2008 Annual Assessment Update American Alligator Distribution, Size, and Hole Occupancy and American Crocodile Juvenile Growth and Survival MAP 3.1.3.15 and 3.1.3.16 Edited by: Kenneth G. Rice 1,Kristen Hart 1 and Frank J. Mazzotti 2 Compiled by: Brian M. Jeffery 2 Principal Investigator: H. Franklin Percival 3 Prepared for: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2009 1 (USGS, Florida Integrated Science Center) 2 (University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center) 3 (USGS, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit) i
Acknowledgements We would like to thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for funding this project. The University of Florida, U.S. National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey also provided support. This report incorporates data from studies conducted prior to MAP and we would like to acknowledge the U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Florida Power and Light Company for their contributions. Many biologists have assisted us in alligator and crocodile captures including J. Beauchamp, L. Brandt, M. Brien, J. Carrigan, R. Crespo, A. Daugherty, M. Denton, J. Eells, B. Hayman, L. Hord, E. Larrivee, R. Lynch, M. Rochford, S. Romañach, and A.Wolf. All appropriate endangered species, capture, access, and animal care permits were obtained and are available for review. ii
Michael S. Cherkiss University of Florida Sections: Crocodile Monitoring Surveys Crocodile Nesting Contributors Brian Jeffery Ikuko Fujisaki University of Florida Section: Alligator Monitoring Alligator Body Condition Alligator Hole Mapping and Occupancy iii
Table of Contents Acknowledgements...ii Contributors... iii Executive Summary... v Alligator... v Crocodiles... vi I. Introduction... 1 Background... 1 Objectives and Tasks... 4 II. American Alligator... 6 Alligator Abundance... 6 Monitoring... 6 Trends in Relative Alligator Abundance... 9 Alligator Body Condition... 11 Monitoring... 11 Trends in Alligator Body Condition... 12 Alligator Hole Mapping and Occupancy... 14 III. American Crocodile... 85 Introduction... 85 Crocodile Monitoring Surveys... 85 Crocodile Data Analyses... 86 Growth and Survival... 86 Crocodile Nesting... 88 IV. Quality Control and Quality Assurance... 140 A. Alligator... 140 B. Crocodile... 140 V. Format and Accessibility of Data... 141 A. Alligator... 141 B. Crocodile... 141 VI. Literature Cited... 142 Appendices... 146 Appendix 1: Alligator Survey Network Spotlight Survey Procedures... 146 Appendix 2: Standard Protocols for Monitoring American Crocodiles... 150 Database Management... 153 Appendix 3: Abbreviations of Study Areas and Survey Routes... 154 iv
Executive Summary At all life stages, crocodilians integrate biological impacts of hydrologic conditions (Mazzotti and Brandt 1994, Rice et al. 2005, Mazzotti 1999, Mazzotti and Cherkiss 2003). Further, crocodilians are important indicators because research has linked three key aspects of Everglades ecology to them: 1) Top predators such as crocodilians are directly dependent on prey density, especially aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms, and thereby provide a surrogate for status of many other species. 2) Drier (nests) and wetter (trails and holes) conditions created by ecosystem engineers like alligators provide habitat for plants and animals that otherwise would not be able to survive. This increases diversity and productivity of Everglades marshes (Kushlan and Kushlan 1980, Palmer and Mazzotti 2004, Campbell and Mazzotti 2004) and, therefore, alligator monitoring can indicate overall health of the marsh. 3) Distribution and abundance of crocodilians in estuaries is directly dependent on timing, amount, and location of freshwater flow (Dunson and Mazzotti 1989, Mazzotti and Dunson 1989). These species will exhibit an immediate response to changes in freshwater inputs into the estuaries. Responses of crocodilians are directly related to suitability of environmental conditions, including hydropattern. Correlations between biological responses and environmental conditions contribute to understanding of species status and trends over time. Restoration success or failure can be evaluated by comparing recent and future trends and status of crocodilian populations with historical population data and model predictions; as stated in the CERP hypotheses related to alligators and crocodiles (RECOVER 2003, sections 3.1.2.5 and 3.1.2.6). Importantly, these data can be used in an analysis designed to distinguish between effects of CERP and non-cerp events such as hurricanes or droughts. We have completed our first comprehensive analysis of Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP) components concerning alligators and crocodiles. This annual assessment of alligator and crocodile populations throughout the Everglades can be used as an indicator of Everglades restoration success. While the monitoring program is implemented, we are beginning to see patterns of note, including: Alligator Alligator Monitoring and Assessment Plan consists of four components designed to measure the impacts of restoration at differing time scales across the entire system: o Body condition (6 months-3 years) o Abundance (3-5 years) o Alligator hole abundance (5-7 years) o Nesting (7-10 years) System-wide, over 292 km of airboat trails and canals were surveyed for alligators in 2008. Count densities varied greatly from 0.0/km to 9.7/km. Our current survey program has sufficient power to detect a 5% change in the alligator population over 5 years. v
Crocodile As we learn more about alligator populations in the Everglades, our monitoring program is becoming more efficient. System-wide, we have captured approximately 2300 alligators for monitoring of alligator body condition. Condition was found to vary both temporally and spatially. Alligator hole occupancy, by helicopter surveys, is an effective indicator of alligator distribution in areas inaccessible to ground-based monitoring. Crocodile Monitoring and Assessment Plan consists of 3 components: nesting, growth, and survival of crocodiles. More than 550 km of shoreline were surveyed for crocodiles and nests in 2008. Two hundred and seventy-eight crocodiles were observed, one hundred and eleven were captured, and sixty-five were recaptures. One hundred forty-one crocodile nests were found. The 64% recapture rate for crocodiles is unprecedented in crocodilian studies and demonstrates our ability to measure growth and survival. Body condition of crocodiles will be evaluated for response to ecosystem changes since condition analysis uses the same data as growth analyses. The crocodile monitoring program is effective at detecting impacts of short term disturbances, such as changes in salinity, that may impact population responses to ecosystem restoration. Increases in nesting crocodiles in the Cape Sable/Flamingo area of Everglades National Park were correlated with plugging canals in the 1980s, suggesting that nesting is useful for monitoring responses to ecosystem restoration. Using a combination of condition, growth, survival, and nesting of crocodiles allows for monitoring response of crocodile populations at different temporal scales. vi
I. Introduction The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000 authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) as a framework for structural and operational changes to the Central and Southern Florida Project that are needed to restore the South Florida ecosystem. Provisions within WRDA 2000 provide for specific authorization of an adaptive assessment and monitoring program. A Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP) has been developed as the primary tool to assess system-wide performance of the CERP by the REstoration, COordination and VERification (RECOVER) program. The MAP describes monitoring efforts and enhancement of scientific information and technology needed to measure responses of the South Florida ecosystem. The MAP also imparts system-wide performance measures representative of the natural and human systems found in South Florida that will be evaluated to help determine response to the success of CERP. These system-wide performance measures address responses of the South Florida ecosystem that the CERP is explicitly designed to improve, correct, or otherwise directly affect. A separate Performance Measure Documentation Report being prepared by RECOVER provides scientific, technical, and legal basis for performance measures. The 4 broad objectives of MAP are to: 1. Establish pre-cerp reference state including variability for each of the performance measures. 2. Determine status and trends in performance measures. 3. Detect unexpected responses of ecosystem to changes in stressors resulting from CERP activities. 4. Support scientific investigations designed to increase ecosystem understanding, cause-and-effect, and interpret unanticipated results. This study is intended to support the Greater Everglades (GE) Wetlands module of the MAP and is directly linked to the monitoring or research component identified as MAP Activity Numbers 3.1.3.15 and 3.1.3.16. The purpose of the MAP alligator and crocodile project is to develop and test methods to measure pre-cerp baseline conditions and to evaluate and assess ecological responses to ecosystem changes. Background The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) was abundant in the pre-drainage Everglades. Alligators once occupied all wetland habitats in South Florida, from sinkholes and ponds in pinelands to mangrove estuaries during periods of freshwater discharge (Craighead 1968, Simmons and Ogden 1998). Nearly all aquatic life in the Everglades is affected by alligators in some way (Beard 1938). As a top predator in their ecosystem, alligators undergo an extraordinary change in body size, consuming different prey items as they grow (Mazzotti and Brandt 1994). As ecosystem engineers, alligators create trails and holes that provide aquatic refugia during the dry season and concentrate 1
food items for larger predators. Alligator nests provide elevated areas for nests of turtles and snakes, and for germination of plants less tolerant of flooding (Craighead 1971, Kushlan and Kushlan 1980, Enge et al. 2000). Alligator activity also keeps many small creeks in the freshwater mangrove zone, alligator holes, and areas around tree islands from becoming overgrown with vegetation. It is possible that alligator activity creates firebreaks providing protection for woody vegetation and various animal species (Craighead 1968, Simmons and Ogden 1998). Water present in holes during the dry season provides critical habitat for nesting female and juvenile alligators (Mazzotti and Brandt 1994, Kushlan and Jacobsen 1990) and provides open water necessary for alligator mating (Garrick and Lang 1975). Historically, in Everglades National Park, large alligator populations occurred in broad shallow marl prairies to the east and west of deep water habitats, and in the mangrove fringe areas. Land development and water management practices have reduced the spatial extent and changed the hydropatterns of these habitats (Mazzotti and Brandt 1994). As a result of these habitat alterations, alligators are now less numerous in prairies, rocky glades, and mangrove fringe areas. Further, canal construction has significantly altered alligator habitat. The effects of artificial habitats such as canals on alligator populations as well as creation and maintenance of alligator holes had not been studied until recently. Canals within the Everglades serve as dry season refugia for alligators throughout the greater Everglades ecosystem. Adult alligator density (especially males) is higher in canal habitats than in natural marsh interior (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission unpub. data, Morea 1999). Canals may provide suitable habitat for large alligators, but unlike alligator holes, they are not suitable for smaller alligators, smaller marsh fish, or foraging wading birds. Characteristics of alligator habitats have changed with the creation of canal systems now present in the Florida Everglades (Kushlan 1974). Restoration of pre-canal hydropatterns and ecological function in the Everglades is underway. Relationships among dry season refugia, aquatic fauna, wading birds, and alligators have been identified as key uncertainties in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1999, RECOVER 2003). Due to the alligator s ecological importance and known sensitivity to hydrology, salinity, habitat, and total system productivity, the species was chosen as an indicator for restoration assessment. A number of biological attributes (relative density, relative body condition, nesting effort, and nesting success) can be measured, standardized methods for monitoring have been developed, and historical information exists for alligator populations in the Everglades. These attributes can be used to determine ecological responses at different spatial and temporal scales, and are instrumental for constructing ecological models used to predict restoration effects. The relative abundance of alligators is expected to increase as hydrologic conditions improve in over-drained marshes and freshwater tributaries. As canals are removed, alligator density in adjacent marshes and use of alligator holes are expected to increase. As hydroperiods and depths approach natural patterns, alligator growth, body condition and nesting success should improve. 2
The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a primarily coastal crocodilian that inhabits parts of Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and, at the northern extent of its range, South Florida. As with other species of crocodilians, hunting (for hides, meat, collections, and fear) and habitat loss (direct, due to degradation, or both) have endangered the American crocodile throughout its range. In Florida, habitat loss, due to development supporting a rapidly growing human population along coastal areas of Palm Beach, Broward, Dade, and Monroe Counties, has been the primary factor endangering the United States population of the American crocodile. This loss of habitat principally affected the nesting range of crocodiles, restricting nesting to a small area of northeastern Florida Bay and northern Key Largo by the early 1970s (Ogden 1978, Kushlan and Mazzotti 1989). In the mid-1970s most of the remaining crocodiles (about 75% of known nests) were located in Florida Bay in Everglades National Park. When crocodiles were declared endangered in 1975 (Federal Register 40:44149) scant data were available for making informed management decisions. Field and laboratory data that were available suggested that low nest success, combined with high hatchling mortality, provided a dim prognosis for survival (Evans and Ellis 1977, Ogden 1978). Results of intensive studies conducted by the National Park Service, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (now Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), and Florida Power and Light Company resulted in a more optimistic outlook for crocodiles in Florida (Mazzotti 1983, Moler 1992). Three actions were taken based on results of these studies and recovery efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Park Service established a crocodile sanctuary in northeastern Florida Bay in 1980, Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge was created, and Florida Power and Light Company began a long-term management and monitoring program. Currently, crocodiles face new issues Florida and Biscayne bays have undergone a number of changes that have caused a great deal of concern for the ecological health of this ecosystem. Efforts have been, and continue to be made, to improve Florida Bay and adjacent Biscayne Bay. Monitoring and research studies also have continued on crocodiles with dual purposes of assessing status of the population and evaluating ecosystem restoration efforts. As with other species of wildlife in South Florida, survival of crocodiles has been linked to regional hydrologic conditions, especially rainfall, water level, and salinity. Alternatives for improving water delivery into South Florida estuaries may change salinities, water levels, and availability of nesting habitat. Research and monitoring will be essential to ensure continued survival of an endangered species in this changing environment. Crocodiles now exist in most of the habitat that remains for them in South Florida. Most remaining habitat is currently protected in public ownership or engaged in energy production. In these areas, destruction of habitat has not been an issue. However, questions of potential modification of habitat through continued alteration of freshwater flow and curtailment of the range of crocodiles need to be addressed. Crocodiles have been found in Broward County, Biscayne Bay, and several areas between Shark River and Sanibel Island on Florida s southwest coast. However, virtually nothing is known about the population structure, distribution, and habitat use of 3
crocodiles in these areas. Once again we lack data for making informed management decisions. The most important factors affecting crocodiles in these locations will likely be negative impacts of projected land uses and potential positive impacts of restoration efforts. In South Florida we have the unique opportunity to integrate endangered species conservation with ecosystem restoration and management. American crocodiles thrive in healthy estuarine environments and are particularly dependent on natural freshwater deliveries. In this regard, crocodiles can be used to evaluate restoration alternatives and set success criteria for Florida and Biscayne Bay restoration efforts. Crocodiles can also be used as an indicator of the impacts of freshwater diversion caused by coastal development in Miami-Dade, Collier, and Lee Counties. Nesting, relative density, body condition and growth and survival of crocodiles can all be used to assess restoration of Everglades ecosystems. Objectives and Tasks Objectives and tasks are separated below for alligator and crocodile monitoring under MAP. Objectives for the alligator portion of this MAP project are to: 1. Design and develop a monitoring program for relative distribution, size (condition), nesting, and hole occupancy rates of the American alligator in response to CERP projects as specified in the MAP; and, 2. Monitor changes in alligator populations due to restoration over different temporal and spatial scales. There are three alligator tasks discussed in this report: 1. abundance 2. body condition 3. alligator hole mapping and occupancy. Objectives for the crocodile portion of the project are to: 1. Design and develop a monitoring program for growth and survival of crocodiles in areas that will be affected by CERP projects; and, 2. Conduct surveys for nesting, growth, and survival of crocodiles following prescribed methods (Mazzotti and Cherkiss 2003). Crocodile tasks discussed in this report are: 1. monitoring surveys 2. nesting 3. growth 4. juvenile survival 4
This report summarizes and presents data collected on MAP alligator and crocodile project tasks through December 2008. 5
II. American Alligator Alligator Abundance Monitoring Restoration of hydrologic patterns and ecological functions in the Everglades is now underway. Relationships among dry season refugia, aquatic fauna, wading birds, and alligators have been identified as key uncertainties in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1999). Due to the alligator s ecological importance and known sensitivity to hydrology, salinity, habitat productivity, and total system productivity, it was chosen as an indicator of restoration success in the RECOVER Monitoring and Assessment Plan. Relative distribution, relative body condition, nesting effort and success, and occupancy rates of alligator holes can be used to determine success of CERP projects at different spatial and temporal scales. The relative abundance of alligators is expected to increase as hydrologic conditions improve in over-drained marshes and freshwater tributaries. As canals are removed, densities of alligators in adjacent marshes and occupancy of alligator holes is expected to increase. As more natural hydropatterns are restored, nesting success and body condition are expected to improve. The alligator abundance component measures change in alligator relative densities (encounter rates) across the Everglades. Survey routes are in place in every compartment from ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge to the estuarine rivers of Everglades National Park. In this section, we summarize our 2008 surveys. Methods.-Survey routes of estuarine rivers, freshwater canals, and marshes extending from the mangrove fringe of ENP north through WCA1 (LOX) were established in 2001-2002 (Figure II-1, see Appendix 3 for description of abbreviations). Changes were made to survey routes in 2003, including the addition of a new canal route along L-39 in LOX (Figure II-2) and the division of survey routes into 10 km random transects based upon power analysis of past survey data (Rice and Mazzotti 2006). In 2004, two survey areas were added: the western portion of the Everglades at Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY) and WCA3B. In both of these survey areas one canal and two marsh transects were added. In addition to spotlight surveys along established routes, two random transects located off established airboat trails were surveyed through undisturbed freshwater marsh habitats. A minimum of one kilometer between marsh transects was maintained and transects did not pass within one kilometer of a canal. Canal routes, with the exception of L-39 in LOX, had only one 10 km transect selected for analysis. Marsh transects in WCA3A-TW were restricted to 6.75 and 7.0 km because of the constraints of typical dry season water levels. The ENP-L67 canal transect was limited to 8.75 km because of the removal of the levee south of the transect end point. 6
Spotlight surveys along routes were performed by skiff, airboat, or truck. Alligator locations were recorded using GPS (UTM WGS 84); sizes of alligators were estimated in quarter meter increments whenever possible. If size could not be estimated, animals were placed in small, medium, large or unknown size classes (Appendix 1). Environmental data, including habitat type, air and water temperature, salinity, wind speed, wave height, and spot water levels were recorded at set locations along routes. Spotlight surveys in each area were conducted twice in both spring and fall at least 14 days apart in order to achieve independent counts (Woodward and Moore 1990). Spotlight surveys were conducted following guidelines set forth in the Alligator Survey Network Spotlight Survey Protocol (Appendix 1). Results.-System-wide, 18 marsh, 10 canal, and 2 estuarine transects (total 30) were surveyed (Figure II-1) during 2008. Each route was surveyed twice in the spring and fall. Individual route results are given below. Surveys in 2008 in LOX included three routes: two marsh (LOX-M) and three canal transects (two in L-39 and one in L-40) (Figure II-2). All transects were surveyed twice in the spring and the two marsh transects were also surveyed in the fall. During spring surveys, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 33-52 in marsh transects, 10-31 for the L-39 canal transect, and 40-42 for the L-40 canal transects (Table II-1). Spring alligator (0.5 m and larger) densities ranged from 3.3-5.2/km in the marsh, 1.0-3.1/km in L-39, and 4.0-4.2/km in L-40 (Table II-1). For fall surveys, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 32-49 in marsh transects (Table II-2). Fall alligator (0.5m and larger) densities ranged from 3.2-4.9/km in the marsh (Table II-2). In 2008, surveys of WCA2A included one canal and two marsh transects surveyed twice in the spring and two marsh transects surveyed in the fall (Figure II-3). During spring surveys, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 6-9 in marsh transects and 16-25 in canal transects (Table II-1). Spring alligator (0.5 m and larger) densities ranged from 0.6-0.9/km in the marsh and 1.6-2.5/km in the canal (Table II-1). For fall surveys, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 8-12 and densities ranged from 0.8-1.2/km in the marsh (Table II-2). In 2008, surveys of WCA3A included six marsh and three canal transects (WCA3A-HD, WCA3A-TW, and WCA3A-N41) were conducted in the spring (Figure II-4). Six marsh transects were completed in the fall (Figure II-4). During spring surveys in WCA3A- TW, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 0-5 in marsh transects and 78-97 in the canal transect (Table II-1). Spring alligator (0.5 m and larger) densities in WCA3A-TW ranged from 0.0-0.3/km in the marsh and 7.8-9.7/km in the canal (Table II-1). For fall surveys in WCA3A-TW, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 1-3 in the marsh transects (Table II-2). Fall alligator (0.5 m and larger) densities in WCA3A-TW ranged from 0.1-0.4/km in the marsh (Table II-2). During spring surveys in WCA3A-HD, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 7-19 in 7
