Ecological implications of allometric relationships in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 13, 2024

Morphometric allometry, the effect of size on morphological variation, has been great interest for evolutionary biologist and is currently used in fields such as wildlife ecology to inform management conservation. We assessed American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) static allometry across Greater Everglades ecosystem South Florida, United States using a robust dataset (~ 22 years) investigated effects sex, habitat, sampling area relationships. Regression models showed very strong evidence linear relationship between variables explaining equal or above 92% variation data. Most trait-size relationships (8 out 11 assessed) hyperallometry (positive allometry) with slope deviations from isometry 0.1 0.2 units while other three were isometric. Sampling area, type lesser extent sex influenced allometric coefficients (slope intercept) several relationships, likely result differing landscapes dynamic alterations sexual dimorphism. discuss our findings terms biology species well usefulness results context restoration conservation species. Finally, we provide recommendations when trait-length infer population nutritional-health condition demographics.

Language: Английский

Host species and age‐specific variation on Hepatozoon prevalence and its effect on body condition in two Neotropical crocodiles

Wildlife Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 21, 2024

Many populations of species belonging to the order Crocodilia are threatened due illegal trafficking, indiscriminate hunting, and habitat loss degradation affecting crocodilian health parasitic load. Although several studies have revealed that crocodiles, caimans, alligators frequently infected by Hepatozoon spp., results from exploring costs these apicomplexan parasites on their reptilian hosts still scarce with inconclusive results. Here, we molecularly assessed prevalence genetic diversity spp. explore possible influence body condition in captive individuals two Neotropical crocodilians conservation threats, spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus American crocodile Crocodylus acutus . Fourteen percent caimans were H. caimani , whereas no crocodiles showed infection. The varied along age, where subadult most parasitized. Surprisingly, was significantly higher than uninfected which suggests greater negative effects infection poor quality. Also, juveniles both alligator species, likely reflecting differences occupancy habitats resource abundance, or variations nutritional values diet between age classes. These outcomes provide valuable information disease ecology for developing strategies management wildlife species.

Language: Английский

Body Condition of Reproductive and Non-Reproductive Broad-Snouted Caiman Females

Animals, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1), P. 1 - 1

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

In this work, we calculated the body condition indices, K-Fulton and scaled mass index (SMI), of reproductive non-reproductive

Language: Английский