| Abstract: | Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligators) demonstrated low hatch-rate success and increased adult mortality on Lake Griffin, FL, between 1998 and 2003. Dying Lake Griffin alligators with symptoms of poor motor coordination were reported to show specific neurological impairment and brain lesions. Similar lesions were documented in salmonines that consumed clupeids with high thiaminase levels. Therefore, we investigated the diet of Lake Griffin alligators and compared it with alligator diets from two lakes that exhibited relatively low levels of unexplained alligator mortality to see if consumption of Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad) could be correlated with patterns of mortality. Shad in both lakes Griffin and Apopka had high levels of thiaminase and Lake Apopka alligators were consuming greater amounts of shad relative to Lake Griffin without showing mortality rates similar to Lake Griffin alligators. Therefore, a relationship between shad consumption alone and alligator mortality is not supported. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70029765 |
| Citation Author: | Rice, A. N.; Ross, J. P.; Woodward, A. R.; Carbonneau, D. A.; Percival, H. F. |
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| Citation End Page: | 110 |
| Citation Issue: | 1 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Southeastern Naturalist |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 14 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Alligator diet in relation to alligator mortality on Lake Griffin, FL; 2007; Article; Journal; Southeastern Naturalist; Rice, A. N.; Ross, J. P.; Woodward, A. R.; Carbonneau, D. A.; Percival, H. F. |
| Citation Start Page: | 97 |
| Citation Volume: | 6 |
| Citation Year: | 2007 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Alligator diet in relation to alligator mortality on Lake Griffin, FL; 2007; Article; Journal; Southeastern Naturalist; Rice, A. N.; Ross, J. P.; Woodward, A. R.; Carbonneau, D. A.; Percival, H. F. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1656/1528-7092(2007)6[97:ADIRTA]2.0.CO;2 |
| Date Other: | Mon, 1 Jan 2007 00:00 -0600 |
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