Status and Nesting Biology of the American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, (Reptilia, Crocodilidae) in Florida
Status and Nesting Biology of the American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, (Reptilia, Crocodilidae) in Florida
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佛罗里达州美洲鳄鱼（Crocodylus acutus）（爬行动物，鳄鱼科）的现状和筑巢生物学
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发表时间：
1978
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通讯作者：
J. Ogden
中科院分区：
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作者：
J. Ogden
该项目旨在确定佛罗里达美洲鳄鱼的状况以及调节该种群的因素。对历史和现在范围的估计表明，筑巢范围在世纪已经大大减少，包括自1950年佛罗里达湾成为大沼泽地国家公园的一部分以来继续减少。佛罗里达湾和基拉戈的鳄鱼是土墩筑巢者，利用排水良好的海滩、河岸和废弃的运河堤坝作为筑巢地点。雌性通常保持着多年来反复使用的初级和次级土丘。平均窝卵数为44个，约48%的卵在成功的巢中孵化，而年平均成功的巢数为65%。大多数筑巢失败是由于浣熊捕食或蛋孵化失败，后者可能是某些类型的巢的温度问题。世纪早期，佛罗里达南部的鳄鱼总数可能在1,000到2,000只之间，但到现在，鳄鱼总数一直在稳步下降。根据估计每年有20只繁殖雌性鳄鱼和平均每年生产275只孵化鳄鱼，20世纪70年代的人口估计在100到400只之间。调节人口的因素，包括低筑巢成功，人为干扰和飓风，进行了讨论。
This project was designed to determine the status of the American Crocodile in Florida and the factors regulating that population. Estimates of the historical and present range show that the nesting range has been considerably reduced during the 20th Century, including continued reduction in Florida Bay since that region became a part of Everglades National Park in 1950. Crocodiles in Florida Bay and on Key Largo are mound nesters, utilizing well-drained beaches, creek banks and abandoned canal levees as nesting sites. Females usually maintain primary and secondary mounds that are repeatedly used through many years. Average clutch size is 44; about 48% of the eggs hatch in successful nests, while the annual average number of successful nests is 65%. Most nesting failures are due to raccoon predation or failure of eggs to hatch, the latter probably a temperature problem in certain types of nests. The total number of crocodiles in south Florida early in the 20th Century may have been between 1,000 and 2,000 animals, but that total has steadily declined to the present. Based on an estimated 20 breeding females per year and an average 275 hatchling crocodiles produced annually, the 1970s population is estimated to be between 100 and 400 animals. Factors that regulate the population, including low nesting success, human disturbance, and hurricanes, are discussed.