marsh transects and 36-43 in the canal transect (Table II-1). Spring alligator (0.5 m and larger) densities in WCA3A-HD ranged from 0.7-1.9/km in the marsh and 3.6-4.3/km in the canal (Table II-1). For fall surveys in WCA3A-HD, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 24-38 in marsh transects, and densities (0.5m and larger) ranged from 2.4-3.8/km (Table II-2). During spring surveys in WCA3A-N41, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 13-28 in marsh transects and 17-23 in the canal transect (Table II-1). Spring alligator (0.5 m and larger) densities in WCA3A-N41 ranged from 1.3-2.8/km in the marsh and 1.7-2.3/km in the canal (Table II-1). For fall surveys in WCA3A-N41, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 3-21 in marsh transects, and densities (0.5m and larger) ranged from 0.3-2.1/km (Table II-2). In 2008, surveys of WCA3B included one canal and two marsh transects surveyed twice in the spring and two marsh transects surveyed in the fall (Figure II-4). Spring surveys for WCA3B were postponed until June because of extreme drought conditions. During spring surveys, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 0-8 in marsh transects and 9-17 in the canal transect (Table II-1). Spring alligator (0.5 m and larger) densities ranged from 0.0-0.8/km in the marsh and 0.9-1.7/km in the canal (Table II-1). For fall surveys, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 1-6 in marsh transects, and densities (0.5m and larger) ranged from 0.1-0.6/km (Table II-2). In 2008, surveys of ENP included four marsh transects (ENP-FC and ENP-SS), two estuarine transects (ENP-EST), and one canal transect (ENP-L67), all surveyed twice in both spring and fall (Figure II-5). Spring surveys for ENP-FC were postponed until July because of extreme drought conditions. The number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 3-8 with a corresponding density range of 0.3-0.8/km (Table II-1). For fall surveys in ENP-FC, the number of alligators (0.5 m and larger) observed ranged from 3-9 with a corresponding density range of 0.3-0.9/km (Table II-2). Spring surveys for ENP-FC were postponed until July because of extreme drought conditions. During spring surveys in ENP-SS, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 0-6 with a corresponding density range of 0.0-0.6/km (Table II-1). For fall surveys in ENP-SS, the number of alligators (0.5 m and larger) observed ranged from 2-11 with a corresponding density range of 0.2-1.1/km (Table II-2). During spring surveys in ENP-EST, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 0-21 with a corresponding density range of 0.0-2.1/km (Table II-1). For fall surveys in ENP-EST, the number of alligators (0.5 m and larger) observed ranged from 6-16 with a corresponding density range of 0.6-1.6/km (Table II-2). During spring surveys in ENP-L67, the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m was 69-75 with a corresponding density of 7.9-8.6/km (Table II-1). In 2008, surveys of BICY included two marsh transects (Figure II-6). During spring surveys the number of alligators observed with a total length greater than 0.5 m ranged from 9-21 and density ranged from 0.9-2.1/km in marsh transects (Table II-1). Fall 8
alligators (0.5 m and larger) observed ranged from 0-2 and densities ranged from 0.0-0.2/km in the marsh transect (Table II-2). Average densities of alligators larger than.25 m from the 2007 and 2008 surveys are summarized in Table II-3. Trends in Relative Alligator Abundance This task is an analysis of trends in alligator abundance for use in preparation of the RECOVER Annual Assessment Report. Methods.-We used analysis of variance to examine difference in mean observed density (animals/km) in each of 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") across areas, season (Fall and Spring), and year. If main effects were significant (α = 0.05) then Duncan s Multiple Range Test was used for individual comparison (SAS Institute 1988). Within areas, we tested for trends in count densities in each of 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") across all years, 1999-2008. We regressed log-transformed counts of alligators in each general size class (dependent variables) on elapsed time (year) and the quadratic, elapsed time + elapsed time 2, with 2 hydrologic covariates, season (Fall and Spring) and mean measured water depth. In most alligator populations, counts increase with decreased water depth. Surveys are conducted in habitats that can be accessed during high and low water conditions, therefore, as water recedes, increased numbers of alligators are concentrated in these habitats. Consequently, a total of 4 possible models were constructed for each area/size class: ln (count) = β 0 + β 1 *time + β 2 *water depth ln (count) = β 0 + β 1 *time + β 2 *season ln (count) = β 0 + β 1 *time + β 2 *time 2 + β 3 *water depth ln (count) = β 0 + β 1 *time + β 2 *time 2 + β 3 *season LW LS QW QS Results.-The ANOVA was significant (p < 0.0001) for total populations of alligators across survey routes (p < 0.0001), season (p <0.0001), and year (p <0.0003). Counts were generally higher in canals and approached those observed in north-central Florida (Rice et al. 1999). However, counts in most natural areas were considerably less than those observed in canals or in north-central Florida. Mean counts were higher (α = 0.05) in Spring (4.24) than Fall (1.68). Mean counts for total populations were higher in 2001 (12.43) than all other years. Counts in 1999 (8.53) and 2000 (7.40) were higher than other years except for 2001. The ANOVA was significant (p < 0.0001) for adult populations of alligators across survey routes (p < 0.0001), season (p <0.0001), and year (p = 0.02). Counts were generally higher in canal and exceeded those observed in north-central Florida (Rice et al. 9
1999) on several areas. However, counts in some natural areas were considerably less than those observed in canals or in north-central Florida. The ANOVA was significant (p < 0.0001) for juvenile populations across all survey routes (p < 0.0001), years (p < 0.0001) and seasons (p = 0.03). Counts were higher in LOX-Marsh than all other areas (α = 0.05) but still considerably less than north-central Florida. Mean counts for juvenile populations were higher in 2001 (7.59) than all other years. Counts in 1999 (3.07) were higher than in and 2000 (2.29). Counts in 2002-2008 were lowest with the inclusion of many of our newer survey routes. We were able to detect trends in 1 total, 5 juvenile, and 1 adult alligator populations across all areas (Tables II-7 to II-9). There was no trend detected on all other areas (Tables II-3 to II-6, Figures II-8 to II-25). For total populations, decreasing annual trends were found on BICY (-0.087, Figure II-8). Juvenile populations decreased in ENP-SS (- 0.053, Figure II-11), LOX-Marsh (-0.069, Figure II-15), WCA3AN-41 Canal (-0.048, Figure II-20), and WCA3A-TW Canal (-0.063, Figure II-22). An increasing trend in juveniles was found in WCA3B Canal (0.068, Figure II-24). A decreasing trend was detected in the adult population of BICY (-0.068, Figure II-8). However, for many of these trends, the relationship between water depth (or season) and observed density was not significant (p > 0.10). Discussion.-In general, total count densities were much lower in the Everglades than north-central Florida except for canals. Our canal counts are only conducted in the spring when adjacent marsh water depths are relatively low. As the marsh dries, animals move into the canals. However, in the natural marsh areas where animals cannot access canals during the dry season, count densities are extremely low. While the Everglades populations were probably never as dense as those in the more eutrophic waters of northcentral Florida, the densities in many current natural areas are certainly depressed. We think this is due to a combination of the natural low-nutrient state of the Everglades in combination with loss of habitat and water management practices. This is especially evident in the WCA3ATW (north of I-75) and WCA3B surveys, both areas that have extreme dry conditions during most years. The largest difference between both north-central Florida and alligator populations in the Everglades is in the juvenile size class. Historically, the Everglades probably had somewhat lower populations of juvenile alligators due to lack of nutrients which contributes to the relatively low number of eggs produced by adult females. However, hatch rates of eggs in the Everglades are relatively high and hatchling production throughout the Everglades could approach that currently found in north-central Florida or LOX-Marsh. Two causes of this difference have evidence: (1) nest flooding during certain years leading to reduced hatchling production; and, (2) decreased juvenile survival from predation and cannibalism during extreme dry periods. As water recedes below ground surface, juvenile alligators must seek refuge in areas such as alligator holes inhabited by larger alligators and other predators. Since alligators require up to 15 years to attain breeding size and all non-adult alligators are exposed to cannibalism, a single extreme drought can remove large proportions of many years production from the 10
population. Our densest alligator population in the Everglades, LOX-Marsh, does not have the extreme dry downs in the survey area that lead to increased predation and cannibalism and nesting is protected from most flooding by the many tree islands available for nest construction. As in surveys elsewhere for alligators, our counts were higher during low water periods in spring. Our survey routes are primarily along alligator trails. These trails dry out more slowly than the surrounding marsh due to a depression created by the passage of airboats. Therefore, counts generally increase with decreasing marsh water depths as alligators are forced into the remaining water. We found the highest counts throughout the Everglades system in 2001. That year had a dry spring which helped to concentrate alligators along trails and in canals for counting but some surface water did remain such that juveniles were not exposed to highest predation and cannibalism. Counts in the late 1990 s were also relatively high due to dry conditions. Further, inclusion of new areas (such as WCA3B) later in the study period contributed to these conclusions since these areas have low densities of alligators. Alligator Body Condition Monitoring Condition has been of interest to researchers because of its potential for assessing how crocodilians are coping with their environment (Taylor 1979, Brandt 1991). Measures of body condition can provide a measure of restoration success through an examination of alligators throughout their range in the Everglades. Further, condition can be viewed as a measure of the quality and accessibility of prey species and can provide a linkage to lower trophic levels and their success during restoration. Monitoring of condition is critical to an understanding of effects of restoration. Methods.-To determine condition of marsh alligator populations, semi-annual capture surveys were performed in the same areas as described for spotlight surveys (Figure II-7). Through 2004, alligators were only captured in the marsh and estuarine habitats. In 2005, captures of alligators in the Miami Canal and LOX-L40 also were performed. A minimum of 15 alligators greater than 1.0 m total length were captured by hand, noose or tongs in the fall and spring of each year. Total length (TL), snout-vent length (SVL), head length (HL), tail girth (TG), and weight were measured, sex was determined, and any abnormalities/deformities were noted. Alligators were tagged using Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (designated by GFC/FWC lettering) web tags or by clipping scutes to identify recaptured individuals. Geographic location, habitat characteristics, and environmental characteristics including air/water temperature, water depth, muck depth, and salinity were recorded where applicable. Data from these captures were used to assess relative body condition using a condition factor analysis (Fulton s K; Leslie 1997, Zweig 2003). In addition, blood was drawn from captured alligators in WCA2A and WCA3A in cooperation with and at the request of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) Alligator Management Division 11
for their statewide effort to assess and monitor the occurrence of West Nile Virus in alligator populations. Results and Discussion.-A total of 180 alligators were captured during the spring and 157 were captured in the fall of 2008 (Figure II-7, Table II-4). Captured animals were measured and weighed, marked with web tags or scute clipped, and released at the capture location. Thirty-seven (12.3%) of the 337 captured alligators were recaptures. One hundred and fifty-four (45.7%) of the captured alligators were female and one hundred and eighty-three (54.3%) were male (Table II-4). Condition factor of captured alligators was calculated using Fulton s K as described by Zweig (2003) for each of the survey areas (Figure II-26). This analysis ranks condition from a 1 st quartile (poor condition) to a 4 th quartile (high condition). Mean condition factor for spring 2008 alligators in WCA2A, WCA3A-41, WCA3B, and ENP-SS were in the 2 nd quartile, while all other areas were in the 3 rd quartile (Table II-5). Mean condition factor for fall 2008 alligators in ENP-SS, ENP-FC, LOX, WCA2A, WCA3A-HD, WCA3A-N41, WCA3A-TW, and WCA3B were in the 2 nd quartile, while all other areas were in the 3 rd quartile (Table II-5). Average body condition for alligators surveyed in 2007 and 2008 are summarized in Table II-6. Trends in Alligator Body Condition This task is an analysis of trends in alligator body condition for use in preparation of the RECOVER Annual Assessment Report. This analysis should be considered preliminary and trends could change in both direction and magnitude in the next annual assessment. Methods.-Within areas, we tested for trends in body condition (Fulton s K; Zweig 2003) across all years, 1999-2008. However, some areas only contained data from 2004-2008. We regressed body condition of individual alligators (dependent variables) on elapsed time (year) and the quadratic, elapsed time + elapsed time 2, with the following covariates (SAS Institute 1988): Season Spring or Fall. As water depths decrease during spring, we would expect animals to exhibit better condition due to increased concentration of prey. As we have drier and wetter years, this could vary over time (season*year interaction). Sex Male or Female. We might expect condition of females to increase during spring (sex*season interaction) due to increased weight with production of an egg mass and increased movements by males during mating season. However, in Fall, we would not expect a difference in condition. This relationship might also change over time due to random effects of capturing animals (sex*year interaction, for example, if we caught more females later in the study by chance). SVL Animal length. Larger animals are able to exploit more habitats and choose the best habitat for maximizing condition, and eat smaller competitors. Smaller animals are forced to seek cover from predation and cannibalism. This 12
relationship could have changed over time due to our random captures (svl*year interaction, for example, if we captured more large animals later in the study). Results.-We were able to detect decreasing annual trends in body condition on several areas, ENP-FC (-1.06%, Figure II-27), WCA3A-N41 (-0.17%, Figure II-28), and WCA3B (-1.16%, Table II-29). There was no trend detected on all other areas (Table II- 10. Figures II-30 to II-38). The covariates explained significant variation in body condition on several areas. Females were in better condition than males on 9 areas (p sex 0.001, BICY, ENP-FC, ENP-SS, LOX-Marsh, WCA2A, WCA3AHD-Canal, WCA3A-HD, WCA3AN41, and WCA3A-TW). Larger animals were in better condition than smaller animals in 5 areas (p svl 0.005, LOX-Marsh, WCA2A, WCA3A-HD, WCA3A-N41, and WCA3A-TW). We saw higher body conditions in both spring (p season 0.035, BICY) and fall (p sex = 0.01, WCA2A, WCA3A-HD, and WCA3A-TW). Discussion.-We were unable to detect a trend in 10 areas. Our power analyses indicated that we require a minimum of 3 years to detect relatively small trends in condition. On the other areas (ENP-SS, WCA2A, WCA3A-HD, WCA3A-TW, and WCA3B), we do have sufficient power and, therefore, body condition was likely stable over this time period. In the areas where we detected a decreasing trend, we see no cause for concern at this time. The decrease could indicate temporary signals due to extended duration of high water levels (as water depth increases, prey becomes dispersed and body condition decreases) from recent weather patterns including the hurricanes of 2004-2005 or extreme dry downs experienced in 2006-2008. Only a continuation of monitoring in these areas will allow us to find better correlates between body condition and hydrologic variables or other causes of declines and distinguish between CERP and non-cerp effects. The covariates explained significant variation in body condition on several areas. Females were in better condition than males on 9 areas but this did not vary between seasons. Perhaps, females were able to maintain body condition through smaller movements and maintenance of a single alligator hole that concentrated prey during dry seasons. Larger animals were in better condition than smaller animals in 5 areas. Larger animals are able to choose between all available habitats and also solely occupy an alligator hole during dry seasons. Smaller animals must weigh habitat access against exposure to predators. We saw higher body conditions in both spring (BICY) and fall (WCA2A, WCA3A-HD, and WCA3A-TW). Water management certainly differs between the areas and may explain these differences. We would have expected higher conditions in spring throughout the Everglades due to concentration of prey species from lowering water depths (Dalrymple 1996). Several years of extreme dry downs recently (2006-2008) have dried out deep water refugia within the marsh, decreasing prey availability. This 13
suggests that we need a better indicator of the relationship between body condition and hydrology. Season is probably too simplistic to capture this relationship. We are currently working with the EDEN project to explore these hydrologic relationships. Alligator Hole Mapping and Occupancy Occupancy The Everglades alligator is an ecosystem engineer that physically influences floral and faunal characteristics of the Everglades landscape through the construction and maintenance of small ponds (alligator holes) and associated caves (Craighead 1968). These depressions provide an aquatic refuge for other reptiles and colonization sites for plants during frequent drying events in the Everglades (Craighead 1968, Kushlan 1972, Kushlan 1974, Loftus and Eklund 1994). Although alligator holes and other dry season refugia have long been recognized as a critical component of the Everglades ecosystem (Beard 1938, Davis 1943, Craighead 1968, Mazzotti and Brandt 1994), until recently only one alligator hole had been studied in detail (Kushlan 1972). More recently, we have begun to map and characterize alligator holes in parts of remaining Everglades areas (Campbell and Mazzotti 2001, 2004; Palmer and Mazzotti 2004). However, there is still a critical gap for data about alligator holes in Shark Slough and the Rocky Glades. Methods.-Surveys for alligator hole occupancy were conducted via Standard Reconnaissance Flights (SRF) in three areas of Everglades National Park (ENP) during three days in May 2008 (May 27, 28, and 29) and two days in June (June 2, 3, and 9) (Figure II-39). Transects were flown through areas of the northeast Everglades, northeast Shark Slough, and Shark Slough. Transects were flown at 500-meter E-W intervals. Observers sat on both sides of the helicopter and it was assumed that each observer could identify an alligator hole at a distance of up to 250 meters, so that all alligator holes within a given area of flown transects would be observed. The helicopter flew at an average height of 150 feet above ground, hovering to 50 feet to get a closer look. Transects were flown in both the morning and afternoon hours. When an alligator hole was detected, the pilot navigated from the transect to the observed hole. At each observed alligator hole the following information was recorded: whether or not an alligator was present, sizes of observed alligators, and whether or not the hole still had water in it or was drying up. A GPS (Global Positioning System) location and a photograph were taken of every alligator hole. Holes were considered occupied if the alligator was in the hole or located within a short distance of the hole (e.g., in a trail or basking next to the hole). Results and Discussion.-Alligators were observed in a total of 163 holes (37% of observed alligator holes) in a surveyed area of 646 km 2 (Figure II-40, Table II-11). Occupancy ranged from 18% in Shark Slough alligator holes to 89% in the Rocky Glades. It was determined from the surveys that Rocky Glades contained the lowest density of alligator holes (0.07 holes/km 2 ) while Shark Slough contained the greatest density of alligator holes (4.79 holes/km 2 ) (Table II-11). Alligator hole density might 14
very well factor into why more holes were occupied in Rocky Glades than in central Shark Slough. However, water level is clearly playing a role here as well. Northeast Shark Slough and the Rocky Glades were both extremely dry at the time of the surveys, with many holes drying up and no water present in the surrounding marsh. Alligators were observed in holes with very little water. In Shark Slough, holes still contained water, and water was present in the some surrounding marsh habitats. Little or no water in the surrounding marsh would leave alligator holes as the only refuge from the sun. Another important consideration is detectability. At holes with deeper water, it was generally more difficult to detect an alligator that was present in the water because less of its body was visible. To address this factor, occupancy is best assessed while alligators are basking next to their holes. 15
Table II-1. Alligator survey summaries for spring 2008. Date Route Name Habitat Transect Transect Length km Alligators/ km Unknown Hatchling Small 0.5 m Small Medium Large 1/29/2008 BICY Marsh 1 10 1.1 0 0 3 3 2 6 11 11 1/29/2008 BICY Marsh 2 10 0.9 2 0 0 0 1 6 9 9 2/15/2008 BICY Marsh 1 10 2.2 0 0 4 4 7 11 22 22 2/15/2008 BICY Marsh 2 10 1.8 1 0 0 0 5 12 18 18 0.5 m 2/7/2008 2/7/2008 3/12/2008 3/12/2008 Total nonhatchling ENP- EST River 1 10 1.2 3 0 0 0 6 12 21 21 ENP- EST River 2 10 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 ENP- EST River 1 10 1.9 4 0 1 1 4 10 19 19 ENP- EST River 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7/10/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 1 10 0.7 0 5 0 5 2 5 7 7 7/10/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 2 10 0.8 0 2 1 3 4 3 8 8 8/1/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 1 10 0.4 1 3 0 3 0 3 4 4 8/1/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 2 10 0.3 0 1 1 2 1 1 3 3 3/5/2008 ENP-L67 Canal 1 8.75 8.6 1 0 2 2 12 60 75 75 3/19/2008 ENP-L67 Canal 1 8.75 7.9 5 1 0 1 9 55 69 69 16
Table II-1 continued. Date Route Name Habitat Transect Transect Length km Alligators/ km Unknown Hatchling Small 0.5 m Small Medium Large 7/10/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 1 10 0.6 1 3 0 3 2 3 6 6 7/10/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 2 10 0.5 0 2 0 2 2 3 5 5 8/1/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 1 10 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 8/1/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 2 10 0.1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0.5 m Total nonhatchling 3/17/2008 Lox-L39 Canal 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 10 10 3/17/2008 Lox-L39 Canal 2 10 1.7 0 0 0 0 0 17 17 17 3/31/2008 Lox-L39 Canal 1 10 1.8 0 0 0 0 0 18 18 18 3/31/2008 Lox-L39 Canal 2 10 3.1 0 0 0 0 0 31 31 31 3/16/2008 Lox-L40 Canal 1 10 4 0 1 1 2 0 39 40 40 3/30/2008 Lox-L40 Canal 1 10 4.2 1 0 2 2 0 39 42 42 3/15/2008 Lox-M Marsh 1 10 3.3 1 1 6 7 6 20 33 33 3/15/2008 Lox-M Marsh 2 10 4.6 2 4 15 19 4 25 46 46 3/29/2008 Lox-M Marsh 1 10 3.3 0 3 8 11 1 24 33 33 3/29/2008 Lox-M Marsh 2 10 5.2 0 7 16 23 6 30 52 52 1/30/2008 WCA2A Canal 1 10 1.6 1 0 0 0 1 14 16 16 2/14/2008 WCA2A Canal 1 10 2.5 2 0 0 0 0 23 25 25 17
Table II-1 continued. Transect Length km Small 0.5 m Small Medium Large Date Route Name Habitat Transect Alligators/ km Unknown Hatchling 1/30/2008 WCA2A Marsh 1 10 0.8 1 0 1 1 1 5 8 8 1/30/2008 WCA2A Marsh 2 10 0.9 0 1 1 2 3 5 9 9 2/14/2008 WCA2A Marsh 1 10 0.6 0 0 2 2 0 4 6 6 2/14/2008 WCA2A Marsh 2 10 0.7 0 0 2 2 1 4 7 7 0.5 m 1/30/2008 2/14/2008 1/30/2008 1/30/2008 2/14/2008 2/14/2008 1/30/2008 2/14/2008 1/30/2008 1/30/2008 Total nonhatchling WCA3A- HD Canal 1 10 3.6 3 0 0 0 4 29 36 36 WCA3A- HD Canal 1 10 4.3 5 0 1 1 6 31 43 43 WCA3A- HD Marsh 1 10 1 0 0 4 4 2 4 10 10 WCA3A- HD Marsh 2 10 1.7 0 0 3 3 2 12 17 17 WCA3A- HD Marsh 1 10 0.7 0 2 1 3 1 5 7 7 WCA3A- HD Marsh 2 10 1.9 3 1 5 6 2 9 19 19 WCA3A- N41 Canal 1 10 2.3 6 0 0 0 3 14 23 23 WCA3A- N41 Canal 1 10 1.7 4 1 0 1 0 13 17 17 WCA3A- N41 Marsh 1 10 1.9 3 0 6 6 7 3 19 19 WCA3A- N41 Marsh 1 10 2.8 0 1 9 10 7 12 28 28 18
