Status and Conservation of the American Crocodile in Florida: Recovering an Endangered Species While Restoring and Endangered Ecosystem
Mazzotti F and Cherkiss M. 2003. Status and Conservation of the American Crocodile in Florida: Recovering an Endangered Species While Restoring and Endangered Ecosystem. Critical Ecosystems Studies Initiative. RES99-13. Everglades National Park/South Florida Natural Resources Center
Final Report. Afforded Federal protection in 1975, the threatened American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, once faced a grim prognosis for recovery. Loss of suitable nesting areas and modifications to freshwater flows served to dramatically reduce the abundance of the species. today, as the process of Everglades restoration moves forward, the American crocodile may prove a valuable touchstone against which to measure our success. This project examined the full suite of available monitoring data from the past three decades to provide a more comprehensive understanding of recovery and restoration. It is noted that C. acutus is now more abundant, and found in more places, than at the time of it was listing under the Endangered Species Act. While this will likely bring new management challenges in the face of a burgeoning population, it is also noted that there may also be new opportunities for species recovery. Mazzotti, Frank, and Michael S. Cherkiss. 2003. Status and Conservation of the American Crocodile in Florida: Recovering and Endangered Species While Restoration an Endangered System. Final Report submitted to the Everglades National Park. NPS Interagency Agreement with U.S. Geological Society. Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida. Cherkiss, Michael S., Laura A. Brandt, Kevin L. Chartier, Jerry Lorenz, Mark Miller, Mark W. Parry, Leonard G. Pearlstine, Kenneth G. Rice, Zongbo Shang and Frank J. Mazzotti. (2006) The Role of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) as an Indicator of Ecological Change in Everglades Ecosystems. Poster presented at the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference. Orlando, FL. Mazzotti, F. J. and M. S. Cherkiss. 2006. Ecology and conservation of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Florida. Poster presented at the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference, Orlando, Florida.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Mazzotti, Frank; Cherkiss, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 2003
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Assessment, CESI, Coastal, crocodile, Endangered, Estuarine, everglades, Nesting, Reptiles, Research, Restoration, Threatened
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Intertidal Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Estuarine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles