1. Please note: this presentation has not received Director’s approval and is subject to revision.

2. USGS American Alligator and Amphibian Research in the Everglades Kenneth G. Rice * * USGS Center for Water and Restoration Studies

3. Collaboration Co-Pi’s Logistical support Students Temporary hires

4. Do Alligators Need Restoration? Higher Mercury Levels Lower Growth Rates Longer Age to Maturity Smaller Clutch Size Decreased Population Size Increased Nest Flooding Decreased Nest Production Skewed Size Distribution Large Canal PopulationsFewer Alligator Holes

6. Population Models

7. Vital Rates/Parameters Spatial, temporal, and hydrological gradients. Model Parameters. Movement/spatial dynamics Habitat use Thermoregulation Condition Growth Survival

8. Telemetry

9. Male 140 ha 267 m/24-hr Female 37 ha 52 m/24-hr Canal 111 ha 197 m/24-hr Male 90 ha 190 m/24-hr Female 34 ha 72 m/24-hr Marsh 66 ha 132 m/24-hr Everglades Alligators 93 ha 147 m/24-hr Adult home range and movement

10. Alligator Habitat Use

11. Monitoring Across space and time. 8 populations in South Florida. Parameters: Population Trends Size Distributions Condition Growth Mercury and other contaminants Blood characteristics and health Food habits

12. Body Condition

13. Growth Collaborators: Allan Woodward

14. Skeletochronology

15. Field Activities FY04 Alligator monitoring program. Density, Size distribution, Condition. Correction factors. Alligator holes. Mapping. Ecological characterization. Juvenile movement. GPS telemetry Habitat use in Big Cypress

16. Models Production Index M. Palmer, UT Stage/Age-based Population Model D. Slone, USDA

17. ATLSS Alligator Population Model Eggs / Hatchlings Subadult arrays Juvenile arrays Adults (Male / Female arrays) Stage/Age Structured Matrix Model Runs on PC in Matlab

18. User Interface

19. Yearly nesting submodel (ATLSS API) Daily water levels (SFWMD and ATLSS)

20. Alligator densities, Calibration data

21. Alligator population densities + metadata on condition

22. Basic model cycle Starting alligator densities Alligator habitat area Survival and Development

24. Virtual Night-Light Survey Airboat Trails

25. Model Calibration Virtual Night-Light Surveys – Shark Slough

26. Model Calibration (Water Conservation Area 2A)

27. Alt D13R compared with 1995 Base

28. Alt D13R compared with F2050

29. Alt D13R compared with 1995 Base in a dry year

30. Egg production of Alt D13R compared with 1995 Base in a wet year

31. APM –FY04 Continue validation. Project modeling. New areas/hydrologic models. Canal models.

33. 3 species–Pig frog, Southern Toad, Leopard Frog Cypress Disturbed Exotic Hammock Mangrove Pine Slough Water

34. Testing Restoration Hypotheses Restoration Target D C E B Current Conditions D A B C Hypothesis Monitoring Restoration Gain Restoration Success In 5 years D C A E B

35. Thanks!!