Michael Cherkiss
Michael Cherkiss' research interests include population ecology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, with experience extending to radio telemetry and transmitter attachment on pythons, crocodilians, sea turtles and other species.
BACKGROUND
Prior to joining the USGS, Cherkiss was a biologist with the University of Florida for over ten years. He has over 15 years’ experience conducting research in the coastal areas of South Florida, Everglades ecosystems and internationally throughout the Caribbean, Central and South American.
Education and Certifications
M.S., Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 2000
B.S., Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 1996
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 52
Remarkable movements of an American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Florida Remarkable movements of an American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Florida
Here we present the remarkable movements of an individual Crocodylus acutus (American Crocodile) over a 14-year period. The crocodile was originally marked in Homestead, FL as a young-of-the-year in 1999, and was later recaptured multiple times more than 388 km away along the southwest coast of Florida. After several relocations and numerous sightings, this individual who has become...
Authors
Michael S. Cherkiss, Frank J. Mazzotti, Lindsey Hord, Mario Aldecoa
Evaluating effects of Everglades restoration on American crocodile populations in south Florida using a spatially-explicit, stage-based population model Evaluating effects of Everglades restoration on American crocodile populations in south Florida using a spatially-explicit, stage-based population model
The distribution and abundance of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in the Florida Everglades is dependent on the timing, amount, and location of freshwater flow. One of the goals of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is to restore historic freshwater flows to American crocodile habitat throughout the Everglades. To predict the impacts on the crocodile...
Authors
Timothy W. Green, Daniel H. Slone, Eric D. Swain, Michael S. Cherkiss, Melinda Lohmann, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kenneth G. Rice
Intra-population variation in activity ranges, diel patterns, movement rates, and habitat use of American alligators in a subtropical estuary Intra-population variation in activity ranges, diel patterns, movement rates, and habitat use of American alligators in a subtropical estuary
Movement and habitat use patterns are fundamental components of the behaviors of mobile animals and help determine the scale and types of interactions they have with their environments. These behaviors are especially important to quantify for top predators because they can have strong effects on lower trophic levels as well as the wider ecosystem. Many studies of top predator movement...
Authors
Adam E. Rosenblatt, Michael R. Heithaus, Frank M Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Brian M. Jeffery
Body condition of Morelet’s Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) from northern Belize Body condition of Morelet’s Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) from northern Belize
Body condition factors have been used as an indicator of health and well-being of crocodilians. We evaluated body condition of Morelet's Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) in northern Belize in relation to biotic (size, sex, and habitat) and abiotic (location, water level, and air temperature) factors. We also tested the hypothesis that high water levels and warm temperatures combine or...
Authors
Frank J. Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Laura A. Brandt, Ikuko Fujisaki, Kristen Hart, Brian Jeffery, Scott T. McMurry, Steven G. Platt, Thomas R. Rainwater, Joy Vinci
Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida
The Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), is indigenous to northern India,east to southern China, and south to Vietnam and a few islands in Indonesia (Barker and Barker 2008, Reed and Rodda 2009). This species has been introduced since at least 1979 in southern Florida, USA, where it likely began reproducing and became established during the 1980s (Meshaka...
Authors
Kenneth L. Krysko, Kristen M. Hart, Brian J. Smith, Thomas H. Selby, Michael S. Cherkiss, Nicholas T. Coutu, Rebecca M. Reichart, Leroy P. Nuñez, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow
Use of alligator hole abundance and occupancy rate as indicators for restoration of a human-altered wetland Use of alligator hole abundance and occupancy rate as indicators for restoration of a human-altered wetland
Use of indicator species as a measure of ecosystem conditions is an established science application in environmental management. Because of its role in shaping wetland systems, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is one of the ecological indicators for wetland restoration in south Florida, USA. We conducted landscape-level aerial surveys of alligator holes in two...
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kristen M. Hart, Kenneth G. Rice, Danielle Ogurcak, Michael Rochford, Brian M. Jeffery, Laura A. Brandt, Michael S. Cherkiss
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 52
Remarkable movements of an American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Florida Remarkable movements of an American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Florida
Here we present the remarkable movements of an individual Crocodylus acutus (American Crocodile) over a 14-year period. The crocodile was originally marked in Homestead, FL as a young-of-the-year in 1999, and was later recaptured multiple times more than 388 km away along the southwest coast of Florida. After several relocations and numerous sightings, this individual who has become...
Authors
Michael S. Cherkiss, Frank J. Mazzotti, Lindsey Hord, Mario Aldecoa
Evaluating effects of Everglades restoration on American crocodile populations in south Florida using a spatially-explicit, stage-based population model Evaluating effects of Everglades restoration on American crocodile populations in south Florida using a spatially-explicit, stage-based population model
The distribution and abundance of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in the Florida Everglades is dependent on the timing, amount, and location of freshwater flow. One of the goals of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is to restore historic freshwater flows to American crocodile habitat throughout the Everglades. To predict the impacts on the crocodile...
Authors
Timothy W. Green, Daniel H. Slone, Eric D. Swain, Michael S. Cherkiss, Melinda Lohmann, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kenneth G. Rice
Intra-population variation in activity ranges, diel patterns, movement rates, and habitat use of American alligators in a subtropical estuary Intra-population variation in activity ranges, diel patterns, movement rates, and habitat use of American alligators in a subtropical estuary
Movement and habitat use patterns are fundamental components of the behaviors of mobile animals and help determine the scale and types of interactions they have with their environments. These behaviors are especially important to quantify for top predators because they can have strong effects on lower trophic levels as well as the wider ecosystem. Many studies of top predator movement...
Authors
Adam E. Rosenblatt, Michael R. Heithaus, Frank M Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Brian M. Jeffery
Body condition of Morelet’s Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) from northern Belize Body condition of Morelet’s Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) from northern Belize
Body condition factors have been used as an indicator of health and well-being of crocodilians. We evaluated body condition of Morelet's Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) in northern Belize in relation to biotic (size, sex, and habitat) and abiotic (location, water level, and air temperature) factors. We also tested the hypothesis that high water levels and warm temperatures combine or...
Authors
Frank J. Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Laura A. Brandt, Ikuko Fujisaki, Kristen Hart, Brian Jeffery, Scott T. McMurry, Steven G. Platt, Thomas R. Rainwater, Joy Vinci
Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida
The Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), is indigenous to northern India,east to southern China, and south to Vietnam and a few islands in Indonesia (Barker and Barker 2008, Reed and Rodda 2009). This species has been introduced since at least 1979 in southern Florida, USA, where it likely began reproducing and became established during the 1980s (Meshaka...
Authors
Kenneth L. Krysko, Kristen M. Hart, Brian J. Smith, Thomas H. Selby, Michael S. Cherkiss, Nicholas T. Coutu, Rebecca M. Reichart, Leroy P. Nuñez, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow
Use of alligator hole abundance and occupancy rate as indicators for restoration of a human-altered wetland Use of alligator hole abundance and occupancy rate as indicators for restoration of a human-altered wetland
Use of indicator species as a measure of ecosystem conditions is an established science application in environmental management. Because of its role in shaping wetland systems, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is one of the ecological indicators for wetland restoration in south Florida, USA. We conducted landscape-level aerial surveys of alligator holes in two...
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kristen M. Hart, Kenneth G. Rice, Danielle Ogurcak, Michael Rochford, Brian M. Jeffery, Laura A. Brandt, Michael S. Cherkiss