Table II-1 continued. Date 2/14/2008 2/14/2008 5/1/2008 5/15/2008 5/1/2008 5/1/2008 5/15/2008 5/15/2008 Total nonhatchling Route Name Habitat Transect Transect Length km Alligators/ km Unknown Hatchling Small 0.5 m Small Medium Large 0.5 m WCA3A- N41 Marsh 1 10 1.3 1 2 2 4 3 7 13 13 WCA3A- N41 Marsh 1 10 1.9 0 0 4 4 4 11 19 19 WCA3A- TW Canal 1 10 7.8 9 2 0 2 20 49 78 78 WCA3A- TW Canal 1 10 9.7 9 2 1 3 11 76 97 97 WCA3A- TW Marsh 1 6.75 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 WCA3A- TW Marsh 2 7 0.3 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 2 WCA3A- TW Marsh 1 6.75 0.6 1 3 1 4 0 2 4 4 WCA3A- TW Marsh 2 7 0.7 0 3 0 3 1 4 5 5 6/30/2008 WCA3B Canal 1 10 0.9 0 4 2 6 5 2 9 9 7/15/2008 WCA3B Canal 1 10 1.7 0 0 1 1 6 10 17 17 6/30/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0.8 2 0 0 0 1 5 8 8 6/30/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0.5 0 0 0 0 4 1 5 5 7/15/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0.3 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 3 7/15/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19
Table II-2. Alligator survey summaries for fall 2008. Date Route Name Habitat Transect Transect Length km Alligators/ km Unknown Hatchling Small 0.5 m Small Medium Large 10/8/2008 BICY Marsh 1 10 0.2 0 3 0 3 1 1 2 2 10/8/2008 BICY Marsh 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10/30/2008 BICY Marsh 1 10 0.2 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 2 10/30/2008 BICY Marsh 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 m Total nonhatchling 10/6/2008 ENP-EST River 1 10 1.6 8 0 0 0 2 6 16 16 10/6/2008 ENP-EST River 2 10 1 4 0 0 0 2 4 10 10 11/4/2008 ENP-EST River 1 10 0.6 1 0 0 0 1 4 6 6 11/4/2008 ENP-EST River 2 10 1.2 5 0 0 0 0 7 12 12 10/7/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 1 10 0.3 0 2 0 2 0 3 3 3 10/7/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 2 10 0.9 1 2 2 4 0 6 9 9 10/26/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 1 10 0.3 0 3 0 3 0 3 3 3 10/26/2008 ENP-FC Marsh 2 10 0.9 1 1 2 3 0 6 9 9 10/7/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 1 10 0.7 1 7 0 7 2 4 7 7 10/7/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 1 10 1.1 2 9 2 11 0 7 11 11 10/26/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 1 10 0.2 1 6 0 6 0 1 2 2 10/26/2008 ENP-SS Marsh 1 10 0.9 2 2 0 2 2 5 9 9 10/6/2008 Lox-M Marsh 1 10 3.7 0 5 6 11 7 24 37 37 10/6/2008 Lox-M Marsh 2 10 3.2 0 4 11 15 3 18 32 32 20
Table II-2 continued. Date Route Name Habitat Transect Transect Length km Alligators/ km Unknown Hatchling Small 0.5 m Small Medium Large 10/20/2008 Lox-M Marsh 1 10 4.9 1 2 12 14 4 32 49 49 10/20/2008 Lox-M Marsh 2 10 4.8 0 4 21 25 3 24 48 48 0.5 m 10/7/2008 WCA2A Marsh 1 10 0.8 1 0 2 2 4 1 8 8 10/7/2008 WCA2A Marsh 2 10 1.2 0 3 5 8 4 3 12 12 10/21/2008 WCA2A Marsh 1 10 1.2 3 3 1 4 1 7 12 12 10/21/2008 WCA2A Marsh 2 10 1.2 0 2 3 5 5 4 12 12 10/8/2008 10/8/2008 10/27/2008 10/27/2008 12/8/2008 12/8/2008 12/22/2008 12/22/2008 Total nonhatchling WCA3A- HD Marsh 1 10 3.8 7 0 9 9 4 18 38 38 WCA3A- HD Marsh 2 10 2.8 6 2 6 8 2 14 28 28 WCA3A- HD Marsh 1 10 2.7 2 0 7 7 5 13 27 27 WCA3A- HD Marsh 2 10 2.4 2 4 6 10 3 13 24 24 WCA3A- N41 Marsh 1 10 1.8 4 1 4 5 1 9 18 18 WCA3A- N41 Marsh 2 10 2.1 3 2 3 5 2 13 21 21 WCA3A- N41 Marsh 1 10 0.3 2 1 1 2 0 0 3 3 WCA3A- N41 Marsh 2 10 1.7 2 1 1 2 3 11 17 17 21
Table II-2 continued. Date 10/6/2008 10/6/2008 10/20/2008 10/20/2008 Route Name Habitat Transect Transect Length km Alligators/ km Unknown Hatchling Small 0.5 m Small Medium Large 0.5 m WCA3A -TW Marsh 1 6.75 0.3 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 2 WCA3A -TW Marsh 2 7 0.4 0 1 0 1 1 2 3 3 WCA3A -TW Marsh 1 6.75 0.4 1 1 0 1 0 2 3 3 WCA3A -TW Marsh 2 7 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Total nonhatchling 10/7/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 10/7/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0.6 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 6 10/21/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 10/21/2008 WCA3B Marsh 1 10 0.6 1 0 0 0 2 3 6 6 22
Table II-3. Alligator Monitoring and Assessment Program (MAP) average and standard error (SE) of alligators greater than 25 centimeters in total length per kilometer for each survey route. UTM Easting and UTM Northing (datum WGS 1984 17R) are for the center of the survey routes. >25 cm Total Length (non-hatchling) per km UTM UTM Survey Route Easting Northing Habitat 2008 Mean SE 2007 Mean SE BICY 501030 2835986 Marsh 0.80 3.0 0.85 0.22 ENP SS 521861 2826303 Marsh 0.51 0.14 0.44 0.12 ENP FC 534761 2838617 Marsh 0.58 0.098 1.53 0.21 ENP EST 502200 2808102 Estuary 1.06 0.28 1.53 0.37 ENP L67 532848 2845320 Canal 8.23 0.34 9.5 1.20 LOX L39 560687 2920283 Canal 1.90 0.44 8.18 3.16 LOX L40 576359 2935945 Canal 4.10 0.10 23.05 2.85 LOX 569279 2931569 Marsh 4.13 0.29 7.09 1.57 WCA 2A 565706 2903558 Marsh 0.93 0.086 1.04 0.15 WCA 2A 551901 2904890 Canal 2.05 0.45 2.3 0.00 WCA 3N41 522663 2860222 Marsh 1.73 0.25 2.56 0.35 WCA 3N41 533839 2854664 Canal 2.0 0.30 5.25 1.05 WCA 3TW 537139 2898124 Marsh 0.36 0.082 0.071 0.071* WCA 3TW 533628 2895860 Canal 8.75 0.95 - - WCA 3HD 543031 2877511 Marsh 2.13 0.36 1.80 0.25 WCA 3HD 542709 2883223 Canal 3.95 0.35 5.25 1.05 WCA 3B 549260 2861205 Marsh 0.39 0.99 0.38 0.084 WCA 3B 543692 2849350 Canal 1.3 0.4 2.75 0.35 *fall only, no surveys done in the spring 23
Table II-4. Summary of alligator captures for 2008 in South Florida. Total length (TL), snoutvent length (SVL), head length (HL), and tail girth (TG). Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 2/1/08 WCA3A-HD 51687 No 34.0 122.8 242.5 47.4 43.0 F 2/1/08 WCA3A-HD 999 No 15.7 57.5 114.8 20.8 3.2 M 2/1/08 WCA3A-HD 51684 No 30.6 112.9 216.4 41.7 33.0 F 2/1/08 WCA3A-HD 51685 No 23.4 87.2 172.1 32.7 14.2 M 2/1/08 WCA3A-HD 51686 No 24.0 85.5 175.3 35.0 14.4 F 2/6/08 WCA3A-N41 51692 No 32.4 118.7 238.4 48.9 40.5 M 2/6/08 WCA3A-N41 51875 No 26.4 95.5 187.5 37.5 17.0 M 2/6/08 WCA3A-N41 51868 No 21.9 82.5 164.4 30.3 10.6 M 2/6/08 WCA3A-N41 31358 No 15.2 52.9 107.7 19.2 2.9 M 2/6/08 WCA3A-N41 51117 Yes 30.4 113.0 231.5 44.5 32.5 F 2/6/08 WCA3A-N41 37545 No 15.7 55.8 113.4 20.1 3.3 F 2/6/08 WCA3A-N41 37536 No 20.0 73.8 145.2 30.6 9.8 F 2/7/08 WCA2A 51872 No 28.6 100.7 204.0 37.5 20.0 M 2/7/08 WCA2A 51869 No 21.3 77.9 156.7 33.9 11.6 M 2/7/08 WCA2A 51691 No 21.9 78.5 156.8 28.4 8.8 M 2/7/08 WCA2A 51873 No 33.5 117.7 235.2 49.8 39.5 M 2/7/08 WCA2A 51870 No 25.0 87.3 173.6 33.5 14.0 F 2/7/08 WCA2A 31391 No 20.5 73.4 146.9 27.3 7.8 M 2/7/08 WCA2A 31396 No 17.7 65.0 131.1 22.3 4.9 F 2/7/08 WCA2A 51874 No 23.9 84.5 167.9 32.5 12.2 F 2/26/08 LOX 1044 No 19.0 70.5 141.0 26.6 7.2 F 2/26/08 LOX 1045 No 32.0 115.9 232.0 47.9 38.0 F 24
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 3/25/08 LOX 1049 No 33.5 126.1 242.2 47.8 40.0 M 3/25/08 LOX 1047 No 27.5 104.2 197.2 41.5 23.5 F 3/25/08 LOX 1046 No 32.6 121.5 241.1 46.4 36.5 M 4/24/08 LOX 1070 No 34.4 122.5 239.8 48.0 37.0 M 4/24/08 LOX 1061 No 22.8 83.7 169.5 34.1 12.8 M 4/24/08 LOX 1060 No 29.4 111.1 216.3 39.9 29.5 F 4/24/08 LOX 254 Yes 35.1 129.4 256.4 54.4 48.8 M 4/24/08 LOX 1069 No 28.0 103.4 202.3 39.5 22.5 F 4/24/08 LOX 1068 No 26.7 102.9 202.9 41.5 23.5 F 4/24/08 LOX 1050 No 20.3 77.0 150.2 28.5 8.9 M 4/24/08 LOX 1051 No 31.7 119.5 232.5 35.0 27.5 M 4/24/08 LOX 1052 No 17.6 59.7 121.4 22.2 4.4 F 4/24/08 LOX 1053 No 27.0 98.0 191.8 38.2 23.0 F 4/24/08 LOX 1054 No 20.3 75.2 149.0 28.5 8.6 F 4/26/08 LOX 1055 No 18.0 62.6 127.9 23.4 5.0 M 4/26/08 LOX 1056 No 33.5 124.7 243.8 40.4 36.0 M 4/26/08 LOX 1057 No 30.0 106.5 216.5 41.8 29.5 F 4/26/08 LOX 1058 No 28.5 103.2 198.5 36.2 21.5 M 4/26/08 LOX 1059 No 26.3 97.7 198.5 38.6 20.8 F 5/5/08 WCA2A 51818 No 28.6 103.4 205.6 39.7 24.5 F 5/5/08 WCA2A 31735 No 15.5 56.7 113.4 19.9 3.4 F 5/5/08 WCA2A 51899 No 29.9 110.1 222.2 37.4 32.5 F 5/5/08 WCA2A 51811 No 34.2 125.1 249.6 47.5 41.0 M 5/9/08 WCA3A-HD 51822 No 30.7 108.3 221.5 42.5 28.0 F 25
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 5/9/08 WCA3A-HD 31319 No 22.2 81.2 166.8 32.6 12.0 M 5/9/08 WCA3A-HD 51652 No 41.4 144.8 282.7 56.8 67.8 M 5/9/08 WCA3A-HD 31729 No 20.0 72.2 145.6 28.9 8.3 M 5/9/08 WCA3A-HD 31727 No 14.3 53.5 109.6 19.4 2.8 F 5/13/08 WCA3A-HD 51812 No 29.1 108.6 215.3 45.0 28.5 F 5/13/08 WCA3A-HD 51801 No 26.8 98.5 189.8 41.8 22.5 F 5/13/08 WCA3A-HD 51881 No 24.3 89.6 174.4 37.2 16.4 F 5/13/08 WCA3A-HD 51802 No 30.6 110.9 220.1 38.6 58.5 F 5/13/08 WCA3A-HD 51820 No 44.5 152.4 294.9 61.5 81.0 M 5/13/08 WCA3A-HD 51876 No 24.5 90.0 178.5 36.0 17.3 F 5/13/08 WCA3A-HD 51884 No 29.4 113.5 226.0 44.5 34.9 F 5/14/08 WCA3A-HD 51321 Yes 31.8 111.8 226.8 47.2 35.0 F 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51800 Yes 37.5 135.9 264.5 49.0 48.0 F 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31737 No 18.3 67.0 129.6 25.5 6.2 F 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31363 No 21.0 75.8 146.9 27.2 7.6 F 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 37526 No 14.9 53.9 106.4 20.6 2.9 F 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51860 No 22.8 81.7 165.3 33.8 11.4 F 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51893 No 32.4 116.9 230.5 54.0 35.0 M 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51885 No 24.5 91.5 167.0 35.8 15.8 M 6/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31734 No 18.4 65.4 130.3 25.3 5.6 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51861 No 21.1 80.5 166.7 31.3 11.2 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51877 No 29.9 110.0 213.2 47.0 30.0 M 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51894 No 34.5 123.5 241.4 42.8 38.0 M 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51694 No 27.2 99.2 195.1 36.7 21.5 F 26
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51549 Yes 32.4 121.1 241.5 36.9 56.0 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51882 No 28.7 108.3 215.4 45.2 31.0 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51890 No 26.8 99.4 194.9 40.4 24.0 M 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51654 No 31.6 111.0 225.0 49.8 35.0 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 51653 No 27.4 100.3 196.9 42.4 22.0 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 31306 No 24.8 88.2 179.6 34.0 14.5 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 31346 No 15.2 56.9 113.0 23.3 3.8 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 37384 No 19.1 68.3 135.5 27.0 6.3 F 6/10/08 WCA3A-TW 30815 No 12.5 42.6 86.3 16.2 1.7 M 6/11/08 WCA3A-TW 51862 No 35.7 128.0 253.9 43.7 41.0 F 6/11/08 WCA3A-TW 51807 No 21.8 79.0 157.5 29.7 10.6 F 6/12/08 WCA3A-HD 37576 No 22.4 80.4 164.1 32.9 12.2 M 6/12/08 WCA3A-HD 51900 No 32.1 122.0 240.0 49.1 42.0 M 6/12/08 WCA3A-HD 51733 No 31.8 110.7 225.0 41.6 34.0 F 6/12/08 WCA3A-HD 51883 No 25.3 92.7 183.2 36.8 15.6 M 6/12/08 WCA3A-HD 51892 No 22.9 83.5 169.8 33.6 12.2 F 6/12/08 WCA3A-HD 51819 No 29.5 108.3 209.9 38.3 25.6 F 6/12/08 WCA3A-HD 51895 No 26.6 97.3 192.0 42.5 22.5 F 6/17/08 WCA3A-HD 51679 No 28.8 107.8 212.3 44.3 28.0 F 6/17/08 WCA3A-HD 51815 No 39.3 136.4 273.2 57.7 60.0 M 6/17/08 WCA3A-HD 51816 No 30.0 111.5 219.6 44.6 31.0 F 6/17/08 WCA3A-HD 51896 No 28.9 102.8 205.6 33.8 19.8 F 6/17/08 WCA3A-HD 31398 No 22.9 82.2 169.4 34.2 14.0 F 6/18/08 WCA2A 51821 No 31.5 114.4 228.0 48.6 38.0 M 27
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 6/18/08 WCA2A 51865 No 37.3 130.0 261.2 53.1 55.0 M 6/18/08 WCA2A 51889 No 36.2 128.5 250.4 50.2 48.0 M 6/19/08 LOX 1062 No 25.9 93.6 186.9 37.9 17.0 M 6/19/08 LOX 1063 No 28.9 105.8 210.6 41.8 23.5 M 6/19/08 LOX 1064 No 34.8 125.4 247.7 52.1 44.0 M 6/19/08 LOX 1074 No 49.0 176.8 345.4 83.2 125.0 M 6/19/08 LOX 1065 No 29.4 110.3 215.3 45.5 31.0 M 6/19/08 LOX 1072 No 28.1 101.4 202.3 43.6 25.0 M 6/19/08 LOX 1071 No 25.3 91.7 186.9 36.1 16.3 M 6/20/08 LOX 1067 No 21.0 76.0 151.4 30.6 9.0 M 6/20/08 LOX 1066 No 27.5 98.4 194.7 34.8 17.4 M 6/24/08 ENP-EST 37367 No 20.6 75.4 148.5 30.6 9.6 M 6/24/08 ENP-EST 31353 No 25.5 92.0 183.3 35.5 16.8 M 6/24/08 ENP-EST 51853 No 30.0 111.3 216.8 40.5 27.0 M 6/24/08 ENP-EST 37594 No 23.0 83.7 169.0 32.1 11.6 F 6/24/08 ENP-EST 51656 No 26.0 93.1 181.9 34.3 16.9 M 6/24/08 ENP-EST 51852 No 31.5 114.7 232.5 47.5 35.5 M 6/24/08 ENP-EST 31337 No 25.6 92.5 186.9 40.5 19.8 M 6/24/08 ENP-EST 51888 No 34.2 122.7 240.2 49.8 47.0 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 51880 No 26.3 96.7 197.5 34.2 19.5 F 6/26/08 ENP-FC 30072 Yes 19.4 70.1 142.0 27.9 8.0 F 6/26/08 ENP-FC 51898 No 28.6 107.3 213.0 44.1 33.0 F 6/26/08 ENP-FC 31397 No 24.5 88.6 178.1 34.3 14.0 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 51879 No 28.0 100.5 202.2 41.5 25.0 F 28
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 6/26/08 ENP-FC 51867 No 26.8 98.1 190.6 38.1 19.5 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 31392 No 15.4 55.1 113.0 21.4 3.6 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 39922 Yes 23.3 84.6 150.7 32.6 12.5 F 6/26/08 ENP-FC 31336 No 16.5 60.4 116.6 20.7 3.8 F 6/26/08 ENP-FC 51744 Yes 27.1 100.3 199.8 38.1 21.5 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 31322 No 26.1 95.9 189.3 38.0 18.0 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 50891 Yes 32.7 116.0 233.8 46.2 31.5 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 51858 No 38.8 143.5 283.8 60.2 76.0 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 30955 Yes 20.8 72.0 142.7 29.8 8.2 M 6/26/08 ENP-FC 37529 No 21.5 79.1 157.1 30.1 9.8 F 7/9/08 WCA3B 51775 Yes 31.8 116.0 228.7 35.0 26.0 M 7/9/08 WCA3B 51839 No 27.5 99.5 202.1 36.1 17.8 M 7/9/08 WCA3B 31312 No 21.4 76.6 156.0 30.8 9.4 F 7/9/08 WCA3B 51804 No 27.2 95.8 186.7 37.9 19.6 F 7/9/08 WCA3B 31367 No 17.0 63.6 126.8 25.3 4.9 M 7/9/08 WCA3B 37362 No 11.5 43.2 84.0 16.3 1.5 M 7/10/08 WCA3B 51827 No 31.1 112.2 220.8 44.5 31.0 M 7/10/08 WCA3B 51835 No 30.6 117.6 232.4 49.2 39.0 M 7/10/08 WCA3B 51837 No 29.8 109.0 211.1 36.3 24.5 M 7/10/08 WCA3B 51857 No 33.0 123.1 237.6 45.8 40.5 M 7/10/08 WCA3B 31315 No 23.5 85.4 175.1 34.6 13.8 F 7/10/08 WCA3B 31317 No 26.9 95.0 190.0 35.0 17.0 F 7/10/08 WCA3B 30818 Yes 18.7 70.3 139.4 26.0 6.4 M 7/10/08 WCA3B 37535 No 21.4 76.5 149.9 28.4 8.0 F 7/11/08 WCA3B 51891 No 26.6 99.2 196.8 36.1 20.0 F 29
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 7/15/08 BICY 37371 No 21.5 80.7 163.2 32.8 11.6 M 7/15/08 BICY 31313 No 21.1 76.4 156.1 31.0 9.8 M 7/15/08 BICY 31323 No 19.7 73.0 132.9 27.7 7.4 F 7/15/08 BICY 31320 No 25.1 88.5 176.8 34.1 14.8 M 7/15/08 BICY 30806 Yes 14.8 55.8 111.4 22.7 3.6 M 7/15/08 BICY 51803 No 38.9 136.7 262.7 51.0 58.0 M 7/15/08 BICY 51851 No 33.4 120.8 236.7 47.8 37.0 M 7/15/08 BICY 51887 No 30.2 108.2 210.1 43.6 27.0 M 7/15/08 BICY 51854 No 28.9 100.4 192.2 41.5 23.0 M 7/15/08 BICY 51856 No 28.5 104.6 203.4 40.5 23.0 M 7/15/08 BICY 51855 No 26.8 101.5 201.6 40.7 23.5 F 7/15/08 BICY 51540 Yes 28.7 108.1 208.4 43.9 27.5 F 7/15/08 BICY 51838 No 30.4 111.4 219.6 44.9 27.0 M 7/15/08 BICY 31733 No 25.6 92.0 181.5 36.7 16.0 M 7/15/08 BICY 31841 No 19.1 71.3 143.0 29.5 8.2 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 51829 No 26.8 100.8 199.7 35.8 21.0 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 39097 Yes 24.6 92.4 182.7 32.3 15.0 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 51085 Yes 28.7 102.9 202.3 28.7 17.0 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 51772 Yes 38.1 136.3 260.6 52.9 59.2 M 7/16/08 ENP-SS 31491 No 22.8 81.2 170.7 33.0 12.0 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 51844 No 25.1 91.6 184.8 35.3 15.8 M 7/16/08 ENP-SS 31308 Yes 23.4 85.7 163.3 31.9 12.4 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 31307 No 25.8 90.4 175.9 35.5 15.0 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 51845 No 25.6 89.9 181.5 35.1 14.0 M 7/16/08 ENP-SS 31325 No 19.5 68.6 137.9 24.9 6.0 F 30
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 7/16/08 ENP-SS 51842 Yes 28.5 105.3 194.7 35.5 19.5 M 7/16/08 ENP-SS 31488 No 20.3 75.1 153.1 27.8 7.8 F 7/16/08 ENP-SS 31352 No 22.5 84.1 170.8 32.0 12.0 F 7/17/08 ENP-EST 51831 No 31.1 112.0 224.2 45.4 30.0 M 7/17/08 ENP-EST 51843 No 32.9 121.6 239.0 42.2 42.0 M 7/17/08 ENP-EST 51846 No 35.8 129.7 261.6 50.1 50.0 M 7/17/08 ENP-EST 51841 No 25.1 95.9 195.6 38.3 21.0 F 7/17/08 ENP-EST 54754 Yes 34.5 129.9 262.6 41.8 44.0 M 7/17/08 ENP-EST 51849 No 38.2 146.2 281.5 57.9 72.0 M 7/17/08 ENP-SS 51836 No 24.8 93.1 182.8 33.1 17.0 F 7/17/08 ENP-SS 51847 No 29.5 101.8 202.1 39.4 21.0 M 7/18/08 ENP-EST 51817 No 37.5 138.0 261.5 51.6 52.4 M 10/13/08 LOX 1700 No 27.5 103.0 204.5 32.5 20.5 F 10/13/08 LOX 1073 No 30.5 112.0 222.6 39.4 29.0 F 10/13/08 LOX 1075 No 31.0 112.0 218.3 41.5 26.5 M 10/13/08 LOX 235 Yes 25.0 91.0 180.7 34.0 15.5 M 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 38962 Yes 30.0 109.2 210.1 41.3 27.5 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 32341 No 24.5 87.7 178.1 34.6 14.2 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 37592 No 16.8 61.5 124.9 24.0 5.0 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 2335 No 20.5 73.2 144.5 27.2 7.8 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 31310 No 22.1 85.7 170.2 32.6 12.6 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 31499 No 19.4 70.7 146.7 27.7 7.6 M 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 32375 No 13.8 50.4 102.2 17.9 2.2 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 51966 No 31.3 112.5 221.6 42.0 34.0 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 51911 No 28.8 107.5 206.5 40.5 27.0 F 31
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 32385 No 23.7 89.6 171.0 33.9 14.4 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 51904 Yes 30.0 107.4 210.8 42.3 28.0 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 37551 Yes 20.8 78.3 151.4 30.2 9.6 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 51923 No 27.8 105.1 204.8 38.4 18.0 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 51913 No 26.8 98.8 190.7 38.4 20.0 F 10/27/08 WCA3A-HD 32384 No 13.1 47.5 98.5 17.2 2.0 F 10/28/08 WCA3B 32396 No 25.4 89.0 171.5 33.4 13.5 F 10/28/08 WCA3B 51910 No 26.1 92.7 182.8 35.7 16.2 F 10/28/08 WCA3B 32386 No 22.8 78.3 158.2 30.6 10.0 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 51909 No 34.8 120.2 227.4 39.7 25.6 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 32388 No 20.8 73.1 147.5 26.5 7.5 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 51394 Yes 28.1 100.3 189.0 36.1 15.5 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 51954 No 29.1 104.8 200.1 29.2 15.8 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 32362 No 18.5 73.1 145.8 26.7 7.8 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 51955 No 29.7 109.5 221.7 41.2 26.5 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 51970 No 35.8 128.5 253.0 50.4 45.0 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 37531 No 20.1 75.3 147.4 26.2 7.8 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 51990 No 32.4 114.9 224.7 34.4 25.0 F 10/28/08 WCA3B 51991 No 30.2 105.8 204.1 39.9 25.5 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 51994 No 30.0 106.9 205.1 34.3 21.0 M 10/28/08 WCA3B 32328 No 20.1 75.4 154.2 27.2 8.4 F 10/28/08 WCA3B 31359 No 21.3 79.6 158.5 30.0 10.0 F 10/28/08 WCA3B 52000 No 33.5 121.7 244.2 38.7 33.5 M 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51834 No 26.8 97.5 190.8 35.5 10.5 F 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51830 No 24.6 89.3 175.6 36.3 14.6 F 32
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 37579 Yes 26.5 100.0 199.3 38.6 22.0 M 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51996 No 31.6 118.0 227.2 47.4 39.5 F 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51903 No 25.8 95.5 184.1 34.6 16.8 M 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51917 No 29.9 107.9 212.9 46.4 32.5 F 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51547 Yes 33.6 119.4 221.1 39.2 31.5 M 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 32394 No 15.9 58.1 117.3 21.4 3.7 M 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51906 No 41.5 142.0 271.8 48.3 62.0 M 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 32399 No 16.1 85.7 116.1 20.9 3.7 F 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 51905 No 28.2 101.5 196.6 39.9 21.5 M 10/29/08 WCA3A-TW 32392 No 22.4 82.8 163.2 33.4 11.2 M 10/30/08 BICY 51951 No 33.0 121.4 234.1 46.4 35.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 51969 No 27.4 102.5 207.0 38.5 24.0 F 10/30/08 BICY 51959 No 31.3 114.0 221.2 43.6 32.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 51968 No 40.0 146.2 273.8 60.9 74.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 51965 No 27.2 99.1 191.1 40.7 21.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 32353 No 21.6 80.5 159.7 31.0 11.0 F 10/30/08 BICY 51916 No 30.4 103.3 208.4 39.2 21.5 M 10/30/08 BICY 51914 No 25.4 88.0 179.2 36.1 15.8 F 10/30/08 BICY 51921 No 27.6 102.7 202.6 41.7 22.5 M 10/30/08 BICY 32395 No 24.3 86.9 173.5 32.7 12.6 M 10/30/08 BICY 51918 No 28.4 105.2 214.4 40.8 25.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 51922 No 31.4 114.1 236.6 45.9 38.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 51907 No 26.8 92.5 187.8 35.7 17.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 51536 Yes 49.5 181.0 354.4 76.5 166.0 M 10/30/08 BICY 51993 No 29.9 112.0 220.5 43.0 29.0 M 33
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 10/30/08 WCA3A-TW 51998 No 29.3 108.5 211.1 39.0 23.5 M 10/30/08 WCA3A-TW 51915 No 30.0 106.5 205.5 43.2 28.0 F 10/30/08 WCA3A-TW 51924 No 27.1 101.6 202.9 41.5 24.0 F 11/3/08 WCA2A 51848 No 32.1 116.9 225.7 42.6 32.5 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 31486 No 17.8 62.6 126.5 22.5 4.5 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 51958 No 24.9 92.6 184.2 36.4 16.6 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 51952 No 26.7 98.3 196.5 38.0 19.6 F 11/3/08 WCA2A 51956 No 40.1 151.3 292.7 64.6 90.0 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 32376 No 25.6 92.2 188.2 34.2 14.0 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 51920 No 35.2 123.3 195.7 35.9 30.0 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 51811 Yes 33.9 123.0 247.1 45.1 40.0 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 32397 No 24.5 86.0 171.5 32.4 11.8 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 32365 No 16.8 61.6 120.1 20.7 4.0 F 11/3/08 WCA2A 32387 No 13.5 47.0 97.0 17.3 2.1 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 51912 No 26.4 89.6 178.9 34.0 13.8 F 11/3/08 WCA2A 51972 No 33.3 122.2 231.7 47.1 43.0 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 51992 No 27.2 100.6 196.7 41.3 22.0 F 11/3/08 WCA2A 31498 No 19.5 72.2 143.2 27.9 7.8 F 11/3/08 WCA2A 51997 No 38.4 133.8 262.2 46.3 57.0 M 11/3/08 WCA2A 32326 No 16.2 57.0 118.5 22.0 4.0 F 11/3/08 WCA2A 31332 No 17.0 62.2 128.0 23.6 4.7 F 11/4/08 ENP-EST 51976 No 25.1 92.0 183.1 37.8 20.0 M 11/4/08 ENP-EST 31476 No 20.0 72.7 143.7 30.6 10.5 F 11/4/08 ENP-EST 51988 No 33.0 118.9 234.5 48.5 40.0 M 11/4/08 ENP-EST 51603 Yes 32.0 111.0 221.1 45.1 32.5 M 34
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 11/4/08 ENP-EST 31496 No 20.7 75.5 138.7 30.1 9.8 M 11/4/08 ENP-EST 51828 No 37.5 129.4 256.9 52.9 59.0 M 11/4/08 ENP-EST 51832 No 30.2 111.1 227.2 44.0 31.5 M 11/4/08 ENP-EST 51661 No 29.3 109.0 214.3 41.6 30.5 M 11/4/08 ENP-EST 51808 No 28.7 104.0 201.7 41.8 28.5 M 11/5/08 ENP-FC 51878 No 24.0 89.7 176.4 34.0 14.5 M 11/5/08 ENP-FC 51840 Yes 33.8 121.6 234.6 46.5 37.0 M 11/5/08 ENP-FC 32311 No 19.8 72.1 148.5 82.2 7.2 F 11/5/08 ENP-FC 32354 No 16.8 59.0 121.6 22.4 4.3 F 11/5/08 ENP-FC 31485 No 24.4 89.8 181.8 33.5 13.6 M 11/5/08 ENP-FC 51850 No 30.2 108.9 210.0 38.4 22.0 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 32338 No 16.9 61.3 122.4 21.4 4.0 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51833 No 24.0 90.5 177.7 34.5 15.4 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31303 No 12.6 47.5 94.5 15.7 1.7 M 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51926 No 29.4 112.3 205.0 42.3 28.0 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51936 No 24.4 95.5 185.1 37.9 18.2 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51941 No 25.0 97.0 183.9 37.8 17.6 M 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 999 No 21.9 82.7 157.2 29.8 10.2 M 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 32331 No 18.8 68.8 135.6 23.5 5.6 M 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31393 No 13.6 48.4 100.1 17.2 2.1 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31395 No 14.7 50.3 104.2 18.7 2.5 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31394 No 20.3 77.6 156.8 27.4 8.2 M 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51805 No 23.2 86.8 174.2 34.6 13.4 F 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31345 No 20.0 73.4 143.1 27.6 7.2 M 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31348 No 20.6 75.1 149.4 28.0 8.2 F 35
