Population status of the American alligator on the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina
Estimates are presented of alligator numbers, size distribution, sex ratios, reproductive effort, and population trends for all major components of the entire Savannah River Plant (SRP) alligator population. Savannah River Plant operations have impacted the alligator population in many different ways. The formation of man-made reservoirs has dramatically increased the amount of aquatic habitat available to alligators and has therefore increased the carrying capacity of the SRP site for this species. The thermal alteration of aquatic habitats on the SRP has also impacted the resident alligator population. Temperature elevations of aquatic habitat to greater than 38/sup 0/C result in the loss of this habitat to alligators. Moderate thermal increases on the other hand are responded to by alligator movement. The current information available on the alligators of the SRP suggests the following future trends: low density populations distant from thermally altered areas will continue at a low density with the exception of localized increases.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00819
- OSTI ID:
- 5892450
- Report Number(s):
- SRO-NERP-4; ON: DE82001814; TRN: 82-001100
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ALLIGATORS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA COMPILATION
HABITAT
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
ANIMALS
DATA
ECOLOGY
INFORMATION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
REPTILES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
560205* - Thermal Effects- Vertebrates- (-1987)
520100 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects