Abstract
The American crocodile was declared endangered in the United States in 1975. At that time 75% of the remaining crocodile nests were in Everglades National Park, in Florida Bay. In 1980, the National Park Service established a crocodile sanctuary in northeastern Florida Bay to protect nesting and nursery habitat. In 1985, a monitoring program, focused on nesting, growth, and survival, was established to evaluate the effects of modified water deliveries on crocodiles in Florida Bay. The number and range of crocodile nests increased between 1970 and 1995, but nesting success decreased slightly. Nests on artificial substrates in the Greater Flamingo-Cape Sable area accounted for most of the increase in nests. Nests on artificial substrates were more prone to predation by raccoons. At least 1.5% of marked hatchlings survived for more than 12 mo, and growth rates were variable. Detailed information on growth and survival of crocodiles is still lacking. It is no longer a question of whether crocodiles with survive in Florida Bay, but how ecosystem restoration and management can be applied to improve conditions for crocodiles.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Abercrombie, C. L. 1989. Population dynamics of the American alligator. Crocodiles their ecology, management and conservation. Crocodile Specialist Group Special Publication. Gland, Switzerland.
Bean, N. M. 1953. Crocodile nest at Trout Creek.Everglades Natural History 1:100–102.
Box, G. E. P., andG. M. Jenkins. 1976. Time Series Analysis Forecasting and Control. Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco, California.
Brandt, L. A., F. J. Mazzotti, J. R. Wilcox, P. D. Barker, Jr.G. F. Hasty, Jr. andJ. Wasilewski. 1995. Status of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) at a power plant site in Florida, USA.Herpetological Natural History 3:29–36.
Dunson, W. A. 1970. Some aspects of electrolyte and water balance in three estuarine reptiles, the diamondback terrapin. American and “salt water” crocodiles.Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 32:161–174.
Dunson, W. A., andF. J. Mazzotti. 1989. Salinity as a limiting factor in the distribution of reptiles in Florida Bay: A theory for the estuarine origin of marine snakes and turtles.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:229–244.
Evans, D. H., andT. M. Ellis. 1977. Sodium balance in the hatchling American crocodileCrocodylus aculus.Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 58:159–162.
Graham, A. 1968. The Lake Rudolph crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti) population. Report to the Kenya Game Commission, Kenya Game Department, Kenya.
Joanen, T., L. McNease, andM. W. J. Ferguson. 1987. The effects of egg incubation temperature on post-hatchling growth of American alligators, p. 533–536.In G. J. W. Webb, S. C. Manolis, and P. J. Whitehead (eds.), Wildlife Management Crocodiles and Alligators. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd. Chipping Norton, Australia.
Kraemer, J. E., andR. Bell. 1980. Rain induced mortality of eggs and hatchings of Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) on the Georgia Coast.Herpetologica 36:72–77.
Kushlan, J. A., andF. J. Mazzotti. 1989a. Historic and present distribution of the American crocodile in Florida.Journal of Herpetology 23:1–7.
Kushilan J. A., andF. J. Mazzotti. 1989b. Population biology of the American crocodile.Journal of Herpetology 23:7–21.
Magnusson, W. E. 1986. The peculiarities of crocodilian population dynamics and their possible importance for management strategies. Proceedings of the 7th Working Meeting of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Crocodile Specialists Group. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Gland, Switzerland.
Mazzotti, F. J. 1983. Ecology ofCrocodylus acutus in Florida. Ph.D. Thesis in Ecology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
Mazzotti, F. J. 1989. Factors affecting the nesting success of the American crocodile,Crocodylus acutus, in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44 (1): 220–228.
Mazzotti, F. J., andL. A. Brandt. 1994. Ecology of the American alligator in a seasonally fluctuating environment, p. 485–505.In S. Davis and J. Ogden (eds.), Everglades: The Ecosystem and Its Restoration. St Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Florida.
Mazzotti, F. J., andW. A. Dunson. 1984. Adaptations ofCrocodylus acutus andalligator for life in saline water.Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 79A(4):641–646.
Mazzotti, F. J., J. A. Kushlan, andA. Dunbar-Cooper. 1988. Desiccation and cryptic nest flooding as probable causes of egg mortality in the American crocodile,Crocodylus acutus, in Everglades National Park, Florida.Florida Scientist 51:65–72.
McIvor, C. C., J. A. Ley, andR. B. Bjork. 1994. Changes in freshwater inflow from the Everglades to Florida Bay including effects on biota and biotic processes: A review, p. 117–146.In S. M. Davis and J. C. Ogden (eds.), Everglades: The Ecosystem and Its Restoration. St. Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Florida.
Moler, P. E. 1991. American crocodile population dynamics, Final Report, Study Number: 7532. Bureau of Wildlife Research, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Tallahasse, Florida.
Moore, J. C. 1953a. The crocodile in Everglades National Park.Copeia 1953:54–59.
Moore, J. C. 1953b. A mound on a key in Florida Bay.Everglades Natural History 1:66–75.
Ogden, J. 1978. Status and nesting biology of American crocodile,Crocodylus acutus (Reptilia: Crocodilidae) in Florida.Journal of Herpetology 12:183–196.
Simmons, G., andL. Ogden. 1998. Gladesmen. University Press of Florida. Gainesville, Florida.
Smith, T. J., J. H. Hudson, M. B. Roblee, G. V. N. Powell, andP. J. Isdale. 1989. Freshwater flow from the Everglades to Florida Bay, A historical reconstruction based on flourescent banding in the coralSolenastrea bournoni.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:274–282.
Tanur, J. M., F. Mosteller, W. H. Kruskal, R. F. Link, R. S. Pieters, andG. R. Rising. 1972. Statistics: A Guide to the Unknown. Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco, California.
United States Army Corps of Engineers. 1993. Experimental program of water deliveries to Everglades National Park, Taylor Slough iteration. United States Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida.
United States Army Corps of Engineers. 1994. Comprehensive review study reconnaissance report. United States Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida.
Wanless, H. R. 1994. Sea level control on stability of Everglades wetlands, p. 199–223.In S. M. Davis and J. C. Ogden (eds.), Everglades: The Ecosystem and Its Restoration. St. Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Florida.
Webb, G. J., A. M. Beal, S. C. Manolis, andK. E. Dempsey. 1987. The effects of incubation temperature on sex determination and embryonic development rate inCrocodylus johnstoni andC. porosus. p. 507–531.In G. J. W. Webb, S. C. Manolis, and P. J. Whitehead (eds.), Wildlife Management: Crocodiles and Alligators. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd. Chipping Norton, Australia.
Webb, G. J., R. Buckworth, andS. C. Manolis. 1983.Crocodylus johnstoni in the McKinlay river, NT. VI. Nesting Biology.Australian Wildlife Resources 10:607–637.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mazzotti, F.J. The American Crocodile in Florida Bay. Estuaries 22, 552–561 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2307/1353217
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1353217