API MODEL

ATLSS American Alligator Production Index

• Coarse indicator of yearly production potential.
• Based on local habitat and hydrologic conditions.
• Production potential is directly influenced by unique environmental conditions.
• Addresses only the effects of relative local habitat quality and hydrological dynamics.
• Should not be interpreted as providing estimates of population dynamics or viability.
• Not likely to encompass long-term changes in habitat quality. Stabilized hydrologic regimes may result in slow degradation or improvement of habitat not included in this model.
• Little verification of the model's performance was possible except in Everglades National Park, WCA2, and WCA3.
• Density of essential landscape features (e.g. tree islands) within WCA1 (ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge) are "best guess" approximations since data are currently lacking.

MODEL CONSTRAINTS

Spatial Constraints

• Spatial resolution - 500 meters by 500 meters
  • Historical observations suggest that this roughly corresponds to the home-range of nesting female alligators.
• All data (water depth, vegetation type, ground elevation, breeding indices) represent values for a 500x500 meter area.

Temporal Constraints

• Temporal resolution
  • One day for all water data (height and depth).
  • Static for the vegetation habitat types.
• The model produces a single yearly value for each spatial cell that incorporates the daily water data affecting nesting and offspring production during that year.

Literature Cited Fleming, D. M. 1991. Wildlife Ecology Studies, Annual Report, South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park, Homestead Fl, V-10-1-52. Kushlan, J. A. and T. Jacobsen. 1990. Environmental Variability and Reproductive Success of Everglades Alligators. J Herpetol. 4(2):176- 184. Mazzotti, F. J. and L. Brandt, 1994. Ecology of the American Alligator in a Seasonally Fluctuating Environment. Pgs:485-505 in S. M. Davis and J. Ogden (eds.) Everglades: The Ecosystem and Its Restoration. St. Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Fl.

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Related information:

SOFIA Project: Across Trophic Level System Simulation (ATLSS) - Alligators submodel

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