Intra-Population Variation in Activity Ranges, Diel Patterns, Movement Rates, and Habitat Use of American Alligators in a Subtropical Estuary

Authors

Adam E. Rosenblatt, Department of Biological Sciences, Marine Sciences Program, Florida International UniversityFollow
Michael R. Heithaus, Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences Program, School of Environment, Arts and Society, Florida International UniversityFollow
Frank J. Mazzotti, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of FloridaFollow
Michael Cherkiss, U.S. Geological Survey, Southeast Ecological Science CenterFollow
Brian M. Jeffery, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of FloridaFollow

Abstract

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 and habitat use focus on general population level trends, which may overlook important intra-population variation in behaviors that now appear to be common. In an effort to better understand the prevalence of intra-population variation in top predator movement behaviors and the potential effects of such variation on ecosystem dynamics, we examined the movement and habitat use patterns of a population of adult American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in a subtropical estuary for nearly four years. We found that alligators exhibited divergent behaviors with respect to activity ranges, movement rates, and habitat use, and that individualized behaviors were stable over multiple years. We also found that the variations across the three behavioral metrics were correlated such that consistent behavioral types emerged, specifically more exploratory individuals and more sedentary individuals. Our study demonstrates that top predator populations can be characterized by high degrees of intra-population variation in terms of movement and habitat use behaviors that could lead to individuals filling different ecological roles in the same ecosystem. By extension, one-size-fits-all ecosystem and species-specific conservation and management strategies that do not account for potential intra-population variation in top predator behaviors may not produce the desired outcomes in all cases.

Comments

The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2013.10.008

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Rosenblatt, A.E., M.R. Heithaus, F.J. Mazzotti, M.S. Cherkiss, B.M. Jeffery. 2013. Intra-population variation in activity ranges, diel patterns, movement rates, and habitat use of American alligators in a subtropical estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2013.10.008