SOFIA - Compilation of Alligator Data Sets

Alligators have been identified as a key component of the Everglades ecosystem. Long-term changes in alligator numbers, nesting effort, growth, condition, and survival can be used as indicators of the health of the Everglades marsh system. Due to their sensitivity to hydrologic conditions, an alligator population model is underway in the Across Trophic Level Systems Simulation (ATLSS) program to evaluate restoration alternatives.

Evaluating long-term trends and developing population models require a large amount of data collected over a number of years and a number of locations. Information on alligator

Figure 1. Mass versus snout-vent length for subadult American alligators captured and released during September, 1999 in the Everglades of South Florida. Click for larger image.

densities, nesting, and growth have been collected in south Florida since the 1950s by rangers and researchers in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve as well as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel, University researchers, and private consultants. Many of the most critical data sets (those having the largest amount of data or those from particular areas or years) are not accessible for use in evaluating restoration alternatives or developing models. The data are not available in a centralized, easily accessible, well documented data base. Further, the size and scope of these data sets are not fully known. Certainly, thousands of individual records need to be evaluated, compiled, and entered into an appropriate database.

It is critical that these data sets are accessible to establish restoration targets for alligator populations, develop models, and design short- and long-term monitoring tools for evaluating restoration success. An example of the kind of data that would be made available is shown in figure 1.

Compilation of American Alligator Data Sets in South Florida for Restoration Needs