Compilation of American alligator data sets in south Florida for restoration needs

Evaluating long-term trends and developing population models requires a large amount of data collected over a number of years at a number of locations. Information on alligator densities, nesting and growth have been collected in south Florida since the 1950s by rangers and researchers in Everglades National Park (ENP) and Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel, University researchers, and private consultants. Many of the most critical data sets (those having the largest amount of data or those from particular areas or years) are not accessible for use in evaluating restoration alternatives or developing models. The data are not available in a centralized, easily accessible, welldocumented database. Further, the size and scope of these data sets are not fully known. Thousands of individual records need to be evaluated, compiled, and entered into an appropriate database. 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.

Historical data is used to make assessments of populations in relation to restoration and water management practices in the Everglades. Most life history characteristics are difficult to use to assess restoration progress, because decades of data are required. Condition, on the other hand, can be calculated in a relatively simple manner. Condition can be defined as the "relative fatness of [an animal]....it is a measure of how well that animal is coping with its environment" (Taylor 1979). This definition is the key to using alligators as indicators of the health of their environment. Other parameters can be used to assess the health of a population (nesting effort, growth rate and survival, and density), but require much more data.