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 31370 No 18.5 67.5 131.3 25.2 5.5 M 11/5/08 WCA3A-N41 51809 No 27.0 100.8 200.5 41.2 23.5 F 11/6/08 ENP-FC 32307 No 22.5 84.5 171.4 30.6 10.0 F 11/6/08 ENP-FC 51957 No 24.5 86.0 175.6 31.7 13.2 F 11/6/08 ENP-FC 32359 No 23.6 84.3 168.8 30.4 12.2 F 11/6/08 ENP-FC 51948 No 39.3 141.9 273.7 51.0 59.0 M 11/6/08 ENP-FC 51980 No 27.0 101.0 190.5 38.4 21.0 M 11/6/08 ENP-FC 31314 No 21.5 79.9 159.4 31.0 10.6 F 11/6/08 ENP-FC 51985 No 24.5 92.5 180.1 36.4 17.0 F 11/6/08 ENP-FC 51931 No 29.7 108.3 212.8 43.5 29.0 M 11/6/08 ENP-FC 51932 No 25.6 95.5 186.9 36.0 18.0 F 11/7/08 LOX 1076 No 19.0 70.7 142.2 26.9 6.7 M 11/7/08 LOX 1077 No 16.7 62.7 121.5 22.7 4.8 M 11/7/08 LOX 1078 No 29.0 109.6 220.8 37.9 25.0 F 11/7/08 LOX 1079 No 14.8 52.3 107.7 19.5 3.1 M 11/7/08 LOX 1080 No 21.5 77.2 156.3 29.4 9.5 M 11/7/08 LOX 1081 No 25.5 91.5 180.4 34.8 16.0 M 11/18/08 LOX 1082 No 14.2 49.5 99.2 18.0 2.3 M 11/18/08 LOX 1083 No 18.5 69.0 135.0 24.0 5.6 F 11/18/08 LOX 1001 Yes 35.8 133.9 262.6 35.8 32.5 M 11/18/08 LOX 1084 No 31.3 113.1 224.1 41.2 29.0 M 11/18/08 LOX 1085 No 16.7 61.7 125.6 23.5 4.6 M 11/24/08 ENP-SS 32322 No 15.9 57.6 115.3 14.5 2.5 F 11/24/08 ENP-SS 37294 Yes 26.5 98.0 194.3 40.0 22.0 F 11/24/08 ENP-SS 32340 Yes 18.8 71.9 145.5 24.5 6.4 M 36
Date Area Web tag/ Scute clip Recapture HL (cm) SVL (cm) TL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (kg) Sex 11/24/08 ENP-SS 39821 Yes 18.9 72.6 147.1 27.1 7.6 F 11/24/08 ENP-SS 51995 No 34.8 120.9 240.1 47.1 41.0 M 11/24/08 ENP-SS 32327 No 24.9 89.5 171.7 21.4 9.6 F 11/24/08 ENP-SS 32319 No 22.2 81.9 162.6 30.1 11.4 M 11/24/08 ENP-SS 31492 No 23.6 88.3 169.9 31.0 13.0 F 11/24/08 ENP-SS 51944 No 29.5 109.0 217.8 42.4 26.0 F 11/24/08 ENP-SS 51949 No 31.6 114.1 226.6 43.0 29.5 M 11/24/08 ENP-SS 51977 No 24.2 91.9 185.9 31.8 14.4 F 11/24/08 ENP-SS 51982 Yes 35.2 125.8 243.7 47.8 42.0 M 11/24/08 ENP-SS 51983 No 30.5 111.7 216.2 42.7 31.0 M 11/24/08 ENP-SS 31341 No 19.7 71.1 142.9 23.1 5.8 F 11/25/08 ENP-EST 51981 No 25.3 90.6 182.1 33.7 15.8 M 11/25/08 ENP-EST 51979 No 25.9 91.9 184.2 34.5 16.6 M 11/25/08 ENP-EST 51946 No 32.0 118.2 228.4 41.3 30.5 M 11/25/08 ENP-EST 51953 No 28.4 100.5 199.4 41.4 25.5 M 11/25/08 ENP-EST 32313 No 14.6 50.7 104.4 19.2 2.7 M 11/25/08 ENP-EST 51945 No 25.9 91.8 184.4 41.3 22.0 M 11/25/08 ENP-SS 51971 No 25.8 97.5 196.4 34.8 18.0 F 11/25/08 ENP-SS 32347 Yes 23.8 88.5 171.3 32.0 12.0 M 37
Table II-5. Range of alligator condition for Fulton s K from Everglades data for October 1999 to November 2006 (n = 1755) in South Florida. This shows division of condition by quartiles. 1 st quartile: 2.57 6.4 low condition 2 nd quartile: 6.41 10.23 low to average condition 3 rd quartile: 10.24 14.06 average to high condition 4 th quartile: 14.07 17.89 high condition 38
Table II-6. Alligator Monitoring and Assessment Program (MAP) average and standard error (SE) of alligator body condition for each survey route. UTM Easting and UTM Northing (datum WGS 1984 17R) are for the center of the survey routes. UTM UTM Survey Route Easting Northing Habitat 2008 Mean SE 2007 Mean SE BICY 501030 2835986 Marsh 10.47 0.23 10.129 0.255 BICY 515363 2859023 Canal - - - - ENP SS 521861 2826303 Marsh 9.47 0.25 9.376 0.277 ENP FC 534761 2838617 Marsh 10.13 0.24 10.095 0.324 ENP SR 502200 2808102 Estuary 11.01 0.23 10.617 0.207 LOX 576359 2935945 Canal 10.50 0.29 10.095 0.324 LOX 569279 2931569 Marsh 9.89 0.20 10.273 0.254 WCA 2A 565706 2903558 Marsh 9.82 0.27 9.502 0.263 WCA 3N41 522663 2860222 Marsh 9.81 0.25 10.454 0.249 WCA 3TW 537139 2898124 Marsh 10.46 0.37 9.969* 0.318 WCA 3HD 543031 2877511 Marsh 10.23 0.20 10.317 0.230 WCA 3HD 542709 2883223 Canal 11.77 0.69 11.410 0.694 WCA 3B 549260 2861205 Marsh 9.28 0.29 10.369 0.375 * Fall captures only 39
Table II-7. Trends in relative density (animals/km) of non-hatchling alligators counted during night surveys throughout the Everglades of Southern Florida, 1999-2008. Latest Mean Best Route Habitat N Trend 1 P trend R 2 P hydrology Model BICY Marsh 16-2.64 0.05 0.62 0.001 QS 4 ENP-EST River 24 NT 1 0.4 0.09 0.3 QS 4 ENP-FC Marsh 27 NT 1 0.1 0.21 0.08 QS 4 ENP-SS Marsh 23 NT 1 0.5 0.44 0.4 QS 4 ENP-L67 Canal 13 NT 1 0.6 0.52 0.09 QS 4 LOX Marsh 26 NT 1 0.7 0.32 <0.001 QS 4 LOX L39 Canal 18 NT 1 0.3 0.25 0.05 QS 4 LOX L-40 Canal 28 NT 1 0.2 0.19 0.03 LW 2 WCA2A Canal 20 NT 1 0.6 0.42 0.5 QS 4 WCA2A Marsh 26 NT 1 0.7 0.38 0.7 QS 4 WCA3A-HD Canal 18 NT 1 0.9 0.70 0.0005 QS 4 WCA3A-HD Marsh 24 NT 1 0.1 0.46 0.003 QS 4 WCA3A-N41 Canal 18 NT 1 0.2 0.64 0.05 QS 4 WCA3A-N41 Marsh 25 NT 1 0.2 0.39 0.003 QW 3 WCA3A-TW Canal 17 NT 1 0.5 0.91 0.0006 QS 4 WCA3A-TW Marsh 24 NT 1 0.2 0.34 0.7 QS 4 WCA3B Canal 14 NT 1 0.7 0.05 0.7 QW 3 WCA3B Marsh 20 NT 1 0.1 0.19 0.5 QS 4 1 No trend detected 2 Linear (year) + water depth 3 Quadratic (year +year 2 ) + water depth 4 Quadratic (year + year 2 ) + season 40
Table II-8. Trends in relative density (animals/km) of adult alligators counted during night surveys throughout the Everglades of Southern Florida, 1999-2008. Latest Seasonal Route Habitat N Trend 1 P trend R 2 P hydrology Model Best BICY Marsh 16-1.05 0.05 0.86 0.001 QS 4 ENP-EST River 24 NT 1 0.4 0.04 0.5 QS 4 ENP-FC Marsh 27 NT 1 0.1 0.04 0.6 QW 3 ENP-SS Marsh 23 NT 1 0.5 0.33 0.2 QS 4 ENP-L67 Canal 13 NT 1 0.6 0.62 0.1 QS 4 LOX Marsh 36 NT 1 0.7 0.26 0.09 QW 3 LOX L39 Canal 18 NT 1 0.3 0.22 0.03 QS 4 LOX L-40 Canal 28 NT 1 0.2 0.17 0.04 LW 2 WCA2A Canal 20 NT 1 0.6 0.48 0.02 QS 4 WCA2A Marsh 26 NT 1 0.4 0.33 0.7 QS 4 WCA3A-HD Canal 18 NT 1 0.9 0.81 0.0003 QS 4 WCA3A-HD Marsh 24 NT 1 0.1 0.36 0.95 QS 4 WCA3A-N41 Canal 18 NT 1 0.2 0.74 0.03 QS 4 WCA3A-N41 Marsh 25 NT 1 0.2 0.23 0.4 LW 2 WCA3A-TW Canal 17 NT 1 0.5 0.65 0.0006 LW 2 WCA3A-TW Marsh 24 NT 1 0.2 0.34 0.2 QW 3 WCA3B Canal 14 NT 1 0.7 0.23 0.7 QS 4 WCA3B Marsh 20 NT 1 0.1 0.19 0.8 QS 4 1 No trend detected 2 Linear (year) + water depth 3 Quadratic (year +year 2 ) + water depth 4 Quadratic (year + year 2 ) + season 41
Table II-9. Trends in relative density (animals/km) of juvenile alligators counted during night surveys throughout the Everglades of Southern Florida, 1998-2008. Latest Seasonal Route Habitat N Trend 1 P trend R 2 P hydrology Model Best BICY Marsh 16 NT 1 0.96 0.57 0.009 QS 5 ENP-EST River 24 NT 1 0.8 0.21 0.9 QS 5 ENP-FC Marsh 27 NT 1 0.4 0.25 0.05 QW 4 ENP-SS Marsh 23-0.2 0.02 0.53 0.5 QS 5 ENP-L67 Canal 13 NT 1 0. 8 0.23 0.2 QW 3 LOX Marsh 36-0.09 0.04 0.38 0.004 LW 2 LOX L39 Canal 18 LOX L-40 Canal 28 WCA2A Canal 20 WCA2A Marsh 26 WCA3A-HD Canal 18 WCA3A-HD Marsh 24 WCA3A-N41 Canal 18 NT 1 0.7 0.56 0.004 QW 4 NT 1 0.7 0.02 0.7 QS 5 NT 1 0.1 0.24 0.6 NT 1 0.99 0.39 0.2 NT 1 0.8 0.42 0.4 NT 1 0.6 0.06 0.9-0.9 0.04 0.62 0.02 WCA3A-N41 Marsh 25 NT 1 0.9 0.33 0.3 QW 4 WCA3A-TW Canal 17-0.3 0.02 0.65 0.2 LS 3 WCA3A-TW Marsh 24 NT 1 0.6 0.49 0.09 QS 5 WCA3B Canal 14 0.2 0.05 0.42 0.002 LW 2 WCA3B Marsh 20 NT 1 0.95 0.52 0.4 QW 4 LS 3 QS 5 QW 4 QW 4 QS 5 1 No trend detected 2 Linear (year) + water depth 3 Linear (year) + season 4 Quadratic (year +year 2 ) + water depth 5 Quadratic (year + year 2 ) + season 42
Table II-10. Trends in alligator body condition during captures throughout the Everglades of Southern Florida, 1999-2008. Latest Mean Final Best Study Area Habitat N Annual Trend 1 P trend P model Model BICY Marsh 112 NT a 0.3 <0.0001 Season + SVL c + Sex + SVL c *Year ENP-EST River 226 NT a 0.2 0.03 Season + SVL c + Sex + SVL c *Year ENP-FC Marsh 180-2.71 <0.0001 <0.0001 Year + Year 2 ENP-SS Marsh 250 NT a 0.07 <0.0001 Season + SVL c + Sex + SVL c *Year Lox-M Marsh 305 NT a 0.8 <0.0001 Season + SVL c + Sex + SVL c *Year Lox-L40 Canal 71 NT a 0.4 0.25 Year + SVL c + Sex WCA2A Marsh 267 NT a 0.07 <0.0001 Season + SVL c + Sex*Year WCA3A-HD Canal 64 NT a 0.2 <0.0001 Season + SVL c + Sex + SVL c *Year WCA3A-HD Marsh 252 NT a 0.2 <0.0001 Season + SVL c + Sex + SVL c *Year WCA3A-N41 Marsh 178-2.77 <0.0001 <0.0001 Year + SVL c + Sex WCA3A-TW Marsh 152 NT a 0.2 <0.0001 Season + SVL c + Sex + SVL*Year WCA3B Marsh 58-3.11 0.002 0.01 Year + Year 2 a No trend detected b Snout-vent length 43
Table II-11. Occupancy of alligator holes observed during May 2008 SRFs in Everglades National Park (ENP). Area Date Area Surveyed (km 2 ) No. of holes observed Density in Holes/km 2 No. of holes w/gators Percent of holes w/gators Overall 646 445 0.69 163 36.63% NESS AM 5/27/08 81 32 0.40 12 37.50% NESS AM 5/28/08 81 50 0.62 20 40.00% NESS PM 5/27/08 81 48 0.79 17 35.42% NESS PM 5/28/08 81 36 0.44 11 30.56% Rocky Glades AM 5/29/08 70 5 0.07 4 80.00% Rocky Glades AM 6/2/08 70 9 0.13 8 88.89% Rocky Glades PM 5/29/08 70 8 0.11 7 87.50% Rocky Glades PM 6/2/08 70 16 0.23 11 68.75% Shark Slough AM 6/3/08 14 58 4.14 21 36.21% Shark Slough AM 6/9/08 14 53 3.79 20 37.74% Shark Slough PM 6/3/08 14 63 4.50 20 31.75% Shark Slough PM 6/9/08 14 67 4.79 12 17.91% 44
Figure II-1. Alligator spotlight survey routes in South Florida, 1999-2008. 45
Figure II-2. A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge alligator capture and survey locations, 1999-2008. 46
Figure II-3. Water Conservation Area 2A alligator capture and survey locations, 1999-2008. 47
Figure II-4. Water Conservation Area 3 alligator capture and survey locations, 1999-2008. 48
Figure II-5. Everglades National Park alligator capture and survey locations, 1999-2008. 49
Figure II-6. Big Cypress National Preserve alligator capture and survey locations, 1999-2008. 50
Figure II-7. South Florida alligator capture locations, 1999-2008. 51
Adult Total Figure II-8. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in BICY-Marsh, 2004-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual mean count was detected. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 52
Figure II-9. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in ENP-EST, 2003-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 53
Figure II-10. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in ENP-FC, 2003-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 54
Juvenile Figure II-11. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in ENP-SS, 2003-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual mean count was detected. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 55
Figure II-12. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in ENP-L67, 2003-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 56
Figure II-13. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in LOX L-39, 2003-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 57
Figure II-14. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in LOX-L-40, 1999-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 58
Juvenile Figure II-15. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in LOX Marsh, 1999-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual mean count was detected. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 59
Figure II-16. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA2A Canal, 2002-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 60
Figure II-17. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA2A Marsh, 2002-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 61
Figure II-18. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3AHD Canal, 2003-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 62
Figure II-19. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3AHD Marsh, 2003-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 63
Juvenile Figure II-20. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3AN41 Canal, 2003-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual mean count was detected. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 64
Figure II-21. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3AN41 Marsh, 2003-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 65
Juvenile Figure II-22. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3ATW Canal, 2002-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual mean count was detected. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 66
Figure II-23. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3ATW Marsh, 2002-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual mean count was detected. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 67
Number of alligators per km Water depth (cm) 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Juvenile Adult Total Water Depth Linear Juvenile (Juvenile) Figure II-24. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3B Canal, 2004-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual mean count was detected. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 68
Figure II-25. Mean count densities (alligators/km) for 3 TL size classes: (1) 25 cm ("total population"), (2) 25-124 cm ("juvenile"), and (3) 175 cm ("adult") during nightlight survey in WCA3B Marsh, 2004-2008. Water depths are mean measurements taken during survey. 69
Figure II-26. Range of Fulton s K body condition index values (mean) by alligator capture area in South Florida. Values are for captures made from October 1999 to November 2008 (n = 2321). 70
Fulton's K 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 Figure II-27. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in ENP-FC, 1999-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual index of body condition was detected. 71
Fall 1999 Spring 2000 Fall 2000 Spring 2001 Fall 2001 Spring 2002 Fall 2002 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Fulton's K 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Figure II-28. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in WCA3AN41, 1999-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual index of body condition was detected. 72
Fulton's K 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Figure II-29. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in WCA3B, 2004-2008. A trend line indicates a significant trend (p < 0.05) in the annual index of body condition was detected. 73
Fulton's K 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Figure II-30. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in BICY, 2004-2008. 74
Fall 1999 Fall 2000 Spring 2001 Fall 2001 Spring 2002 Fall 2002 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Fulton's K 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Figure II-31. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in ENP-EST, 1999-2008. 75
Fall 1999 Spring 2000 Fall 2000 Spring 2001 Spring 2002 Fall 2002 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Fulton's K 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Figure II-32. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in ENP-SS, 1999-2008. 76
Fall 1999 Spring 2000 Fall 2000 Spring 2001 Fall 2001 Spring 2002 Fall 2002 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Fulton's K 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 Figure II-33. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in LOX-M, 1999-2008. 77
Fulton's K 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Spring 2006 Spring 2007 Spring 2008 Figure II-34. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in LOX-Canal, 2004-2008. 78
Fall 1999 Spring 2000 Fall 2000 Spring 2001 Fall 2001 Spring 2002 Fall 2002 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Fulton's K 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Figure II-35. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in WCA2A, 1999-2008. 79
Fulton's K 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Spring 2007 Spring 2008 Figure II-36. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in WCA3AHD- Canal, 2005-2008. 80
Fall 1999 Spring 2000 Fall 2000 Spring 2001 Fall 2001 Spring 2002 Fall 2002 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Spring 2005 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Fulton's K 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 Figure II-37. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in WCA3AHD, 1999-2008. 81
Fulton's K 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Spring 2000 Fall Spring 2003 2004 Fall Spring 2004 2005 Fall Spring 2005 2006 Fall 2006 Fall Spring 2007 2008 Fall 2008 Figure II-38. Fulton s K body condition index of alligators captured in WCA3ATW, 2000-2008. 82
Figure II-39. Transects flown in Everglades National Park for alligator hole occupancy. (Basemap is Everglades physiographic areas courtesy of ENP.) 83
Figure II-40. Alligator holes observed in Everglades National Park (ENP) during 2008 occupancy flights (Base-map is Everglades physiographic areas courtesy of ENP.) 84
III. American Crocodile Introduction Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP) project tasks for crocodiles can be divided into conducting monitoring surveys and evaluating and refining sampling parameters and methods. Monitoring surveys for crocodiles are designed to test the CERP hypothesis that restoration of freshwater flows to estuaries and salinity regimes will increase growth and survival of crocodiles. Determining growth and survival is dependent on finding and marking hatchling crocodiles, therefore monitoring nests is also a component of this task. For the second task, we have been analyzing existing crocodile databases (Mazzotti and Cherkiss 2003) to evaluate effectiveness of using nesting, growth, and survival of crocodiles to monitor and assess CERP projects. In this report we present results of crocodile monitoring surveys for 2008 and preliminary analyses of the effectiveness of using nesting, growth, and survival of crocodiles as indicators of ecological change. Databases from all research and monitoring programs for crocodiles conducted in Florida between 1978 and 1998 were collected as part of the Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior (Mazzotti and Cherkiss 2003). These databases contain information on nests and captured crocodiles for all three main nesting areas. Additional data on crocodile captures, nests (to 2007) were obtained from records of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Florida Power and Light Company, Inc. Portions of these databases were used in the analyses described below. Crocodile Monitoring Surveys Methods.-Growth and survival were determined by periodic efforts to recapture marked crocodiles. Non-hatchling crocodiles were captured by hand, tongs, net, or by wire-noose as described by Mazzotti (1983). All crocodiles captured were weighed and measured. Total length (TL) and snout-vent length (SVL) were measured for all crocodiles, and head length, tail girth, hind foot length, mass, and other body measurements were recorded occasionally. Surveys for nests were conducted by motorboat, airboat, jon boat, canoe, foot, and helicopter during June through August (hatching period). Nests were located from evidence of crocodile activity (tail drags, digging, and scraping), and successful nests were determined by presence of hatchlings or hatched shells. Hatchlings were captured by hand or tongs and marked by removing tail scutes according to a prescribed sequence (Mazzotti 1983). Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) conducted nest surveys at the Turkey Point Power Plant site, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) conducted nest surveys at the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge (CLNWR). Results.- Survey areas included Key Largo, Key Biscayne, and most of the accessible coastal and estuarine shoreline from Southwest Florida around the coast to the mouth of the Miami River (Figures III-1 to III-5). Core areas of high crocodile activity were surveyed once each quarter; additional capture events were conducted in these areas. Surveys resulted in 278 crocodile 85
observations, 63 alligator observations, and 218 unidentified eyeshines (Table III-1). One hundred eleven captures were made of 102 individual non-hatchling crocodiles during surveys of Everglades National Park, Biscayne Bay, and the southwest coast of Florida. Of the 111 captures, 65 were recaptures, 7 of which were captured twice during 2008 and one captured three times. Personnel at the Turkey Point Power Plant originally marked 4 of the recaptured crocodiles, FWC marked 4, and the University of Florida originally marked the remaining 57. One hundred forty-one confirmed nests were located in 2008, 138 of which were within ENP. In ENP One hundred thirteen (82%) were successful, 24 (17%) were depredated by raccoons and the remaining 1 (1%) failed for unknown reasons (Table III-2). One successful nest was located at Ocean reef on North Key Largo and two failed nests on Sugarloaf Key in the Florida Keys, one of which was reportedly destroyed by humans. A total of 900 hatchlings (Table III-3) were captured, of which 896 were from nests in Everglades National Park. Two hatchlings were captured from the outlying Turkey Point canals and from Ocean Reef on North Key Largo. Twenty-eight nests were reported at Turkey Point and five nests were found at CLNWR. Discussion.- During 2008, 59% of crocodiles caught were recaptures. This demonstrates the effectiveness of current surveys techniques at finding and catching crocodiles, and supports the use of growth and survival as performance measures for Everglades restoration. It should be noted that condition of crocodiles can be determined from the same morphometric measurements as growth rates. As we have shown in the alligator portion of this report, condition of crocodilians can be used to monitor responses to ecosystem changes, albeit at a faster time step than growth. Since morphometric data are already being collected we recommend that condition of crocodiles also be evaluated for its usefulness in monitoring and assessment. Crocodile Data Analyses Growth and Survival Methods- To accommodate a management-driven time frame, we used measures of absolute growth and minimal survival as indices of relative growth and survival for purposes of comparing populations of crocodiles and for setting performance measures. For growth rate, we used changes in total length (TL) for crocodiles marked as hatchlings and recaptured as juveniles (less than 1.5 m TL), because those data were available for all three nesting areas and for other populations of C. acutus. Minimal survival was defined as proportion of hatchling crocodiles known to have survived for at least 12 months. Minimum survival does not differentiate between death, dispersal, and wariness. Dispersal was described as a direct enumeration of hatchling crocodiles that survived and dispersed from a nesting area. We estimated growth rates of 546 individual juvenile crocodiles using data from original captures and most recent captures. Mean and range of growth (change in TL) were calculated for each nesting area, and differences in growth were determined by ANOVA. A Chi Square test was used to test for difference in survival and dispersal among the three nesting areas. Results - Mazzotti et al. (2007a) reported hatchling crocodiles in Florida Bay, ENP had the lowest survival and growth rates (Table III-4). Further, hatchling crocodiles had the highest 86
survival rate on North Key Largo but grew a little faster (with more variability) at the TP site (Table III-4). Crocodiles have dispersed from all three natal sites to other sites (Table III-4). Only two crocodile is known to have dispersed from ENP since 1986, and no crocodiles are known to have dispersed from northeastern Florida Bay to the Flamingo/Cape Sable area (or vice versa). Discussion - Because of their small size, hatchling crocodiles are vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stressors. To grow and survive, hatchling crocodiles need to find food and benign environmental conditions (or at least avoid harsh conditions) and avoid predators. Diminished growth rates and higher mortality have been associated with areas that pose greater risk to hatchling crocodiles (Mazzotti 1999). Apparent survival of hatchling crocodiles decreased with increasing distance that hatchlings had to travel to nursery habitat with suitable salinities (Moler 1992, Mazzotti 1999). Nursery habitat can be defined as areas that are protected from wind and wave action and have access to low to moderate salinity (0 20 ppt) water, abundant food, and places to hide from predators. In Florida, estuarine creeks, coves, ponds (natural and humanmade), and canals meet these habitat requirements. At CLNWR, nests are adjacent to nursery habitat. At TP, the distance from nest to nursery can range from meters to hundreds of meters. Until recently, most hatchlings in ENP were produced from shoreline nests, which can be kilometers from nursery habitat. We assume that greater dispersal distance primarily increases risk to predation, however it may also expose a hatchling crocodile to harsher environmental conditions during transit. Historical flow patterns into Florida Bay probably pushed lower salinity water farther out into the bay, reducing the distance hatchlings would have to disperse to find suitable nursery habitat. Less fresh water in Florida Bay means that crocodiles would and do grow slower and have to disperse farther. Both factors negatively impact survival. Our hypothesis is that in northeastern Florida Bay, the combination of saline water and long distance dispersal limits hatchling growth and survival. However, low apparent survival of crocodiles in ENP may be a result of greater proportion of inaccessible habitat decreasing probability of recapture. At CLNWR and TP, creation of canals not only unwittingly created nesting habitat but also resulted in a productive aquatic environment as evidenced by growth rates of crocodiles and abundant prey items at the two locations. Even so, lower growth rates at CLNWR have been associated with temporal patterns of higher salinity (Moler 1992). Richards (2003) found that C. acutus feeding in high salinity water at night and retreating to low salinity ponds during the day grew quite rapidly at the TP site. Platt and Thorbjarnarson (2000a, b) found on atolls off the coast of Belize that fresh and brackish water lagoons adjacent to nest sites provided essential nursery habitat, and Schubert et al. (1996) found that use of and dispersal to freshwater habitat was crucial for survival of hatchlings. In addition to direct effects of salinity on growth of hatchling crocodiles, in northeastern Florida Bay, ENP, lower aquatic productivity has been associated with elevated salinities caused by diversion of fresh water for drainage and flood control (Lorenz 1999). Although faster growth decreases exposure to threats of predation by noncrocodilian predators, it also shortens the time it takes to become a sub-adult crocodile and, hence, susceptible to aggression from adult crocodiles. When a population of crocodiles has good nest success and adequate hatchling survival, mortality and dispersal of older juveniles and sub-adults become the most likely factors to limit population numbers (Magnusson 1986, Abercrombie 1989). 87
