Alligator Ecology, Modeling, and Monitoring to Complement MAP

Project Investigators: Kenneth G. Rice, Frank J. Mazzotti, H. Franklin Percival, Daniel Slone, Laura A. Brandt Project Personnel: Chris Bugbee, Wellington Guzman, Brian Jeffery, Mike Rochford Project Start Date: 2003 End Date: 2008 Recent Funding: (FY08) USACE CERP/MAP, USGS GE PES, (FY07) ENP CESI, USACE CERP/MAP, USGS GE PES, (FY06) ENP CESI, USACE CERP/MAP, USGS GE PES, (FY05) ENP CESI, USACE CERP/MAP, USGS GE PES Work Plans Project Summaries Metadata Publications

Summary

This project will accomplish several tasks with a combination of field data collection, GIS mapping, and computer simulation. Our main objectives are designed to answer questions critical to restoration success and to provide the tools necessary for evaluation.

Many important questions concerning the effects of Everglades restoration on alligator populations remain unanswered such as the impacts of decompartmentalization, the role of alligator holes as aquatic refugia, and the effects of hydrology on population growth and condition. Further, the methods for monitoring and evaluating restoration success are not clear or have not been adapted for use during CERP. Also, we need to continue to update and validate restoration tools such as population models for use in alternative selection, performance measure development, and prediction. This project will directly address the questions outlined above, develop monitoring methods, and validate restoration tools for use in CERP.

Work Plans

• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008

Project Summaries

• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007

Metadata

• American Alligator Ecology and Monitoring for CERP (project metadata)

Publications

Abstracts

• Status of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in Southern Florida and its Role in Measuring Restoration Success in the Everglades (from the GEER Conference, April 2003)
• Status of the American Alligator in the Everglades (from the GEER Conference, June 2006)
• Validation and Application of a Landscape-Level Alligator Population Model in Support of CERP (from the GEER Conference, June 2006)

Fact Sheets

• American Alligator Ecology and Monitoring for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (FS-2004-3105, available from the U.S. Geological Survey website)

Posters

• Ecology of Everglades Alligator Holes (poster presented at 2003 GEER Conference)
• Role of American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in Measuring Restoration Success in the Florida Everglades (poster presented at 2003 GEER Conference)