1977 - 1978 
Hall, R. J., T. E. Kaiser, W. B. Robertson, and P. C. Patty (1979) Organochlorine residues in 
eggs of the endangered American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). Bull. Environ. Contam. 
Toxicol. . 23:87-90. 
Most of the 27 species and subspecies of surviving crocodilians have declining 
populations and 22 of them are considered to be severely endangered. The US population 
of the American crocodile is no exception; it probably numbers between 100 and 300 
individuals. Nests of the species have been regularly surveyed by the staff of the 
Everglades National Park. Our sample consists of eggs that remained in nests after the 
hatching of broods and of one clutch laid in captivity by an unmated female. Analysis of 
the 1977 samples for organochlorine contaminants has permitted a detailed examination 
of their contaminant loads and has allowed comparisons with a small sample analyzed in 
1972. 
1977 - 1980 
Kushlan, J. A., and F. J. Mazzotti (1989) Historic and present distribution of the American 
crocodile in Florida. J. Herpetology . 23(1):1-7. 
The historic and recent distribution of the American crocodile ( Crocodylus acutus) in 
Florida is from Vero Beach and Tampa south to the lower Florida Keys. Surveys 
covered the entire coastal zone, concentrating in Florida Bay from Key Largo to Cape 
Sable. Standardized surveys from power boat, canoe, fixed wing aircraft and 
helicopter took place from July 1977 to September 1980. The nesting distribution is 
southern Biscayne Bay and northeastern Florida Bay. Both distributions reflect winter 
temperature. Nesting sites and non-nesting habitat have been lost to development on 
Miami Beach and the upper Florida Keys, but this loss has been compensated by the 
creation of artificial nesting sites on spoil banks along southern Biscayne Bay and a 
westward addition to the nesting range in Florida bay. Except for the shift in nesting 
away from developed areas, the general distribution of the American crocodile in 
Florida is the same as that historically documentable. 
1977 - 1981 
Kushlan, J. A., S. A. Voorhees, W. F. Loftus, and P. C. Frohring (1986) Length, mass, and 
calorific relationships of Everglades animals. Fla. Sci. . 49(2):65-79. 
Meristic and calorific relationships were determined for aquatic animals from southern 
Florida. The relationships derived included wet mass to length (52 species, 2 families), 
dry mass to length (17 species), dry mass to wet mass (17 species), and calorific 
value (44 taxa). These analyses were the first available for most of the species. Such 
relationships can be used in estimating standing stock and energy flow in aquatic 
systems. Samples were obtained during routine sampling programs from 1977 to 1981. 
1977 - 1981 
Ledder, D. A. (1987) Food habits of the West Indian Manatee, Trichechus manatus 
Latirostris, in south Florida. M. S. Thesis, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. 114 pp. 
Gut contents were collected from 84 animals over a five year period, from 1977 to 
1981, in order to describe the diet of Trichechus manatus latirostris in South Florida. 
Microhistological analysis was used to identify plant species sampled from the 
stomach, duodenum, and cecum. A gross analysis was also carried out to estimate the 
ratio of surface to subsurface portions of the plants consumed. The manatees sampled 
fed in both fresh and salt water. The seagrass Halodule wriqhtii comprised the largest 
portion of the diet (24.4% by percent composition), followed by the freshwater species 
Hydrilla verticillata (12.-7%). Significant contributions were also made by the 
seagrass Syringodium filiforme (9.1%), and the euryhaline species Ruppia maritima 
(7.4%). Algae were found in large amounts in five of the animals, resulting in a total 
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