When compared to the natural diet of manatees in the wild, there is a significant difference. In their natural habitat approximately ½ of the manatee’s diet is marine or estuarine plants; in comparison to romaine lettuce, their nutritional value is quite different. When compared to the captive diet, aquatic plants have an increase in dry matter, soluble neutral detergent fiber, and a decrease in digestible nutrients. Although it may seem to be a better diet for manatees to have more easily digestible nutrients, their gastrointestinal tract is adapted to the wild diet through microbial processes of fermentation. Although, we are still unsure if the nutrients given in the captive diet is sufficient since there is positive digestive feedback with the captive diet.