Water Depth and Alligator Body Condition
Relationships of Individual Microhabitat to Alligator Body Condition in the Everglades: an Illustration of EDEN use in RECOVER MAP
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki and Ken Rice
Figure 1
Alligator capture locations within EDEN study area in 2003-2004
Figure 2
Measured vs. predicted water depth at alligator capture locations (r=0.89)
Figure 3
Predicted water depth vs. alligator body condition
Negative correlations were found between predicted mean water depth of past 30 days (r=-0.40), 31-60 days (r=-0.35), and 61-90 days (r=-0.11) and body condition of alligators captured in Everglades National Park.
- Alligator body condition responds quickly to changes in water depth. Most changes occurred within 60 days.
- Future models will explore hydrologic variables that reflect the standing crop of alligator prey.
- Ideally, one model could describe body condition throughout the Everglades.
Citation
Fujisaki, Ikuko and Ken Rice. (2006, June). Water Depth and Alligator Body Condition: Relationships of Individual Microhabitat to Alligator Body Condition in the Everglades: an Illustration of EDEN use in RECOVER MAP. Poster presented at the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference, Orlando, Florida.
