As Seagrass Habitats Decline, Florida Manatees are Dying of Starvation

• This NPR article and short podcast discuss the poor health of the Indian River Lagoon in Florida and the declining local manatee population. 
• The lagoon's health has been suffering from increased pollution, which leads to algae blooms that kill the manatees' food source, seagrass. 
• The podcast summarizes the article and has a written transcript that is accessible by clicking the paragraph icon in the podcast bar. 

Positives

• This article and podcast use statements from multiple sources to create a clear and concise argument.
• This resource has links to additional information that support the claims that are made and give more details.
• There is a focus on biodiversity, the importance of conservation, and solutions to the problem.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• There is a strong focus on biodiversity and how ecosystems can be damaged, so students should be familiar with the concepts of "algae super blooms" and "estuaries."
  

Differentiation

• This would be a great resource to use in a biology class when learning about ecosystems and food chains.
• Parallels can be made to other unique ecosystems, and this resource could be used to start a conversation about the unique ecosystems in other parts of the country or globe.
• Some other related resources are Estuary and Marine Monitoring Manual, The Solution to Climate Change Is All Around Us, and Laura Burns | Mansfield, Ohio.