| Abstract: | Body condition factors have been used as an indicator of health and well-being of crocodilians. We evaluated body condition of Morelet‘s Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) in northern Belize in relation to biotic (size, sex, and habitat) and abiotic (location, water level, and air temperature) factors. We also tested the hypothesis that high water levels and warm temperatures combine or interact to result in a decrease in body condition. Size class, temperature, and water level explained 20% of the variability in condition of Morelet‘s Crocodiles in this study. We found that adult crocodiles had higher condition scores than juveniles/subadults but that sex, habitat, and site had no effect. We confirmed our hypothesis that warm temperatures and high water levels interact to decrease body condition. We related body condition of Morelet‘s Crocodiles to natural fluctuations in air temperatures and water levels in northern Belize, providing baseline conditions for population and ecosystem monitoring. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70041546 |
| Citation Author: | Mazzotti, Frank J.; Cherkiss, Michael S.; Brandt, Laura A.; Fujisaki, Ikuko ; Hart, Kristen ; Jeffery, Brian ; McMurry, Scott T.; Platt, Steven G.; Rainwater, Thomas R.; Vinci, Joy |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Southeast Ecological Science Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 362 |
| Citation Issue: | 3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Herpetology |
| Citation LatN: | 18.4959 |
| Citation LatS: | 15.8856 |
| Citation LonE: | -87.4537 |
| Citation LonW: | -89.2276 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 7 p. |
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| Citation Publisher: | Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Body condition of Morelet’s Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) from northern Belize; 2012; Article; Journal; Journal of Herpetology; Mazzotti, Frank J.; Cherkiss, Michael S.; Brandt, Laura A.; Fujisaki, Ikuko ; Hart, Kristen ; Jeffery, Brian ; McMurry, Scott T.; Platt, Steven G.; Rainwater, Thomas R.; Vinci, Joy |
| Citation Start Page: | 356 |
| Citation Volume: | 46 |
| Citation Year: | 2012 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Body condition of Morelet’s Crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) from northern Belize; 2012; Article; Journal; Journal of Herpetology; Mazzotti, Frank J.; Cherkiss, Michael S.; Brandt, Laura A.; Fujisaki, Ikuko ; Hart, Kristen ; Jeffery, Brian ; McMurry, Scott T.; Platt, Steven G.; Rainwater, Thomas R.; Vinci, Joy |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1670/11-188 |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Fri, 7 Dec 2012 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles |
