Stress and plasma corticosterone levels in the american alligator—relationships with stocking density and nesting success

Abstract

1. 1. Blood samples were taken from captive and wild adult alligators for evaluation of baseline plasma corticosterone levels. Adult male alligators were found to have significantly higher plasma corticosterone levels than adult female alligators in captive and wild populations. 2. 2. Captive adult alligators maintained at high stocking densities had plasma corticosterone levels higher than those adult alligators maintained at lower stocking densities, which had lower plasma corticosterone levels comparable to levels found in the wild population. 3. 3. Higher levels of plasma corticosterone in captive female alligators correlated with lower nesting success. 4. 4. No differences were noted in plasma corticosterone of adult females actively defending their nests compared to females sampled that were not in nest attendance. 5. 5. The use of plasma corticosterone levels as an index of stress for monitoring and managing wild and captive commercial populations of alligators is discussed.