Compilation of Alligator Data Sets in South Florida for Restoration Needs

The main objective of this study is to compile, in a format accessible to all researchers, all data collected on alligator numbers, biology, and ecology in south Florida. 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 System Simulation program to evaluate restoration alternatives.

Information on alligator 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, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel, University researchers and private consultants. 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.