Guidelines for protecting native wildlife – Florida Manatees,” a brochure with tips for canoers, kayakers, paddle boarders, snorkelers and scuba divers. It’s available at MyFWC.com/Manatee, click on “Boat, PWC, & Paddle-sport Operators” and then on “Paddle-sport Operators.” Also on MyFWC.com/Manatee is “Where are Florida’s Manatees?” with information about where to go to see manatees in the wild or in captivity.
Support the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts by purchasing a “Save the Manatee” Florida license plate at BuyaPlate.com, or by donating $5 to receive an FWC manatee decal by going to MyFWC.com/Manatee and clicking on “Decals.”

UT Honors Program Announces Spring 2017 Symposia Series

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The University of Tampa’s Spring 2017 Honors Program symposia series kicks off on Wednesday, Jan. 25, with a presentation by Heather Masonjones, professor of biology, and Emily Rose, visiting assistant professor of biology. Their talk, titled “Secrets of the Sweetings-Pond Seahorse,” begins at 4 p.m. in the Trustees Board Room on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center.

Throughout the series, resident scholars and researchers at the University as well as guest speakers will present in their areas of specialization. Guest speakers in the series include Dan Walden, associate professor of English at Baylor University; Steph Ching and Ellen Martinez, directors of the documentary film After Spring; and Terri Muuss, a writer and performer whose one-woman show, Anatomy of a Doll, was named Best Theatre: Critics’ Pick of the Week by New York Daily News.

All lectures are free, open to the public (unless otherwise noted) and held on the UT campus, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. For a full schedule, see below:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 25: “Secrets of the Sweetings-Pond Seahorse,” Heather Masonjones, UT professor of biology, and Emily Rose, UT visiting assistant professor of biology, Vaughn Center, ninth floor, Trustees Board Room, 4 p.m.
  • Friday, Jan. 27: “Pirates! — Sailors and Coastal Identities in Early America,” Dan Walden, associate professor of English at Baylor University, Vaughn Center, ninth floor, Trustees Board Room, 4 p.m.
  • Monday, Feb. 6: “Science, Science Literacy in our Society and Sustainability,” Steve Kucera, UT associate professor of biology, Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 21: After Spring showing and Q-and-A with filmmakers Steph Ching and Ellen Martinez, Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 2 p.m. screening, 4 p.m. Q-and-A
  • Thursday, March 16: “An Evening with The Infiltrator,” Robert Mazur, Vaughn Center, ninth floor, 5:30 p.m. *This event is exclusively for the campus community and is not open to the public.
  • Thursday, March 23: “Social Justice Communication in Morocco,” Christopher Boulton, assistant professor of communication, and Andrew DeMil, assistant professor of Spanish, languages and linguistics, Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 12: “Oxford Abroad Lunch and Learn,” Oxford Semester Abroad scholarship recipients Nicole Lampe ’16, Maggie Poling ’17 and Erin Brosnan ’17, location TBA, noon.
  • Thursday, April 27: Anatomy of a Doll, a one-woman show written and performed by Terri Muuss, Vaughn Center, second floor, Reeves Theater, 3:30 p.m.
  • Friday, April 28: “Inspiration through Exploration,” Faith Taylor ’18, a marine science-biology major from Maryland, location TBA, 2 p.m.

Please note that dates and locations are subject to change. For more information, contact the Honors Program at (813) 257-3545 or [email protected].
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves 8,310 students from 50 states and 140 countries. Approximately 65 percent of full-time students live on campus, and more than half of UT students are from Florida.