Alligators in natural areas: Choosing conservation policies consistent with local objectives

Jacobsen, Terri; Kushlan, James A.

doi:10.1016/0006-3207(86)90006-6

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Three examples may highlight the complex roles of these species: (a) in the Florida Everglades, American alligators create and maintain ponds that are essential habitat for other taxa; their nests, guarded against predators, offer safe breeding sites favored by turtles and snakes, which in turn are preyed upon by foraging alligators with indirect, positive effects on aquatic invertebrates, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, mice, and rats (Bondavalli & Ulanowicz 1999). However, alligators may not be good flagship species and may create local conflict because of attacks on humans (Jacobsen & Kushlan 1986). (b) Otters are good flagships and provide a reliable sentinel role against pollution but may not be reliable biodiversity indicators (Bifolchi & Lode 2005, Mason 1996, White et al 1997.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Top Predators as Conservation Tools: Ecological Rationale, Assumptions, and Efficacy

Sergio

Caro

Brown

et al. 2008

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

540

363

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We review the ecological rationale behind the potential compatibility between top predators and biodiversity conservation, and examine their effectiveness as surrogate species. Evidence suggests that top predators promote species richness or are spatio-temporally associated with it for six causative or noncausative reasons: resource facilitation, trophic cascades, dependence on ecosystem productivity, sensitivity to dysfunctions, selection of heterogeneous sites and links to multiple ecosystem components. Therefore, predator-centered conservation may deliver certain biodiversity goals. To this aim, predators have been employed in conservation as keystone, umbrella, sentinel, flagship, and indicator species. However, quantitative tests of their surrogate-efficacy have been astonishingly few. Evidence suggests they may function as structuring agents and biodiversity indicators in some ecosystems but not others, and that they perform poorly as umbrella species; more consensus exists for their efficacy as sentinel and flagship species. Conservation biologists need to use apex predators more cautiously, as part of wider, context-dependent mixed strategies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Top Predators as Conservation Tools: Ecological Rationale, Assumptions, and Efficacy

Sergio

Caro

Brown

et al. 2008

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

540

363

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“…In the case of crocodilians, appropriate management actions are identifiable but philosophical positions are especially strong, ranging from one favoring complete protection to one of using crocodilians as a harvestable resource Percival 1986, Jacobsen andKushlan 1986b). If political and fiscal support are not available, of course, nothing can be accomplished.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation and management of the American crocodile

Kushlan

1988

Environmental Management

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The American crocodile is a rare and endangered species, the range of which has contracted to disjunct locations such as Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, Panama, and southern Florida. In an attempt to determine what factors might be limiting population growth, an extensive collaborative research program was conducted in 1978-82 in southern Florida. Limiting factors explicitly studied included climate, hurricanes, population dispersion, nesting habitat, fertility, predation, nest chamber environment, juvenile survivorship, artificial mortality, disturbance, and environmental contamination. No single natural factor limits the population, although in concert various factors result in low adult recruitment rates. Such natural limitations explain the natural rarity of this tropical species at the temperate limits of its range. Two artificial sources of mortality are death of adults on roads and the flooding of nests by high groundwater tables. These sources of mortality are potentially controllable by the appropriate management agencies. Active management, by such means as protection of individuals, habitat preservation and enhancement, nest site protection, and captive breeding, is also appropriate for assuring the survival of a rare species. The American crocodile has survived in southern Florida in face of extensive human occupancy of parts of its former nesting habitat, demonstrating the resilience of a threatened species. This case history illustrates the efficacy of conducting research aimed at testing specific management hypotheses, the importance of considering biographical constraints limiting population status in peripheral populations, the need for active management of rare species, and the role of multiple reserves in a conservation and management strategy.

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“…; teeth (Dauphin, 1987(Dauphin, , 1991Edmund, 1962 Edmund, , 1969Sato and Shimada, 1990;Shimada et al, 1992;\Vestergaard, 1988; Westergaard and Ferguson, 1986; growth (Andrews, 1982; Bmndt, 1991 b;Brisbin, 1990;Dodson, 1975;Elsey et al, 1990aElsey et al, , 1992Jacobsen and Kushlan, 1989;Jenningset al, 1991; Joanenetal., 1987;Kercheval and Little, 1990;Rootes et al, 1991;Watson, 1986); developn~ent (Austin, 1990; Deemingand Ferguson, 1989a, 199Oa, 1 9 9 1 ~;Ferguson, 1985Ferguson, , 1989Frey, 1988;Joss, 1989;Klembara, 1991;Lang, 1989b;Murray et al, 1990;Noble et al, 1990Noble et al, , 1991 Packard, 1988, 1989;Raynaud and Pieau, 1985;Schulte and Chabreck, 1990;Senn, 1979; ten Donkelaar and Bangma, 1992;Thompson, 1989; Westergaard, 1988; Westergaard and Ferguson, 1986, 1987); histology (Luppa, 1977; Shah and Fergilson, 1988;Shimada et al, 1990;Stillman et al, 1991;Takagi et al, 1989;Weldon and Sampson, 1987, 1988); physiological study methods (McDonald, 1976;Tracy, 1982); biochemistry (Bell and Lopez, 1985;Coulson andHernandez, 1964, 1986;Dessauer, 1970;…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Alligator mississippiensis

2019

CABI Compendium

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Alligators in natural areas: Choosing conservation policies consistent with local objectives

Cited by 6 publications

References 24 publications

Top Predators as Conservation Tools: Ecological Rationale, Assumptions, and Efficacy

Top Predators as Conservation Tools: Ecological Rationale, Assumptions, and Efficacy

Conservation and management of the American crocodile

Alligator mississippiensis

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