Effectiveness of using absolute growth and minimum survival as indices of relative growth and survival is unknown but is being tested. However, these indices did allow for comparison among nesting areas and with other populations of American crocodiles, and did meet the purposes of providing information for reclassification of American crocodiles in Florida and setting performance measures (RECOVER 2003). However, these indices could be confounded by a number of factors, including differences in efforts in catching crocodiles, accessibility of crocodile habitat, and ages of crocodiles recaptured. Additional analyses of data for growth and survival are underway to evaluate results reported in this paper. Crocodile Nesting Methods.- Records of crocodile nesting were examined for number, location, habitat, and fate of nests for the period of 1978-2008. The Gauss-Newton non-linear regression model was employed for ENP since those data were nonlinear. Linear regression models were used for TP and CLNWR nest data for the same period. Results.- The number of confirmed nests increased in both ENP (from 11 to more than double the previous record with 138), at TP (from 2 to 28, all on artificial substrates) and fluctuated between 4 and 10 at CLNWR between 1978 and 2008 (Figure III-6). Here we update trends reported Mazzotti et al. (2007b), with an increase in nesting within the core area of northeastern Florida Bay at an annual rate of 2.9% from 1978 to 2008 (P = 0.0001, R 2 = 0.5222). However, most of the increase in crocodile nesting in ENP occurred in the relatively new Cape Sable/Flamingo nesting area, where nests increased from 2 in 1986 to 109 in 2008, an annual rate of 17% (P = 0.0001 R 2 = 0.7330). During the years prior to 2000, 70-100% of crocodile nests were located in northeastern Florida Bay. After 2000, 66% of crocodile nests were located in the Cape Sable/Flamingo nesting area (Table III-5). Mazzotti et al. (2007b) reported a change in the number of crocodiles nesting in different habitats during the period between 1978 and 2004; which we have updated through 2008, where creek nests decreased at an annual rate of -2.1% (P = 0.0404, R 2 = 0.1519), nests on man-made substrates increased at an annual rate of 13.9% (P = 0.0001, R 2 = 0.6861), and the number of nests on mainland and island shorelines increased at annual rates of 6.6% (P = 0.0001, R 2 = 0.7623) and 4.9% (P = 0.0002, R 2 = 0.4280), respectively. All nests on artificial substrates were in the Cape Sable/Flamingo area. One thousand three hundred twenty one crocodile nests were located in the three nesting areas between 1978 and 2008. Nine hundred forty-eight (73 %) were successful. In ENP 68 % of all nests (N = 776) were successful (annual success ranged 36-100 %), and at CLNWR 48 % of nests (N = 195) were successful (annual success ranged 0-100 %). TP had the highest rate of nest success (proportion of all nests laid that produce at least one hatchling) between 1978 and 2008 at 98 % (N = 332) and the lowest annual range (91-100 %) in success. Predation, flooding, and desiccation caused nest failure in ENP (Mazzotti 1989, 1999), with nests on artificial substrates being prone to predation, sand nests being susceptible to desiccation and predation, and nests along creek banks being prone to flooding (Mazzotti 1989, 1999). Desiccation is rare in ENP and occurs only in years of very low rainfall (Mazzotti et al. 1988). In contrast, desiccation is hypothesized to be the main cause of nest failure at CLNWR (Moler 1992). Fire ants depredated 88
all three nests lost at TP. Further, nests were found outside of the three primary nesting areas in or near two Miami-Dade County Parks (nine nests, seven successful, 1997 2008), a private residence on Lower Matecumbe Key (seven nests, six successful, 2002 2008), and a private resort on northern Key Largo (three successful, 2004-2008) and two on Sugarloaf Key in the Florida Keys (both failed) during 2008. Discussion.-Mazzotti (1989) defined optimal nesting habitat for American crocodiles as presence of elevated, well drained, nesting substrate adjacent to relatively deep (greater than 1 m), low to intermediate salinity (< 20 ppt) water, protected from effects of wind and wave action, and free from human disturbance. Man-made nesting areas along canal banks (berms) at CLNWR, East Cape Canal in ENP, and the cooling canal system at TP provide nearly ideal nesting conditions. Unwitting creation of man-made nest sites has provided good conditions for nesting, and to some extent has compensated for loss of nesting areas elsewhere in South Florida. As exemplified in South Florida, one of the most striking aspects of nesting habits of the American crocodile is a crocodile s ability to find and use artificial substrates for nesting. In fact, virtually the entire increase in crocodiles nesting in Florida is due to nesting on artificial substrates in the Cape Sable/Flamingo area of ENP on canal banks that were created more than 40 years ago (Beard 1938, Lodge 1994), and on the peat canal banks created at CLNWR, and at TP (Mazzotti 1983, Ogden 1978). Mazzotti et al. (2007a) hypothesized that plugging canals in the Cape Sable/Flamingo area in the 1980s and 1990s to reduce saltwater intrusion and retain fresh water provided more suitable habitat for nesting for the few crocodiles present in the area and for growth and survival of hatchling crocodiles. Crocodiles responded positively and the rapid increase in nesting effort and success (Figure III-6) observed in the Cape Sable/Flamingo area of ENP since 2000 may be the result of offspring of the original nesting crocodiles on artificial substrates at East Cape Canal entering the breeding population (Mazzotti et al. 2007b). This suggests that restoring salinity patterns in estuaries can have a positive effect on this indicator and that monitoring is effective at determining population responses. It also indicates that nesting effort and success should be added to growth and survival as monitoring parameters. Although the number of island nests has increased, crocodiles have not returned to nest on many of the islands where they were known to nest in the 1950s (Moore 1953, Ogden 1978). Instead, crocodiles are now nesting on islands close to the mainland in northeastern Florida Bay (Mazzotti et al. 2007b). Mazzotti et al. (2007b) hypothesized that the overall increase in nests on islands and the mainland shoreline is related to an increase in relative density of crocodiles in the area. Further, nesting islands in the southern portion of northeastern Florida Bay were probably used by crocodiles from Key Largo and were abandoned when crocodile habitat on Key Largo was developed. Islands in central Florida Bay, like islands in northern Florida Bay, are in an area where we suspect that relative densities of crocodiles have increased (Mazzotti 1999); however, it wasn t until 2007 that an increase in nesting on these islands began to occur (current study). In ENP, nest failure is the result of embryonic mortality caused by flooding or desiccation, and depredation by raccoons (Mazzotti 1989, 1999). For example, Mazzotti et al. (2007b) reported that nesting in ENP is timed to avoid the wettest and driest times of the year, and embryonic mortality is limited to years with extreme rainfall events. Further, sand nests were more susceptible to desiccation and creek nests were most susceptible to flooding; with fewer creek nests embryonic mortality has been reduced. 89
Depredation of crocodile nests by raccoons has only occurred in ENP, despite the presence of raccoons at both of the other nesting areas (TP and CLNWR) (Mazzotti et al. 2007a, Moler 1992). One difference among the nesting areas is that, until recently, all nesting at TP and CLNWR was on man-made substrates, whereas most nesting in ENP was on natural substrates. When nesting in ENP began on man-made substrates, it appeared as if those nests were particularly vulnerable to depredation (Mazzotti 1999). However, that trend has not continued (current study). Crocodile nesting patterns, as exhibited in Figure III-6, emphasize the importance of long-term data sets in evaluating population trends, as well as a species response to ecosystem restoration. For example, looking at numbers of crocodile nests in ENP over any given 3-5 year period could yield outlooks for the population that were either overly optimistic or pessimistic. This underscores the importance of long-term monitoring programs for federally listed species. Also, this highlights the value that relatively simple projects can have for endangered species recovery and ecosystem restoration. 90
Table III-1. Observations from American crocodile spotlight surveys performed during 2008, size estimates provided when an animal was not captured and a size estimate was possible. Date Clip # Recapture Observation TL (cm) SVL (cm) HL (cm) TG (cm) Mass (g) Sex Location 1/22/2008 3398 No Crocodile 74.5 36.5 11.5 14.0 920.0 M Taylor River 1/22/2008 3399 No Crocodile 160.7 84.0 24.0 36.0 12400.0 F Little Madeira Bay 1/24/2008 FPL Yes Crocodile 324.9 179.2 51.2 77.3 M Card Sound 1/24/2008 Eyeshine Turkey Point Canal 2/4/2008 3390 Yes Crocodile 37.2 18.9 5.8 6.2 122.0 M Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 3392 Yes Crocodile 38.7 19.6 5.8 6.8 135.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 3400 No Crocodile 39.4 19.7 6.0 6.3 125.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 FWC Yes Crocodile 39.8 20.5 6.2 7.3 169.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 3597 Yes Crocodile 209.5 113.3 32.0 51.8 38000.0 F C111 Canal 2/4/2008 2388 Yes Crocodile 210.0 112.6 30.8 47.6 30000.0 F Barnes Sound 2/4/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/4/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Steamboat Creek 2/4/2008 Eyeshine Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2/5/2008 3402 No Crocodile 68.5 35.2 10.3 12.2 820.0 M Joe Bay 2/5/2008 3401 No Crocodile 107.4 56.5 16.4 22.6 3650.0 M Joe Bay 2/5/2008 3403 No Crocodile 154.1 81.5 24.4 32.2 10100.0 M Joe Bay 2/5/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Joe Bay 2/5/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Joe Bay 2/5/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Joe Bay 2/5/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 2/5/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 2/5/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 2/5/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 2/6/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Blackwater Sound 2/6/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Tarpon Basin 91
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 2/6/2008 Eyeshine Lake Surprise 2/13/2008 231 Yes Crocodile 384.9 205.5 55.8 96.2 238000.0 M Flamingo Boat Basin 2/18/2008 481 Yes Crocodile 264.2 142.3 39.5 64.5 66000.0 F East Creek 2/18/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Little Madeira Bay 2/18/2008 2076 Yes Crocodile 295.0 161.5 44.2 61.1 80000.0 F Taylor River 2/18/2008 Eyeshine Davis Cove 2/18/2008 Eyeshine Black Betsy Key 2/18/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 2/18/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 2/20/2008 Crocodile 325.0 Middle Lake 2/20/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Seven Palm Lake 2/20/2008 3381 Yes Crocodile 308.0 164.0 44.5 74.9 100000.0 M Middle Lake 2/20/2008 Eyeshine Middle Lake 2/20/2008 Eyeshine Seven Palm Lake 2/20/2008 Eyeshine Seven Palm Lake 2/20/2008 Eyeshine Seven Palm Lake 2/25/2008 3530 Yes Crocodile 47.3 24.1 7.2 9.8 305.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Little Sable Creek 2/25/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Lake Ingraham 2/25/2008 Crocodile 225.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 225.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 3404 No Crocodile 294.6 156.4 39.7 70.5 84000.0 M East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Crocodile 375.0 East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine Lake Ingraham 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 92
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 2/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 3/2/2008 3405 No Crocodile 106.5 61.2 17.1 29.2 5600.0 M East Cape Creek 3/4/2008 3406 No Crocodile 118.2 62.7 18.0 28.0 5100.0 M Homestead Canal 3/5/2008 3407 No Crocodile 148.5 82.0 22.9 35.0 12000.0 F Lake Ingraham 3/5/2008 3408 No Crocodile 196.6 103.4 29.1 56.5 34000.0 F Homestead Canal 3/6/2008 2443 Yes Crocodile 84.3 43.0 12.4 18.0 1600.0 M Buttonwood Canal 3/6/2008 3410 No Crocodile 249.5 135.8 36.4 64.8 62000.0 F East Cape 3/6/2008 3409 No Crocodile 383.9 207.0 57.2 86.3 M East Cape 3/11/2008 3411 No Crocodile 117.1 60.5 16.9 25.8 4950.0 M West Lake 3/11/2008 811 Yes Crocodile 198.3 108.0 29.8 46.8 26500.0 F West Lake Pond 3/11/2008 Crocodile 200.0 West Lake Pond 3/11/2008 Crocodile 200.0 West Lake 3/11/2008 Alligator 250.0 West Lake 3/11/2008 Crocodile 250.0 West Lake 3/11/2008 Crocodile 350.0 West Lake 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake Pond 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake Pond 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 3/11/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 3/13/2008 FWC Yes Crocodile 36.4 18.2 5.9 5.5 100.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 3/13/2008 3392 Yes Crocodile 38.1 19.1 5.9 6.2 124.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 3/13/2008 3390 Yes Crocodile 38.2 19.2 5.8 6.7 151.0 M Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 3/13/2008 3400 Yes Crocodile 39.4 19.3 6.1 5.5 120.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 3/13/2008 FWC Yes Crocodile 40.3 20.2 6.4 6.9 176.0 M Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 93
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 3/13/2008 3412 No Crocodile 87.1 45.0 13.8 18.3 1800.0 M Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 3/20/2008 3031 Yes Crocodile 48.8 25.3 7.8 8.6 295.0 M Snapper Creek Canal 3/20/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 3/20/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 3/20/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 3/20/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 3/20/2008 3019 Yes Crocodile 52.4 26.8 8.3 11.6 480.0 M Snapper Creek Canal 3/20/2008 3032 Yes Crocodile 55.7 28.5 8.8 11.1 490.0 M Snapper Creek Canal 3/24/2008 3416 No Crocodile 45.9 23.7 7.3 9.3 310.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 3413 No Crocodile 48.7 25.5 7.6 9.0 320.0 Mud Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Mud Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 3417 No Crocodile 51.9 26.8 8.0 10.5 395.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 3383 Yes Crocodile 55.0 28.4 8.4 11.3 505.0 M Mud Lake 3/24/2008 3414 No Crocodile 61.2 32.1 9.4 12.6 685.0 M Mud Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 3415 No Crocodile 94.2 48.4 13.8 12.5 2650.0 M Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Bear Lake 3/24/2008 2598 Yes Crocodile 100.1 51.8 14.2 23.6 3150.0 M Mud Lake 3/24/2008 3015 Yes Crocodile 109.9 56.9 15.5 23.7 3800.0 M Mud Lake 3/24/2008 2086 Yes Crocodile 144.4 73.0 21.2 33.5 9500.0 F Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Coot Bay 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Coot Bay 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 94
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 3/24/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 3/27/2008 Alligator 200.0 Long Lake 3/27/2008 Alligator 225.0 Long Lake 3/27/2008 Alligator 275.0 Long Lake 3/27/2008 Alligator 325.0 Long Lake 3/27/2008 Alligator 350.0 Long Lake 3/27/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 3/27/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 3/27/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 3/27/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 3/27/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 4/5/2008 3390 Yes Crocodile 39.0 19.7 5.8 7.1 150.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 4/22/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Joe Bay 4/22/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Joe Bay 4/22/2008 2936 No Crocodile 308.0 166.2 42.8 94.1 M South Miami 4/22/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 4/22/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 4/22/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 4/22/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 4/28/2008 Alligator 200.0 Taylor River 4/28/2008 Eyeshine Davis Creek 4/28/2008 Eyeshine Mud Creek 4/28/2008 Eyeshine Mud Creek 4/28/2008 Eyeshine Mud Creek 4/28/2008 Eyeshine Little Madeira Bay 95
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 4/28/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 4/28/2008 Eyeshine Taylor River 4/30/2008 Eyeshine Terrapin Bay 4/30/2008 Eyeshine Monroe Lake 5/6/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 5/6/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 5/6/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 5/6/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 5/6/2008 3019 Yes Crocodile 55.1 28.3 8.2 11.5 1210.0 M Snapper Creek Canal 5/6/2008 3377 Yes Crocodile 57.9 29.4 8.8 11.2 495.0 M Snapper Creek Canal 5/6/2008 FPL Yes Crocodile 211.8 108.3 31.7 47.4 30000.0 M Biscayne Bay 5/6/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Matheson Hammock 5/6/2008 Eyeshine Black Point Canal 5/8/2008 3364 Yes Crocodile 42.1 21.9 6.8 7.3 205.0 Bear Lake 5/8/2008 3370 Yes Crocodile 46.8 24.1 7.4 9.4 295.0 M Bear Lake 5/8/2008 3372 Yes Crocodile 47.7 25.2 7.7 9.5 315.0 M Bear Lake 5/8/2008 3368 Yes Crocodile 47.8 24.9 7.2 8.9 280.0 Bear Lake 5/8/2008 2937 No Crocodile 48.9 24.9 7.7 8.9 290.0 M Bear Lake 5/8/2008 3366 Yes Crocodile 49.7 25.8 7.6 9.3 300.0 M Bear Lake 5/8/2008 3383 Yes Crocodile 58.1 30.2 9.0 11.8 525.0 M Bear Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 3418 No Crocodile 104.5 53.3 14.8 23.8 3150.0 M Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Bear Lake 5/8/2008 Alligator 225.0 Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Bear Lake 96
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 5/8/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Bear Lake 5/8/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Bear Lake 5/8/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 5/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 5/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 5/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 5/24/2008 Crocodile 150.0 Little Blackwater Sound 5/24/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Blackwater Sound 5/24/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Blackwater Sound 5/24/2008 Eyeshine Blackwater Sound 5/24/2008 Eyeshine Blackwater Sound 5/24/2008 Eyeshine Little Blackwater Sound 5/29/2008 3419 No Crocodile 52.8 26.5 8.0 9.6 350.0 M Turkey Point Canal 5/29/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Card Sound 5/29/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Ocean Reef Resort 5/29/2008 Eyeshine Turkey Point Canal 5/29/2008 Eyeshine Turkey Point Canal 6/19/2008 Alligator 150.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Long Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 200.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 200.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 200.0 Long Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 200.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 225.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 225.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 275.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 275.0 West Lake 6/19/2008 Alligator 300.0 Long Lake 6/19/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 6/19/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 6/19/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 6/19/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 97
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 6/19/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 6/19/2008 Eyeshine West Lake Pond 6/19/2008 Eyeshine West Lake Pond 6/23/2008 2189 Yes Crocodile 88.9 46.3 13.1 19.2 2090.0 M Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 6/23/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Card Sound 6/23/2008 FPL Yes Crocodile 183.5 95.8 26.7 41.5 17400.0 F Card Sound 6/23/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 6/23/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Card Sound 6/23/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Steamboat Creek 6/23/2008 Eyeshine C111 Canal 6/23/2008 Eyeshine Steamboat Creek 6/25/2008 Crocodile 150.0 East Cape Canal 6/25/2008 Crocodile 175.0 East Cape 6/25/2008 Crocodile 200.0 East Cape 6/25/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 East Cape Canal 6/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Lake Ingraham 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 East Cape Canal 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Crocodile 300.0 Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Crocodile Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Canal 98
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Lake Ingraham 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Lake Ingraham 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Lake Ingraham 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Cape Sable 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Creek 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Creek 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Creek 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape Creek 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 6/25/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Clubhouse Beach 6/25/2008 Eyeshine Clubhouse Beach 7/2/2008 3422 No Crocodile 26.7 13.2 51.0 Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 3421 No Crocodile 27.1 13.6 55.0 Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 FPL Yes Crocodile 51.7 26.6 8.0 8.5 300.0 Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 3419 Yes Crocodile 53.7 27.2 8.2 9.7 365.0 Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Card Sound Canal 7/2/2008 3420 No Crocodile 177.8 96.5 27.4 38.0 19400.0 M Card Sound Canal 7/2/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Card Sound Canal 7/2/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Card Sound 7/2/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Card Sound Canal 99
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 7/2/2008 Crocodile Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 Crocodile Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 Crocodile Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 Eyeshine Card Sound 7/2/2008 Eyeshine Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 Eyeshine Card Sound 7/2/2008 Eyeshine Card Sound Canal 7/2/2008 Eyeshine Card Sound 8/5/2008 Eyeshine Long Sound 8/5/2008 Eyeshine Long Sound 8/11/2008 Alligator 75.0 Seven Palm Lake 8/11/2008 Alligator 200.0 Middle Lake 8/11/2008 Eyeshine Seven Palm Lake 8/11/2008 Eyeshine Terrapin Bay 8/13/2008 Alligator 100.0 Joe Bay 8/13/2008 Alligator 175.0 Joe Bay 8/13/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Joe Bay 8/13/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Joe Bay 8/13/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Joe Bay 8/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 8/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 8/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 8/25/2008 1181 Yes Crocodile 177.3 93.7 21.2 38.8 1750.0 M Little Madeira Bay 8/25/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Alligator Bay 8/25/2008 Eyeshine Mud Creek 8/25/2008 Eyeshine Little Madeira Bay 8/27/2008 Crocodile 125.0 West Lake 8/27/2008 Alligator 150.0 West Lake 8/27/2008 Alligator 175.0 West Lake 8/27/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 8/27/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 8/27/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 8/27/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 8/27/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 100
