Manatees live in shallow waters and seagrass beds. In order to eat, they stir the shallow water and sediments. This action makes the water cloudy, which helps to reduce the amount of light that reaches the seagrass. As a result, the seagrass grows less densely and the manatees can eat more of it. This process helps to shape the landscape of the shallow waters and seagrass beds where manatees live.