The area was divided into 9 "zones" for statistical analysis. Participants in the survey included the manatee researcher (author), a licensed boat operator (Armando "Patch" Mu�oz), and Oceanic Society Volunteers. During 75 hours of effort, we encountered manatees 106 times. 82% of the surveys resulted in at least one sighting for a total of 209 manatees sighted. Sighting probability varied among the survey zones (Kruskal-Wallis H = 25.299, P = 0.0014). Manatees were sighted more frequently in the northern zones (1-6) than the southern zones (7-8). Although no manatees were sighted in zone 9 (Gallows Reef) during this season, previous researchers report sightings on the reef during the summer, and the author sighted manatees on the reef daily during July and August 1999. Sites attractive to manatees included seagrass beds at the west entrance to the mangrove bogues and secluded areas within the bogues. Not surprisingly, behavioral state was significantly related to substrate type (G squared = 100.61, P = 0.001). Manatees were more likely to feed in seagrass (z = 5.93) and to rest in muddy substrate (z = 4.77). Several new manatee "resting holes" were located in the small secluded bogues.