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 8/27/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 8/27/2008 Eyeshine West Lake Pond 9/15/2008 Alligator 175.0 Long Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 175.0 Long Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 175.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 175.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 175.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Long Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 200.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 200.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 200.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Long Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 250.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator 275.0 Long Lake 9/15/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Crocodile 300.0 Long Lake 9/15/2008 Crocodile 325.0 Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Alligator Long Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 9/15/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 9/16/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 9/16/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Snapper Creek Canal 9/16/2008 3379 Yes Crocodile 89.6 44.4 13.0 17.0 1650.0 M Deering Bay 101
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 9/16/2008 Crocodile 150.0 Black Point Canal 9/16/2008 1398 Yes Crocodile 192.1 100.9 27.6 43.2 22000.0 M Snapper Creek Canal 9/17/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Mud Lake 9/17/2008 4626 No Crocodile 51.6 28.1 8.5 9.3 310.0 Bear Lake 9/17/2008 Yes Crocodile 153.5 152.6 42.5 71.9 F Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Alligator 175.0 Coot Bay 9/17/2008 Alligator 200.0 Coot Bay 9/17/2008 Alligator 200.0 Mud Lake 9/17/2008 4628 No Crocodile 260.2 134.7 39.9 62.8 F Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Coot Bay 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Coot Bay 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 9/17/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 9/28/2008 Yes Crocodile 288.7 151.6 40.8 72.2 88000.0 F East Cape Canal 9/28/2008 Crocodile 300.0 East Cape 9/28/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 9/28/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 9/28/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 9/28/2008 Eyeshine Lake Ingraham 9/29/2008 4630 No Crocodile 33.6 17.0 85.5 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 9/29/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 9/29/2008 Crocodile 200.0 Jewfish Creek 9/29/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 9/29/2008 Eyeshine Manatee Bay 9/29/2008 Eyeshine Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 102
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 9/30/2008 3768 No Crocodile 250.0 134.5 35.4 58.0 57000.0 F C111 Canal 10/1/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Black Point Canal 10/1/2008 Eyeshine Biscayne Bay 10/6/2008 Yes Crocodile 42.2 22.0 181.0 Buttonwood Canal 10/6/2008 4631 No Crocodile 42.3 21.5 219.0 Buttonwood Canal 11/4/2008 4637 No Crocodile 46.7 24.6 7.4 9.4 320.0 Buttonwood Canal 11/11/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Taylor River 11/11/2008 Crocodile 250.0 East Creek 11/11/2008 Crocodile 275.0 East Creek 11/11/2008 Crocodile 275.0 East Creek 11/11/2008 Crocodile 300.0 East Creek 11/11/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 11/11/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 11/11/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 11/11/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 11/11/2008 Eyeshine East Creek 11/12/2008 2079 Yes Crocodile 135.5 72.7 20.8 29.8 7800.0 F Monroe Lake 11/12/2008 Alligator 150.0 Seven Palm Lake 11/12/2008 Alligator 225.0 Middle Lake 11/12/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Seven Palm Lake 11/12/2008 Crocodile 225.0 Seven Palm Lake 11/12/2008 Eyeshine Seven Palm Lake 11/12/2008 Eyeshine Madeira Bay 11/12/2008 Eyeshine Seven Palm Lake 11/12/2008 Eyeshine Seven Palm Lake 11/13/2008 Alligator 125.0 Joe Bay 11/13/2008 4638 No Crocodile 304.9 163.3 41.5 76.0 112000.0 M Deering Bay 11/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 11/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 11/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 11/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 11/13/2008 Eyeshine Joe Bay 11/18/2008 4639 No Crocodile 54.1 28.3 8.3 12.3 600.0 M Mangrove Creek 11/18/2008 2545 Yes Crocodile 99.1 51.0 14.3 21.1 2600.0 M The Lungs 103
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 11/18/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Yes Crocodile 126.3 65.0 20.5 34.0 8600.0 F The Lungs 11/18/2008 Alligator 175.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 200.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 200.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 200.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 200.0 Mangrove Creek 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Long Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Mangrove Creek 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Long Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 225.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 250.0 Long Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 250.0 Mangrove Creek 11/18/2008 Alligator 250.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Crocodile 250.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Alligator 275.0 Long Lake 11/18/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Crocodile 300.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Crocodile 325.0 Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Mangrove Creek 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Long Lake 11/18/2008 Eyeshine The Lungs 11/18/2008 Eyeshine The Lungs 11/18/2008 Eyeshine Cuthbert Lake 11/25/2008 4640 No Crocodile 255.6 134.2 35.4 67.2 65000.0 F Flamingo Boat Basin 104
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 12/4/2008 4641 No Crocodile 33.1 17.7 6.0 6.2 120.0 Joe Bay 12/4/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Lake Key 12/8/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Bear Lake 12/8/2008 3368 Yes Crocodile 71.1 36.9 10.6 15.4 1250.0 F Mud Lake 12/8/2008 3360 Yes Crocodile 72.6 39.0 11.6 16.3 1500.0 Mud Lake 12/8/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Mud Lake 12/8/2008 4633 No Crocodile 98.7 50.9 14.3 21.4 2900.0 F Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Bear Lake 12/8/2008 3259 Yes Crocodile 104.5 54.4 15.0 26.0 4000.0 F Mud Lake 12/8/2008 4632 No Crocodile 115.5 59.8 17.1 26.9 5000.0 F Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Mud Lake 12/8/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Alligator 200.0 Mud Lake 12/8/2008 4628 Yes Crocodile 261.2 138.6 40.2 59.0 F Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Mud Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 12/8/2008 Eyeshine Bear Lake 12/15/2008 4325 Yes Crocodile 48.5 24.8 7.7 10.0 360.0 East Cape Canal 12/15/2008 Crocodile 175.0 East Cape 12/15/2008 3008 Yes Crocodile 209.5 112.6 30.2 53.8 36000.0 F East Cape 12/15/2008 Crocodile 225.0 East Cape 12/15/2008 Crocodile 275.0 Lake Ingraham 12/15/2008 Crocodile 300.0 East Cape 12/15/2008 4700 No Crocodile 326.5 180.5 47.1 88.7 M East Cape 12/15/2008 225 Yes Crocodile 416.7 220.0 58.5 107.5 M East Cape Canal 12/15/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 105
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 12/15/2008 Eyeshine East Cape 12/16/2008 Crocodile 25.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 25.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 25.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 25.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4559 Yes Crocodile 44.1 22.5 6.6 9.9 261.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4557 Yes Crocodile 45.0 23.1 6.7 10.3 270.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4310 Yes Crocodile 46.0 23.5 7.1 9.8 293.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4314 Yes Crocodile 46.0 23.7 7.1 10.6 300.5 Flamingo Boat Basin 12/16/2008 4258 Yes Crocodile 47.2 24.4 7.3 11.2 375.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4642 No Crocodile 47.2 24.3 7.2 10.4 325.0 Flamingo Boat Basin 12/16/2008 4254 Yes Crocodile 47.8 25.0 7.5 11.3 395.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4558 Yes Crocodile 47.8 24.0 7.1 11.5 355.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 50.0 Flamingo Boat Basin 12/16/2008 4634 No Crocodile 50.4 25.7 7.5 11.8 425.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4635 No Crocodile 52.7 27.0 7.6 12.5 460.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4556 Yes Crocodile 53.4 27.2 7.9 12.8 510.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 4636 No Crocodile 54.5 28.5 7.9 12.3 500.5 Flamingo Boat Basin 12/16/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Flamingo Boat Basin 12/16/2008 Crocodile 75.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Yes Crocodile 96.1 58.4 16.5 28.0 4500.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 100.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Flamingo Boat Basin 12/16/2008 Crocodile 125.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Crocodile 150.0 Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Eyeshine Buttonwood Canal 12/16/2008 Eyeshine Buttonwood Canal 12/18/2008 4643 No Crocodile 35.6 18.9 6.0 6.7 128.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 12/18/2008 4644 No Crocodile 36.3 18.4 6.1 6.2 134.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 12/18/2008 FWC Yes Crocodile 82.7 42.5 12.5 15.8 1400.0 M Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 12/18/2008 Crocodile 175.0 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 12/18/2008 Eyeshine C111 Canal 106
Table III-1. continued. Date Clip# Recapture Observation TL(cm) SVL(cm) HL(cm) TG(cm) Mass(g) Sex Location 12/18/2008 Eyeshine Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 12/18/2008 Eyeshine Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 12/30/2008 Crocodile 50.0 West Lake Pond 12/30/2008 Alligator 175.0 West Lake 12/30/2008 Crocodile 175.0 West Lake 12/30/2008 Crocodile 175.0 West Lake 12/30/2008 Crocodile 250.0 West Lake 12/30/2008 Crocodile 300.0 West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake Pond 12/30/2008 Eyeshine West Lake Pond 107
Table III-2. Summary of 2008 nesting season of the American crocodile in Everglades National Park, Biscayne Bay, and the Florida Keys. Location Final Status Location Final Status Middle Cape Sable Depredated East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful East Cape Canal Successful Middle Cape Sable Successful Homestead Canal Depredated Middle Cape Sable Successful Homestead Canal Depredated East Cape Creek Depredated Homestead Canal Depredated East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Creek Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Depredated Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Depredated Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Depredated Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Depredated Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Depredated Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Depredated Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Successful Homestead Canal Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Depredated East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Depredated East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Depredated East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful East Cape Canal Successful Clubhouse beach Successful 108
Table III-2. continued. Location Clubhouse beach Clubhouse beach Clubhouse beach Bear Lake canoe trail Buttonwood Canal Buttonwood Canal Buttonwood Canal Buttonwood Canal Buttonwood canal Buttonwood canal Shark Point Club Key Club Key Mud Bay Little Madeira Beach Little Madeira beach Little Madeira beach Little Madeira Mound Little Madeira Mound Little Madeira Mound Little Madeira Mound Little Madeira Mound Little Madeira Point Black Betsy Key Eagle Key Eagle Key Lake Key South Lake Key Cocoa Beach Cocoa Beach Cocoa Beach Cocoa Beach Cocoa Beach Dead Stork Deer Key Deer Key Deer Key Deer Key Deer Key Pass Deer Key Sugarloaf Key Sugarloaf Key Ocean Reef Fate Successful Successful Successful Depredated Failed Depredated Depredated Depredated Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Depredated Depredated Depredated Depredated Depredated Depredated Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Successful Failed Failed Successful 109
Table III-3. Summary of hatchling crocodiles captured during the 2008 nesting season within Everglades National Park, the Biscayne Bay Complex and the Florida Keys. Date Clip TL(cm) SVL(cm) Mass(g) Location 7/2/2008 3422 26.7 13.2 51 Turkey Point Canal 7/2/2008 3421 27.1 13.6 55 Turkey Point Canal 7/3/2008 2938 27 13.4 59 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2939 27.5 13.5 57 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2940 27.1 13.2 51 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2941 27 13.2 55 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2942 25.9 12.8 57 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2943 27 13.2 61 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2944 27.7 13.8 57 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2945 27.2 13.4 55 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2946 27.1 13.1 58 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2947 25.6 12.8 56 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2948 26.9 13.4 52 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2949 26.6 13.3 57 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2950 27.3 13.5 58 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2951 27.9 13.4 59 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2952 26.8 13.4 57 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2953 27.2 13.6 58 Little Madeira Bay Point 7/3/2008 2954 27.1 13.4 56 Deer Key 7/3/2008 2955 27.2 13.4 53 Deer Key 7/3/2008 2956 26.6 13 56 Deer Key 7/3/2008 2957 26.8 13 51 Deer Key 7/3/2008 2958 27.9 13.5 56 Deer Key 7/3/2008 2959 26.4 13.1 54 Deer Key 7/3/2008 2960 27.1 13.7 55 Deer Key 7/3/2008 2961 27.1 13.2 52 Deer Key 7/4/2008 4032 22.6 11.3 38 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4043 23.6 11.8 39 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4035 24.1 12.2 42 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4038 24.5 12.2 49 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4030 24.7 12.4 43 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3472 24.9 12.7 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4018 25 12.4 41 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4033 25 12.4 43 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4029 25.1 12.8 40 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3471 25.3 12.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3456 25.4 13.6 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4009 25.5 12.8 60 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4040 25.5 12.6 45 East Cape Canal 110
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/4/2008 3452 25.6 12.7 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3480 25.6 12.7 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3495 25.6 12.5 51 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3496 25.6 12.9 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3439 25.7 12.9 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3474 25.7 12.8 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3423 25.8 12.8 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3437 25.8 12.9 50 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3445 25.8 12.9 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3468 25.8 12.9 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3482 25.8 12.5 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3493 25.8 12.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3440 25.9 13.2 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3484 25.9 12.9 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4021 25.9 12.9 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4022 25.9 13.3 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3435 26 13 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3453 26 13 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3455 26 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3477 26 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3483 26 13 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3485 26 13.1 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3489 26 12.6 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4001 26 13.1 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4037 26 13 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3449 26.1 13 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4020 26.1 13 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3429 26.2 12.8 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3454 26.2 13.5 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3473 26.2 13.1 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3497 26.2 13.3 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4005 26.2 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4008 26.2 13.3 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4013 26.2 13.1 49 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3441 26.3 13.6 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3450 26.3 13.3 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3487 26.3 13.2 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4036 26.3 13.1 51 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3424 26.4 13.3 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3436 26.4 13.3 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3498 26.4 12.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4000 26.4 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 111
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/4/2008 4039 26.4 12.9 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3469 26.5 13.6 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3476 26.5 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3478 26.5 13.6 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4011 26.5 13.4 62 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3426 26.6 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3431 26.6 13.4 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3433 26.6 13.3 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3434 26.6 13.6 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3448 26.6 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3457 26.6 13.4 62 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3462 26.6 13.4 61 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3463 26.6 12.9 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4012 26.6 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4031 26.6 13.4 49 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4034 26.6 13.3 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3432 26.7 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3443 26.7 13.4 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4003 26.7 13.3 60 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4016 26.7 13.4 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4019 26.7 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4028 26.7 13.6 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3427 26.8 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3428 26.8 13.2 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3465 26.8 13.5 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3481 26.8 13.1 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4014 26.8 13.6 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3425 26.9 13.6 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3460 26.9 13.2 62 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3486 26.9 13.8 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4006 26.9 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4017 26.9 13.4 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4025 26.9 13.5 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3438 27 13.6 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3444 27 13.2 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3446 27 13.5 51 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3451 27 13.4 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3461 27 13.7 60 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3464 27 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3466 27 13.6 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3470 27 13.6 57 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3475 27 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 112
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/4/2008 4002 27 13.5 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4010 27 13.6 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4015 27 13.6 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4024 27 13.5 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3447 27.1 13.2 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3488 27.1 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3492 27.1 13.5 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4026 27.1 13.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3430 27.2 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3459 27.2 13.5 64 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3494 27.2 13.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3499 27.2 13.4 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4027 27.2 13.3 54 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4007 27.3 13.7 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3491 27.4 13.5 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3442 27.5 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3479 27.5 13.4 52 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3467 27.7 13.4 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3490 27.7 13.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4041 27.7 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4044 27.7 14 58 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4023 27.8 13.7 60 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4042 27.8 14.1 59 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 3458 28 13.7 61 East Cape Canal 7/4/2008 4004 29.8 13.8 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4158 21.8 13.4 49 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4048 24.4 12.4 48 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4057 24.5 12.5 43 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4046 24.6 12.6 51 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4070 24.8 12.6 51 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4055 24.9 12.6 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4063 25 12.6 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4077 25 12.7 51 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4141 25 12.6 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4073 25.1 12.5 50 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4062 25.2 12.8 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4081 25.3 12.6 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4100 25.3 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4078 25.4 12.7 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4089 25.4 12.7 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4117 25.4 12.8 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4058 25.5 12.8 49 East Cape Canal 113
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/7/2008 4080 25.5 13 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4087 25.5 12.8 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4065 25.6 13.1 51 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4066 25.6 12.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4047 25.7 12.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4060 25.7 12.8 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4069 25.7 12.9 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4085 25.7 12.9 52 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4097 25.7 12.6 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4071 25.8 12.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4082 25.8 12.9 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4088 25.8 12.9 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4122 25.8 12.8 51 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4083 25.9 13 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4107 25.9 12.9 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4054 26 12.9 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4072 26 12.9 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4076 26 13.2 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4090 26 13 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4092 26 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4094 26 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4095 26 12.8 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4123 26 12.9 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4142 26 12.5 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4145 26 12.7 61 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4074 26.1 13.3 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4093 26.1 13.2 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4133 26.1 12.9 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4136 26.1 12.9 63 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4068 26.2 12.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4084 26.2 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4105 26.2 13 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4109 26.2 12.7 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4111 26.2 12.9 63 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4138 26.2 13 59 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4102 26.3 13.2 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4125 26.3 13.3 59 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4131 26.3 12.8 59 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4149 26.3 13.3 47 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4061 26.4 13.1 61 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4121 26.4 13.2 50 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4130 26.4 13.4 61 East Cape Canal 114
