Testing reintroduction as a conservation strategy for the critically endangered Chinese alligator: Movements and home range of released captive individuals

Wang, Zhenghuan; Yao, Hong; Ding, Yao; Thorbjarnarson, John B.; Wang, Xiaoming

doi:10.1007/s11434-011-4615-8

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Notably, none of the females tagged in this study moved between the 2 study sites. Adult male American crocodiles may have larger home ranges, as identified in other crocodilians (Tucker et al 1997, Morea et al 2000, Kay 2004, Brien et al 2008, Wang et al 2011, that could possibly link these 2 geographic areas. The increase in observations of crocodiles in urban areas (L. Horde, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, pers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Variation in home range size and patterns in adult female American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus

Beauchamp¹,

Hart²,

Cherkiss³

et al. 2018

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The American crocodile Crocodylus acutus is a threatened species that uses relatively deep, open-water habitats with low salinity. Adult female American crocodiles nest on sandy coastal beaches, islands or human-made berms, assist in the hatching process, and can travel long distances to nesting habitat. We satellite-tracked 15 adult female American crocodiles in 2 hydrologically distinct areas in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, to quantify the home range sizes, test for intraspecific differences in home range and core area size and structure, and identify important crocodile high-use areas. Overall home ranges (95% kernel density estimate; KDE) for adult female crocodiles in South Florida ranged from 30.0 to 141.9 km 2 (mean ± SD, 84.4 ± 32.3 km 2 ), and core areas (50% KDE) ranged from 4.7 to 27.4 km 2 (17.8 ± 7.3 km 2 ). We identified patterns in home range and core area overlap, seasonally shifting patterns in core area use, and the Fox Lake complex as an important crocodile high-use area. As the population of American crocodiles continues to grow and expand into new areas, it is important for conservation managers to understand individual crocodile habitat-use patterns and spatial resource requirements.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Variation in home range size and patterns in adult female American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus

Beauchamp¹,

Hart²,

Cherkiss³

et al. 2018

Endang. Species. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Captive breeding and reintroduction has been used worldwide as a tool to recover critically endangered species of crocodilians including the Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis ) [ 40 ], the Cuban crocodile ( Crocodylus rhombifer ) [ 41 ], the Philippine crocodile ( Crocodylus mindorensis) [ 42 ], the Siamese crocodile ( Crocodylus siamensis ) [ 43 , 44 ], the gharial ( Gavialis gangeticus ) [ 45 ], and the Orinoco crocodile ( C . intermedius ) [ 46 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With the exception of A . sinensis [ 40 ], information about mating systems and occurrence of multiple paternity based on genetic data is lacking. Genetic investigations of reproductive success could improve our understanding of crocodilian reproductive ecology and greatly aid ex-situ and in-situ conservation strategies, in particular the demographic and population structure of crocodilian reintroduction efforts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Paternity in a Reintroduced Population of the Orinoco Crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) at the El Frío Biological Station, Venezuela

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The success of a reintroduction program is determined by the ability of individuals to reproduce and thrive. Hence, an understanding of the mating system and breeding strategies of reintroduced species can be critical to the success, evaluation and effective management of reintroduction programs. As one of the most threatened crocodile species in the world, the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) has been reduced to only a few wild populations in the Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia. One of these populations was founded by reintroduction at Caño Macanillal and La Ramera lagoon within the El Frío Biological Station, Venezuela. Twenty egg clutches of C. intermedius were collected at the El Frío Biological Station for incubation in the lab and release of juveniles after one year. Analyzing 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci from 335 hatchlings we found multiple paternity in C. intermedius, with half of the 20 clutches fathered by two or three males. Sixteen mothers and 14 fathers were inferred by reconstruction of multilocus parental genotypes. Our findings showed skewed paternal contributions to multiple-sired clutches in four of the clutches (40%), leading to an overall unequal contribution of offspring among fathers with six of the 14 inferred males fathering 90% of the total offspring, and three of those six males fathering more than 70% of the total offspring. Our results provide the first evidence of multiple paternity occurring in the Orinoco crocodile and confirm the success of reintroduction efforts of this critically endangered species in the El Frío Biological Station, Venezuela.

show abstract

“…The Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis ), a freshwater crocodilian endemic to China, is one of the most endangered crocodilian species 23 . Currently, there are ∼100 Chinese alligators in the wild and ∼10 000 captive individuals in Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces 24 . We chose the Chinese alligator for genome sequencing with the hope of providing information that could help design scientific captive-breeding programs for population recovery project of this endangered species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome analysis and signature discovery for diving and sensory properties of the endangered Chinese alligator

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Crocodilians are diving reptiles that can hold their breath under water for long periods of time and are crepuscular animals with excellent sensory abilities. They comprise a sister lineage of birds and have no sex chromosome. Here we report the genome sequence of the endangered Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) and describe its unique features. The next-generation sequencing generated 314 Gb of raw sequence, yielding a genome size of 2.3 Gb. A total of 22 200 genes were predicted in Alligator sinensis using a de novo, homology- and RNA-based combined model. The genetic basis of long-diving behavior includes duplication of the bicarbonate-binding hemoglobin gene, co-functioning of routine phosphate-binding and special bicarbonate-binding oxygen transport, and positively selected energy metabolism, ammonium bicarbonate excretion and cardiac muscle contraction. Further, we elucidated the robust Alligator sinensis sensory system, including a significantly expanded olfactory receptor repertoire, rapidly evolving nerve-related cellular components and visual perception, and positive selection of the night vision-related opsin and sound detection-associated otopetrin. We also discovered a well-developed immune system with a considerable number of lineage-specific antigen-presentation genes for adaptive immunity as well as expansion of the tripartite motif-containing C-type lectin and butyrophilin genes for innate immunity and expression of antibacterial peptides. Multifluorescence in situ hybridization showed that alligator chromosome 3, which encodes DMRT1, exhibits significant synteny with chicken chromosome Z. Finally, population history analysis indicated population admixture 0.60-1.05 million years ago, when the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was uplifted.

show abstract

Testing reintroduction as a conservation strategy for the critically endangered Chinese alligator: Movements and home range of released captive individuals

Cited by 18 publications

References 17 publications

Variation in home range size and patterns in adult female American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus

Variation in home range size and patterns in adult female American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus

Multiple Paternity in a Reintroduced Population of the Orinoco Crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) at the El Frío Biological Station, Venezuela

Genome analysis and signature discovery for diving and sensory properties of the endangered Chinese alligator

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About