1977 - 1982 
Kushlan, J. A., and F. J. Mazzotti (1982) Population biology and status of the American 
crocodile in south Florida. In: Crocodiles . D. Dietz and F.W. King (eds.). Gland, Switzerland 
IUCN. 188-94. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] The population 
biology and status of the American crocodile was studied in Florida Bay during 1977 - 
1982. In this paper the authors briefly abstract some new findings concerning various 
hypotheses previously suggested to account for presumed population decreases. Data is 
summarized on historic population status, current population size and structure, 
nesting biology, habitat, mortality as well as management needs which suggest that 
current population is not decreasing, although its historic range has decreased 
somewhat. The authors see no need for any drastic manipulative management of the 
south Florida crocodile population. 
1977 - 1982 
Kushlan, J. A., and F. J. Mazzotti (1989) Population biology of the American crocodile. J_. 
Herpetology, 23 (i): 7 - 2 i. 
The population biology of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) was studied in 
southern Florida during 1977 - 1982. Crocodiles were located on monthly surveys 
using boat, canoe, fixed wing airplane and helicopter. An extensive 
capture/mark/release program was conducted using boats at night. Crocodiles occur 
primarily in inland mangrove swamps protected from wave action. Females use the 
open waters of Florida Bay only for access to nesting sites. Individuals have large (86- 
262 ha) overlapping activity areas. Nesting occurs in spring and summer avoiding the 
cold and the wet seasons either of which can affect incubation. Clutches averaging 38 
eggs were laid both in mounts and in holes in the ground either singly or communally. 
Available data cannot support the view that the number of nests has decreased in 
recent years. Hatching failure occurred as a result of infertility, predation, and 
embryonic mortality from desiccation and flooding. Hole and creek nests were most 
susceptible to embryonic mortality. Seventy-eight percent of nests hatched some 
young. No evidence was found of adults defending nests or young but nest opening by 
adults was essential for hatching. Disturbance at nest sites caused females to abandon 
the site. All expected age classes occurred in the population. Size at maturity was 2.25 
m TL for females. Documented mortality of adult and subadult of approximately 2 
crocodiles per year was predominantly human-caused. At least 45 crocodiles have been 
released into southern Florida in 17 yrs. We estimate the southern Florida population to 
be about 220 ± 78 adults and subadults. 
1977 - 1982 
Mazzotti, F. J. (1988) Science, politics, and management of crocodilians in the Everglades. 
Wildlife in the Everglades and Latin America Wetlands . Wildlife in the Everglades and Latin 
America Wetlands, 1985. G. W. Dalrymple, W. F. Loftus, and F. S. Bernardino (eds.). Fiorida 
International University, Miami, FL. 5-6. 
This citation discusses various aspects of the management of crocodile populations in 
the Everglades National Park. 
1977 - 1992 
Bohnsack, J. A., D. E. Harper, and D. B. McClellan (1994) Fisheries trends from Monroe 
County, Florida. Bull. Mar. Sci. . 54(3):982-1018. 
Fishing is an important activity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). 
Concern exists that excessive fishing could be deleterious to individual species, disrupt 
marine ecosystems, and damage the overall economy of the Florida Keys. We examined 
data from commercial, recreational, and marine life fisheries in Monroe County. 
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