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/7/2008 4056 26.5 15.3 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4091 26.5 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4104 26.5 13.2 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4114 26.5 13.1 63 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4120 26.5 13.3 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4127 26.5 13.1 52 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4129 26.5 13.2 61 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4134 26.5 13.1 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4144 26.5 13.1 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4147 26.5 13.2 61 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4067 26.6 13.2 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4086 26.6 13.4 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4152 26.6 13.5 67 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4154 26.6 13.4 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4045 26.7 13.4 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4075 26.7 13.1 52 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4079 26.7 13 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4106 26.7 13.3 63 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4118 26.7 13.1 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4128 26.7 13 63 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4101 26.8 13.4 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4116 26.8 13.5 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4124 26.8 13.1 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4139 26.8 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4146 26.8 13.2 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4153 26.8 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4050 26.9 13.4 53 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4052 26.9 13.4 47 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4143 26.9 13.5 64 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4053 27 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4096 27 13.2 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4113 27 13.3 61 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4126 27 13.5 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4151 27 13.1 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4156 27 13.2 61 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4059 27.1 13.5 59 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4099 27.1 13.7 59 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4103 27.1 13.6 56 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4115 27.1 13.6 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4157 27.1 13.6 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4049 27.2 13.8 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4108 27.3 13.6 62 East Cape Canal 115
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/7/2008 4135 27.3 13.5 62 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4140 27.3 13.7 66 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4064 27.4 13.6 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4098 27.4 13.8 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4137 27.4 13.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4119 27.5 13.9 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4155 27.5 13.8 57 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4051 27.6 13.8 59 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4112 27.6 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4132 27.8 13.6 58 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4110 27.9 14 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4150 27.9 14 60 East Cape Canal 7/7/2008 4148 28 13.9 59 East Cape Canal 7/8/2008 2962 26.5 13.7 63 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2963 26.6 13.7 64 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2964 27.1 13.2 73 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2965 26.9 13.4 67 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2966 26.9 13.2 62 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2967 26.3 13.2 66 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2968 27 13.6 67 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2969 26.7 13.5 60 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2970 26.5 13.2 66 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2971 27.1 13.4 66 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2972 27.2 13.5 65 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2973 25.9 12.9 51 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2974 27.3 13.4 66 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2975 26.7 13.4 64 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2976 26.1 12.7 64 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2977 26.7 13.1 64 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2978 26.5 13.3 61 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2979 26.1 13.2 68 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2980 27 13.5 65 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2981 26.7 13.2 60 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2982 26.4 13.2 57 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2983 27.6 13.7 68 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2984 26.5 13.2 67 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2985 26.6 13.4 67 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2986 26.7 13.2 72 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2987 26.7 13.4 66 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2988 26.5 13.2 66 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2989 25.5 12.9 60 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2990 25.1 12.4 56 Deer Key 116
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/8/2008 2991 26.5 13.3 62 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2992 27.7 14.1 59 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2993 25.9 13.1 64 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2994 26.1 12.9 58 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2995 26.6 13.6 65 Deer Key 7/8/2008 2996 28.1 13.8 55 Eagle Key 7/8/2008 2997 27.5 14.1 60 Eagle Key 7/8/2008 2998 27.9 13.8 58 Eagle Key 7/8/2008 2999 27.6 13.8 58 Eagle Key 7/8/2008 3600 27.7 14.2 59 Eagle Key 7/8/2008 3601 27.7 14 57 Eagle Key 7/9/2008 4273 19.7 13.5 52 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4275 22 13 47 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4276 24.4 12.3 41 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4177 24.5 11.3 52 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4192 24.7 12.4 50.2 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4167 25.1 12.6 50.1 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4302 25.2 13 62 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4305 25.4 13 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4274 25.5 13.1 45 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4300 25.5 12.9 65 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4169 25.6 12.1 49 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4186 25.6 12.9 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4189 25.6 12.6 47 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4162 25.7 12.9 54 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4198 25.8 12.8 44 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4285 25.8 13 58 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4164 25.9 12.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4194 25.9 13.3 51 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4168 26 13 52 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4180 26 12.7 52 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4161 26.1 12.7 58 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4166 26.1 12.9 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4260 26.1 13.1 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4282 26.1 13 50 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4289 26.1 13.3 62 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4290 26.1 13.1 49 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4299 26.1 13.2 64 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4174 26.2 13.2 58 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4263 26.2 13.4 50 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4268 26.2 12.9 53 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4269 26.2 12.9 54 East Cape Canal 117
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/9/2008 4297 26.2 13.1 59 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4306 26.2 13 59 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4172 26.3 12.7 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4188 26.3 12.9 50 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4264 26.3 13.3 53 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4303 26.3 13.1 63 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4173 26.4 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4181 26.4 15.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4190 26.4 13.2 55 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4265 26.4 13.1 51 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4271 26.4 13.5 55 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4291 26.4 13.4 60 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4295 26.4 13.1 62 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4183 26.5 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4200 26.5 13.3 51 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4266 26.5 13.8 53 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4287 26.5 13.2 59 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4293 26.5 13 61 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4160 26.6 13.2 51 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4170 26.6 12.6 54 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4171 26.6 12.9 56 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4178 26.6 12.9 59 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4185 26.6 13.4 50 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4197 26.6 13.3 59 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4270 26.6 13.1 56 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4278 26.6 13.7 51 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4307 26.6 13.3 60 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4165 26.7 13 56 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4184 26.7 13.4 58 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4201 26.7 13.6 53 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4262 26.7 13.3 54 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4272 26.7 13.9 53 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4294 26.8 13.4 65 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4304 26.8 13.1 64 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4159 26.9 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4176 26.9 12.9 54 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4187 26.9 13.2 58 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4191 26.9 13.4 58 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4279 26.9 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4284 26.9 13.6 67 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4202 27 13.1 49 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4261 27 13.6 54 East Cape Canal 118
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/9/2008 4267 27 13.5 54 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4281 27 13.5 65 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4301 27 13.5 64 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4309 27 13.6 67 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4298 27.1 13.1 51 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4163 27.2 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4175 27.3 13.5 55 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4179 27.3 13.1 61 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4277 27.4 13.4 53 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4288 27.4 13.5 67 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4296 27.4 13.5 67 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4280 27.5 13.1 54 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4286 27.5 13.7 62 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4292 27.5 14 68 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4308 27.5 13.5 56 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4283 27.7 13.6 51 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4193 27.9 14.1 57 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4199 27.9 13.9 51 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4196 28 13.9 50 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 4182 28.1 14.1 59 East Cape Canal 7/9/2008 4195 28.2 14.1 56 Clubhouse Beach 7/9/2008 3602 26.9 13.6 54 Deer Key 7/11/2008 4259 25.2 12.2 44 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4315 25.6 12.6 49 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4251 25.7 13.1 64 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4207 25.8 13.7 57 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4231 25.9 12.9 60 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4242 26 12.9 67 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4254 26 13.4 49 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4249 26.1 13.3 62 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4256 26.2 12.8 49 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4314 26.2 13.2 50 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4208 26.3 13.3 51 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4316 26.3 13.2 48 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4217 26.4 13.2 52 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4244 26.4 13.2 64 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4255 26.4 13.1 51 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4230 26.5 13.2 68 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4240 26.5 13.1 64 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4243 26.5 12.7 63 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4257 26.5 13.3 48 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4258 26.5 13.4 55 Buttonwood Canal 119
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/11/2008 4311 26.5 13.1 50 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4312 26.5 13.4 48 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4317 26.5 13.3 48 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4227 26.6 13.4 50 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4235 26.6 13 66 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4209 26.7 13.6 54 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4229 26.7 13 64 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4246 26.7 12.9 60 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4234 26.8 12.9 66 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4239 26.8 13.1 68 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4247 26.8 13.3 64 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4228 26.9 13.5 63 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4241 26.9 13.4 63 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4214 27 13.4 55 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4218 27 13.4 55 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4236 27 13.2 62 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4253 27 13.7 51 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4313 27 13.4 48 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4318 27 13.1 54 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4222 27.1 13.2 55 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4238 27.1 13.3 63 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4250 27.1 13.5 63 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4204 27.2 13.6 56 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4210 27.2 13.9 55 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4212 27.2 13.7 58 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4220 27.2 13.4 56 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4225 27.2 13.4 56 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4213 27.3 13.6 54 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4248 27.3 13.5 65 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4203 27.4 13.7 57 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4221 27.4 13.9 55 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4206 27.5 14 61 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4223 27.5 13.6 53 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4224 27.5 13.9 57 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4252 27.5 14 67 East Cape Creek 7/11/2008 4205 27.6 13.8 59 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4215 27.6 13.9 54 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4232 27.6 13.4 67 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4226 27.7 13.7 60 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4310 27.7 13.6 50 Buttonwood Canal 7/11/2008 4216 27.8 13.9 58 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4219 27.8 13.4 60 East Cape Canal 120
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/11/2008 4233 27.8 13.5 69 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4211 28.1 14.2 58 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4245 28.2 13.7 63 East Cape Canal 7/11/2008 4237 28.3 13.9 67 East Cape Canal 7/12/2008 3603 26.3 13.3 59 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3604 25.5 12.3 52 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3605 25.9 12.9 56 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3606 26.5 13.7 58 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3607 26.1 13 57 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3608 25.6 12.7 55 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3609 25.6 12.7 57 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3610 26.8 13.1 59 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3611 26.7 13.1 59 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3612 25 12.2 49 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3613 27.5 13.5 62 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3614 25.5 12.5 54 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3615 26.1 12.9 60 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3616 26.1 12.8 53 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3617 26.7 13.2 58 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3618 25.3 12.8 54 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3619 26.4 13.2 61 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3620 25.5 12.8 59 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3621 26.1 13.1 56 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3622 25.1 12.4 57 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3623 25.5 12.6 53 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3624 26.5 13.2 59 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3625 25.8 12.6 58 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3626 26.6 13.1 55 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3627 25.5 12.7 58 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3628 26.1 12.9 55 Little Madeira Beach Mound 7/12/2008 3629 26.5 13.3 58 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3630 25.8 12.8 58 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3631 26.2 13.2 62 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3632 25.6 12.8 54 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3633 25.5 12.7 55 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3634 24.8 12.1 53 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3635 26.8 13.5 60 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3636 25.7 12.5 57 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3637 26.6 13.1 58 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3638 25.6 12.6 54 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3639 25.6 13.2 61 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3640 25.7 12.4 51 Cocoa Beach 121
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/12/2008 3641 26.2 13.1 62 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3642 26.1 13.1 59 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3643 26 12.7 60 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3644 26.5 13.4 62 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3645 25 12.4 58 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3646 24.5 12.6 53 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3647 25.2 12.5 60 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3648 26.4 13.1 59 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3649 26 13.2 62 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3650 26.2 13.3 57 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3651 25.4 12.5 50 Cocoa Beach 7/12/2008 3652 25.5 12.3 59 Cocoa Beach 7/14/2008 4327 21.4 13 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4403 23.7 12.3 51 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4355 24 13.6 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4372 24.5 13.3 66 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4406 24.5 12.2 49 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4379 24.8 13.4 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4365 24.9 13.5 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4381 24.9 13 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4332 25 12.8 53 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4400 25 12 48 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4376 25.1 13.2 63 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4382 25.1 13 60 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4404 25.1 12.6 51 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4349 25.2 12.7 47 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4362 25.2 13.5 60 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4378 25.2 13 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4398 25.2 12.8 52 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4430 25.2 12.4 51 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4337 25.3 12.8 55 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4347 25.3 12.6 49 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4374 25.4 13 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4326 25.5 13 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4345 25.5 12.6 49 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4352 25.5 12.4 45 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4369 25.5 13.2 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4377 25.5 13.5 65 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4384 25.5 13.2 63 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4426 25.5 12.8 47 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4370 25.6 13.3 60 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4380 25.6 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 122
