Determinate Growth and Reproductive Lifespan in the American Alligator (<i>Alligator mississippiensis</i>): Evidence from Long-term Recaptures

Wilkinson, Philip M.; Rainwater, Thomas R.; Woodward, Allan R.; Leone, Erin H.; Carter, Cameron

doi:10.1643/ch-16-430

Cited by 72 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Despite this similarity in occurrence of multiple paternity, these sites are characterized by substantial ecological differences. Whereas RNWR is dominated by open marsh, YWC is a series of coastal islands fragmented into diverse habitat types (Coates et al, 2018;Joanen, 1969;Obernuefemann, Collazo, & Lyons, 2013;Wilkinson et al, 2016), suggesting that habitat characteristics may not be an important determinant of multiple paternity frequency across American alligator populations. Uller and Olsson (2008) suggest that within the nonavian reptiles, the occurrence of multiple paternity may reflect the number of males encountered by a female during her reproductive cycle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The YWC alligator population is relatively closed, in that it is bordered by saltwater on all sides: the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Winyah Bay to the north, the Intracoastal Waterway to the west, and North Santee Bay to the south. This alligator population is well characterized due to long‐term (1970s to present) mark–recapture efforts resulting in a large database of alligator tissue, nesting, and morphometric data (Hale et al, ; McCoy, Parrott, Rainwater, Wilkinson, & Guillette, ; Parrott et al, ; Wilkinson et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study was conducted on the South Island and Cat Island portions well characterized due to long-term (1970s to present) mark-recapture efforts resulting in a large database of alligator tissue, nesting, and morphometric data (Hale et al, 2017;McCoy, Parrott, Rainwater, Wilkinson, & Guillette, 2015;Parrott et al, 2014;Wilkinson et al, 2016).…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mating dynamics and multiple paternity in a long‐lived vertebrate

Zajdel

Lance

Rainwater

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Multiple paternity is relatively common across diverse taxa; however, the drivers and implications related to paternal and maternal fitness are not well understood. Several hypotheses have been offered to explain the occurrence and frequency of multiple paternity. One set of hypotheses seeks to explain multiple paternity through direct and indirect benefits including increased genetic diversity or enhanced offspring fitness, whereas another set of hypotheses explains multiple paternity as a by‐product of sexual conflict and population‐specific parameters such as density. Here, we investigate mating system dynamics in a historically studied population of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in coastal South Carolina. We examine parentage in 151 nests across 6 years and find that 43% of nests were sired by multiple males and that male reproductive success is strongly influenced by male size. Whereas clutch size and hatchling size did not differ between singly sired and multiply sired nests, fertility rates were observed to be lower in multiply sired clutches. Our findings suggest that multiple paternity may exert cost in regard to female fitness, and raise the possibility that sexual conflict might influence the frequency of multiple paternity in wild alligator populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mating dynamics and multiple paternity in a long‐lived vertebrate

Zajdel

Lance

Rainwater

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Managers have adopted size classes from Caiman yacare (Daudin 1802) by Ross and Godshalk (2003) for C. latirostris, assuming both species have a similar life history, but so far this has not been tested. For crocodilians, the onset of sexual maturity is related to size and age (Verdade, 1995;Wilkinson and Rhodes, 1997;Wilkinson et al, 2016). The relationship between these two variables is a fundamental feature of the life history of individuals, allowing the estimation of age at sexual maturity and at senescence (Webb and Smith, 1987;Wilkinson and Rhodes, 1997;Wilkinson et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size of nesting female Broad-snouted Caimans (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802)

Leiva

Simoncini

Portelinha³

et al. 2019

Braz. J. Biol.

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The southern distribution of the Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802) in Argentina occurs in Santa Fe Province, where its population has been under management by "Proyecto Yacaré" since 1990. From 1997 to 2016, we captured 77 nesting female Broad-snouted Caimans in Santa Fe Province. Our results suggest that previously defined size classes for Broad-snouted Caiman do not adequately describe the reproductively mature female segment of the population. Here we propose to change size ranges for general size classes for Broad-snouted Caiman. In addition, we have observed that reintroduced reproductive females by Proyecto Yacaré represent about 32% of captured females. These results indicate that reintroduced females by the management program are surviving and reproducing in the wild at least up to 20 years.Keywords: management, size class, reproduction, sexual maturity. Tamanho de fêmeas nidificantes do jacaré-de-papo-amarelo (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802)Resumo Na Argentina, a distribuição mais austral do jacaré-de-papo-amarelo (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802) ocorre na Provincia de Santa Fe, sendo que suas populações são manejadas pelo "Proyecto Yacaré" desde 1990. Entre os anos de 1997 e 2016, nós capturamos 77 fêmeas nidificantes do jacaré-de-papo-amarelo em Santa Fe. Nossos resultados sugerem que as classes de tamanho definidas para o jacaré-de-papo-amarelo não representam a realidade dos animais capturados no presente estudo. Portanto, propõe-se uma alteração nas classes de tamanho para o jacaré-de-papo-amarelo. Nós também observamos que as fêmeas reintroduzidas pelo "Proyecto Yacaré" representaram 32% das fêmeas capturadas. Estes resultados indicam que fêmeas reintroduzidas pelo programa de manejo estão sobrevivendo e reproduzindo na natureza por, pelo menos, 20 anos.Palavras-chave: manejo, classe de tamanho, reprodução, maturidade sexual.

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“…Median concentrations of PFOS, PFDA, PFUnA, and PFNA were more than 35-, 19-, 15-, and 2-fold lower in terrapins than alligators, respectively, while PFHxS concentrations were similar [16]. As both species are long-lived [15, 48] and therefore exhibit potentially similar chemical exposure durations, differences in PFAS burdens between terrapins and alligators at Kiawah are likely related to species-specific differences in habitat use and diet, additional PFAS contamination at Kiawah following terrapin sampling (2011–2012) and prior to alligator sampling (2015), species-specific differences in PFAS toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics, or a combination of these.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perfluoroalkyl substances in diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in coastal South Carolina

et al. 2019

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This study focused on an estuarine wildlife species exhibiting high site fidelity and ubiquitous distribution in coastal environments along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States to monitor per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A total of 75 diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) plasma samples were collected from five creeks associated with Kiawah (Oyster Creek, Fiddler Creek, Sandy Creek, Gnat Creek) and Edisto (Townsend Creek) islands in Charleston County, South Carolina and investigated for 15 legacy PFAS. Of those, PFHxS was the only PFAS found in all terrapin plasma samples. Four additional PFAS were routinely detected (greater than 90 % of the samples) and were included in statistical analyses: PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnA. Sex-differences were observed for two creeks with male plasma containing higher PFAS than female plasma (PFHxS at Townsend Creek, PFOS at Oyster Creek). Sex-specific site differences in PFAS concentrations were observed primarily for males, suggesting male terrapins may be more sensitive indicators of localized contaminant profiles than females. Three PFAS were observed to have negative correlations with body mass: PFOS in males (p=0.045, tau=−0.220), PFNA in males (p=0.016, tau=−0.269), and PFHxS in both males (p=0.007, tau=−0.302) and females (p=0.001, tau=−0.379). No relationships for body mass and PFDA and PFUnA were observed.

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Determinate Growth and Reproductive Lifespan in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): Evidence from Long-term Recaptures

Cited by 72 publications

References 42 publications

Mating dynamics and multiple paternity in a long‐lived vertebrate

Mating dynamics and multiple paternity in a long‐lived vertebrate

Size of nesting female Broad-snouted Caimans (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802)

Perfluoroalkyl substances in diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in coastal South Carolina

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