Question

read the passage. saving the manatee the florida manatee, a subspecies of the west indian manatee, is a large ocean mammal found in floridas rivers and coastal areas. unfortunately, the states population has dwindled significantly over the years. although the manatee has no natural predators, humans have contributed to many manatee deaths, mainly through boat collisions. the loss of warm - water habitats has also hastened the manatees decline. aerial surveys performed in the early 1990s found an estimated 1,267 manatees in florida. because of conservation efforts by several organizations, however, the number of manatees has rebounded recently. the creation of manatee protection zones—areas that boaters must avoid or drive through more slowly—has been particularly effective. as a result of these efforts, more than 6,000 manatees are found in florida today. what is the main, or central, idea of the passage? thanks to conservation efforts, florida manatee populations have increased. if boats are allowed at all in manatee protection zones, they are required to go at slower speeds.

Explanation:

The passage first mentions the decline of Florida manatee population due to human - related factors like boat collisions and habitat loss. Then it highlights conservation efforts such as the creation of protection zones and how these efforts have led to an increase in the manatee population from an estimated 1,267 in the early 1990s to more than 6,000 today. The main idea is about the positive impact of conservation on the population.

Answer:

Thanks to conservation efforts, Florida manatee populations have increased.