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/14/2008 4392 25.6 13.3 61 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4329 25.7 12.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4366 25.7 13.3 60 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4373 25.7 13.3 67 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4385 25.7 13 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4402 25.7 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4335 25.8 13 53 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4336 25.8 13.3 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4383 25.8 13.1 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4391 25.8 13 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4395 25.8 13.5 64 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4425 25.8 13 48 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4433 25.8 12.6 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4351 25.9 12.5 50 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4364 25.9 12.7 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4390 25.9 13.5 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4333 26 13.2 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4350 26 12.5 49 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4393 26 13.5 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4339 26.1 13.1 55 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4340 26.1 13 49 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4388 26.1 12.8 63 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4412 26.1 13 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4428 26.1 13 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4434 26.1 13 58 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4321 26.2 13 55 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4331 26.2 12.9 53 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4343 26.2 12.8 50 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4346 26.2 12.6 48 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4348 26.2 13 47 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4356 26.2 13 52 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4394 26.2 13.2 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4397 26.3 13.1 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4399 26.3 13 45 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4427 26.3 13.2 61 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4330 26.4 13 53 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4334 26.4 13.3 51 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4342 26.4 13.1 54 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4344 26.4 13 52 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4389 26.4 13.6 61 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4411 26.4 13.1 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4423 26.4 12.9 57 East Cape Canal 123
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/14/2008 4323 26.5 13.5 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4341 26.5 13.1 55 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4368 26.5 13.1 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4396 26.5 13.2 64 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4409 26.5 13.1 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4421 26.5 13.1 60 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4424 26.5 12.6 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4338 26.6 13 56 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4371 26.6 13.4 50 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4401 26.6 13.5 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4408 26.7 13.1 49 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4432 26.7 13.1 60 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4320 26.8 13.3 52 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4361 26.8 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4363 26.8 13.3 61 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4375 26.8 13.5 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4386 26.8 13.1 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4319 26.9 12.9 55.5 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4324 26.9 13.7 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4359 26.9 13.8 68 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4367 26.9 13.6 42 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4410 27 13.5 51 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4422 27 13.3 59 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4353 27.1 14.2 54 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4354 27.1 13.8 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4387 27.1 13.5 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4405 27.1 13.6 54 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4417 27.1 13.5 47 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4419 27.1 13.6 52 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4325 27.4 13.8 58 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4413 27.4 13.7 54 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4416 27.4 13.5 52 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4418 27.4 13.5 58 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4357 27.5 13.5 63 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4360 27.5 13.7 54 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4414 27.5 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4435 27.5 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4415 27.6 13.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4322 27.8 13.7 62 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4328 27.8 14.1 64 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4407 27.8 13.8 53 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4429 27.8 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 124
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/14/2008 4420 27.9 13.7 60 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4358 28.9 14.2 68 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 4431 29 14.5 58 East Cape Canal 7/14/2008 3653 26.1 13.1 72 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3654 25.9 12.8 69 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3655 25 12.4 65 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3656 26.2 13 62 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3657 26.1 12.9 70 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3658 26.7 13.1 75 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3659 26 13.9 59 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3660 26.9 13.2 72 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3661 25.5 13 69 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3662 27.3 13.2 70 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3663 25.8 12.9 68 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3664 24.8 12.5 61 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3665 26 13.1 70 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3666 25.5 12.6 69 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3667 25.1 12.8 68 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3668 25.8 12.8 74 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3669 26.3 13 69 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3670 26.7 13.2 75 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3671 25.9 12.8 66 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3672 27.2 13.4 74 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3673 25.6 12.8 65 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3674 26 13.1 74 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3675 25.5 12.6 53 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3676 26.2 12.9 66 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3677 25.2 12.7 58 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3678 25.3 12.9 58 Deer Key 7/14/2008 3679 26 13 67 Deer Key 7/16/2008 4449 23.1 11.7 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4460 23.3 11.6 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4454 23.8 12.3 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4491 23.9 12.5 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4450 24.1 12.7 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4459 24.1 12.3 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4515 24.2 12.3 54 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4510 24.3 12.9 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4448 24.4 11.7 50 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4444 24.5 12 54 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4457 24.5 12.5 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4492 24.7 13 55 East Cape Canal 125
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/16/2008 4519 24.7 12.5 46 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4446 24.9 12.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4451 25 12 58 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4458 25 12.7 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4518 25 12.6 48 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4437 25.2 12.4 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4456 25.3 12.6 58.5 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4509 25.3 12.4 47 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4480 25.4 12.8 54 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4508 25.4 13.1 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4438 25.5 13 58 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4445 25.5 13 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4453 25.5 12.8 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4455 25.6 13 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4441 25.7 12.7 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4447 25.8 13 61 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4514 25.8 13.1 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4493 25.9 13 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4442 26 12.5 63 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4452 26 13 60 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4503 26 13.3 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4511 26 13.5 62 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4512 26 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4495 26.2 13.1 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4498 26.2 12.8 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4478 26.3 12.8 50 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4501 26.3 13.5 60 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4499 26.4 13 64 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4502 26.4 13.3 63 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4461 26.5 13.2 54 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4473 26.5 13.1 50 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4494 26.5 12.9 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4513 26.5 13.8 64 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4516 26.5 13.7 62 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4487 26.6 13.2 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4496 26.6 13.1 60 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4500 26.6 13.2 62 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4507 26.6 13.3 58 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4517 26.6 13.3 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4439 26.7 13.1 58 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4486 26.7 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4490 26.7 13.1 60 East Cape Canal 126
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/16/2008 4505 26.7 12.6 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4440 26.8 13.4 62 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4462 26.8 13.3 53 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4443 26.9 13.1 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4470 26.9 13.3 53 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4471 26.9 13.3 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4474 26.9 13.5 54 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4506 26.9 13.2 60 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4465 27 13.3 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4468 27 13.2 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4469 27 13.4 55.5 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4481 27 13 53 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4484 27 13.2 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4463 27.1 13.5 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4464 27.1 13.7 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4466 27.1 13.7 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4472 27.2 13.4 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4475 27.2 13.5 53 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4479 27.2 13.5 57 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4504 27.3 13.7 53 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4485 27.4 13.3 58 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4482 27.5 13.2 53 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4488 27.5 13.7 60 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4497 27.5 13.5 62 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4489 27.6 13.7 56 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4476 27.7 13.6 55 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4467 27.9 13.7 54 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4477 27.9 14.1 58 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4436 28 14.1 61 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 4483 28 14.1 59 East Cape Canal 7/16/2008 3680 26.8 12.9 73 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3681 27 13.1 71 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3682 27.9 13.2 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3683 27.2 12.9 72 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3684 27.4 13.3 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3685 27 13.7 71 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3686 25.4 12.5 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3687 27.4 13.2 72 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3688 26 13 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3689 27.7 13.2 73 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3690 25.9 12.9 79 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3691 26.8 12.9 76 Cocoa Beach 127
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/16/2008 3692 27.2 13 75 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3693 27.5 13.6 75 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3694 27.4 13.3 74 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3695 25.5 12.6 73 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3696 27 13.4 71 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3697 27.4 13.5 76 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3698 25 13.2 71 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3699 25.2 12.4 71 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3700 27.4 13.3 75 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3701 26.5 12.7 71 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3702 27.4 13 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3703 28 13.1 74 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3704 27.9 13.3 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3705 27.5 13.5 74 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3706 25.2 12.1 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3707 27.8 13.7 77 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3708 26.6 12.9 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3709 27.7 13.5 71 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3710 26.6 12.7 69 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3711 27.4 13.1 76 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3712 27.4 12.6 67 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3713 27.5 13.2 73 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3714 27 12.7 70 Cocoa Beach 7/16/2008 3715 26.1 13.3 70 Deer Key 7/18/2008 4520 24.6 12.3 54 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4529 24.9 12.3 57 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4527 25 12.4 50 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4526 25.1 12.7 56 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4525 25.2 12.6 55 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4528 25.2 12.6 55 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4523 25.4 12.6 55 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4521 25.7 12.6 55 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4524 25.7 12.5 54 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4522 25.9 13 55.5 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4531 25.9 13.3 40 East Cape Creek 7/18/2008 4530 27 13.7 53 East Cape Creek 7/19/2008 3716 26.5 13.3 67 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3717 26.4 13 59 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3718 27.2 13.7 54 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3719 26.8 13.1 58 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3720 26 13.2 57 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3721 27.6 13.5 54 Cocoa Beach 128
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/19/2008 3722 25.5 12.5 53 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3723 26 13.1 59 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3724 25.5 12.5 60 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3725 26.3 13.2 56 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3726 27 13.4 63 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3727 25.7 13.1 61 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3728 25.4 12.6 48 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3729 27 13.3 64 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3730 27.2 13.4 66 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3731 26.3 13 58 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3732 25.7 12.9 49 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3733 26.6 13.4 58 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3734 22.6 12.3 44 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3735 26.7 13.4 58 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3736 26.4 13.2 65 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3737 28.1 14.1 57 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3738 26.5 13.4 56 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3739 27.9 13.8 57 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3740 27 13.2 57 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3741 26.9 13.5 55 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3742 28.6 13.7 55 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3743 27 13.7 56 Cocoa Beach 7/19/2008 3744 25.2 12.9 61 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3745 25.8 13 55 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3746 25.7 13 55 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3747 25.2 12.4 57 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3748 25.2 12.6 53 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3749 25.5 12.7 55 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3750 25.2 12.5 56 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3751 25.6 12.9 51 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3752 24.7 12.3 54 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3753 26.1 13.2 57 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3754 25 12.9 53 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3755 25.4 12.6 49 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3756 26 12.8 56 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3757 25.2 12.4 56 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3758 25.8 12.9 52 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3759 24.9 12.2 54 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3760 25.4 12.6 54 Clubhouse Beach 7/19/2008 3761 26.7 13.4 56 Clubhouse Beach 7/22/2008 4539 24.1 12 41 Buttonwood Canal 7/22/2008 4536 26.6 13 48 Buttonwood Canal 129
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/22/2008 4533 26.8 13.3 43 Buttonwood Canal 7/22/2008 4535 27.2 13.7 41 Buttonwood Canal 7/22/2008 4534 27.7 13.8 49.5 Buttonwood Canal 7/22/2008 4537 28.1 13.6 51 Buttonwood Canal 7/22/2008 4538 28.8 14.4 50 Buttonwood Canal 7/26/2008 3762 26.5 13.3 41 Little Madeira Beach 7/26/2008 3763 27.3 13.8 52 Little Madeira Beach 7/26/2008 3764 28 13.9 50 Deer Key 7/29/2008 4559 24 12.1 39 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4558 24.9 12.2 42 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4560 24.9 12.6 42 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4557 25.3 12.5 42 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4561 25.5 13 44 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4552 26 12.4 44 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4551 26.1 13 46 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4544 26.2 13.3 48.5 East Cape 7/29/2008 4562 26.2 13 45 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4555 26.4 13 47 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4565 26.4 13 49 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4548 26.5 13.1 50 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4549 26.5 12.9 48 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4547 26.6 14 55 East Cape 7/29/2008 4550 26.6 13.1 45 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4554 26.9 13.4 51 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4546 27 13.9 52 East Cape 7/29/2008 4553 27.1 13.5 50 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4545 27.2 14 56 East Cape 7/29/2008 4540 27.9 14.1 56 East Cape 7/29/2008 4541 28 13.9 58 East Cape 7/29/2008 4556 28.1 14 52 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4543 28.3 13.8 55 East Cape 7/29/2008 4542 28.7 14.3 57 East Cape 7/29/2008 4564 29.4 15 69 Buttonwood Canal 7/29/2008 4563 30 14.8 67 Buttonwood Canal 7/31/2008 4609 26.1 13 49 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4624 27.4 14.3 50 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4603 27.6 13 47 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4605 27.8 14 55 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4601 28.1 14.2 47 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4606 28.2 15 59 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4607 28.2 15 59 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4623 28.3 14.4 55 Homestead Canal 130
Table III-3. continued. Date Clip TL (cm) SVL (cm) Mass (g) Location 7/31/2008 4600 28.6 14.3 54 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4602 28.7 14.7 55 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4610 28.7 14.2 50 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4621 29 14.6 57 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4616 29.6 14.6 59 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4622 29.6 14.5 61 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4604 29.9 15.1 64 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4611 29.9 14.7 62 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4613 29.9 14.9 57 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4614 30 14.5 59 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4615 30 14.9 67 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4617 30.3 15.1 63 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4608 30.4 15.1 61 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4618 30.6 15.4 67 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4619 30.6 15.2 61 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4620 31 15.3 65 Homestead Canal 7/31/2008 4612 31.5 16 70 Homestead Canal 8/7/2008 4566 28.9 14.7 52.5 East Cape Creek 131
Table III-4. Growth, survival (proportion of hatchling crocodiles that survived for at least 12 months), and dispersal (proportion of hatchling crocodiles that survived and dispersed out of their natal area) of American crocodiles in South Florida. Growth was different among the three nesting areas (ANOVA, F 2 541 = 3.91; p = 0.02; LSD T-test, α = 0.05). More hatchlings survived than expected by chance at CLNWR (χ2 = 423.9; p 0.001), whereas more hatchlings dispersed from the TP site (χ2 = 7.4; p 0.025). Different superscripts indicate significant differences among growth rates (Mazzotti et al. 2007a). Minimum Juvenile Growth cm/day # (%) Survived # (%) Dispersed Location Mean (Range) for > 12 months from natal area Turkey Point 0.11 (-0.8 to 1.30) a 59 (1.71 %) 17 (29.0 %) (N = 205) (N 1 = 3452) (N 2 = 59) Crocodile Lake NWR 0.10 (0.000 to 0.42) a 94 (17.97 %) 14 (15.0 %) (N = 246) (N 1 = 523) (N 2 = 94) Everglades National Park 0.07 (-0.057 to 0.16) b 28 (1.50 %) 2 (7.0 %) (N = 93) (N 1 = 1871) (N 2 = 28) 132
Table III-5. Summary of locations and habitats of American crocodile nests in Everglades National Park (Mazzotti et al. 2007b). Number (%) of Known Clutches Habitat/Location < 1930 1930-1950 1950-1959 1960-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2008 Total Creek 2 (67%) 3 (18%) 1 (8%) 2 (9%) 28 (35%) 12 (13%) 10 (7%) 10 (2%) 68 (8%) Mainland shoreline 1 (33%) 4 (23%) 5 (38%) 16 (69%) 38 (48%) 53 (58%) 91 (60%) 235 (46%) 443 (50%) Island shoreline 0 10 (59%) 7 (54%) 5 (22%) 14 (17%) 17 (19%) 28 (18%) 52 (10%) 133 (15%) Man-made 0 0 0 0 0 9 (10%) 22 (15%) 213 (42%) 244 (27%) NE Florida Bay 3 (100%) 17 (100%) 13 (100%) 23 (100%) 80 (100%) 82 (90%) 119 (79%) 172 (34%) 509 (57%) Cape Sable/Flamingo 0 0 0 0 0 9 (10%) 32 (21%) 338 (66%) 379 (43%) Number of clutches 3 17 13 23 80 91 151 510 888 133
Figure III-1. Spotlight survey routes for the American crocodile in South Florida in 2008. 134
Figure III-2. Spotlight survey routes and capture locations for the American crocodile in Biscayne Bay from 2000-2008. 135
Crocodile Lake NWR Key Largo Figure III-3. Spotlight survey routes and capture locations for the American crocodile in North Key Largo, 2000-2008. 136
Figure III-4. Spotlight survey routes and capture locations for the American crocodile in Florida Bay, 2000-2008. 137
Figure III-5. Spotlight survey routes and capture locations for the American crocodile in the Flamingo Cape Sable region, 2000-2008. 138