PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #1: Conservation Ecology: Threatened and Endangered Species. Presiding: W. Bond.
Monday, August 6, 2001. 8:00 AM to 12:15 PM. Madison Ballroom C.
Population modeling of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) for Everglades restoration.
Richards, Paul 1, DeAngelis, Donald1,2, Mooij, Wolf3, 1 2 3
ABSTRACT- We used two modeling approaches to evaluate the population biology of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) for conservation and management. A stage-structured model that incorporated demographic stochasticity was compared to an individual-based model of the American crocodile in South Florida. These modeling efforts are part of a larger modeling project, ATLSS (Across Trophic Level System Simulation), which attempts to predict the effects of restoration scenarios on the flora and fauna of the Florida Everglades. Altering the hydrology will result in altered salinity and water levels in estuaries areas, or core crocodile habitat. The crocodile modeling effort seeks to predict the effects of upstream hydrology on population size, population viability, breeding success and habitat utilization. The individual-based crocodile model utilizes a spatial environment and incorporates information on individual movement, behavior, growth, and reproduction. The results of sensitivity analysis demonstrates the usefulness of both modeling techniques in the effective management and study of rare, endangered or otherwise difficult to study species.
KEY WORDS: conservation, individual-based model, matrix model, population biology