Abstract
Variation in home range size and patterns in adult female American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus
Highlights
The American crocodile Crocodylus acutus is a large, upper trophic level predator that uses relatively deep, open-water habitats with low salinity that are protected from wind and wave activity (Kushlan & Mazzotti 1989a)
One female (#5631) tagged at why 1 transmitter lasted only 3 d at Cape Sable (CS), we CS moved to the Fox Lake complex before the start of observed a crocodile at northeastern Florida Bay (NFB) whose transmitter lasted the nesting season and remained in that area 58 d with a missing antenna
We provide the first estimates of home range size and patterns of habitat use for adult female American crocodiles using satellite telemetry, and show intraspecific variation between individuals using 2 hydrologically different nesting areas
Summary
The American crocodile Crocodylus acutus is a large, upper trophic level predator that uses relatively deep, open-water habitats with low salinity (less than 15 ppt) that are protected from wind and wave activity (Kushlan & Mazzotti 1989a). The range of the American crocodile includes coastal areas in northern South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and southern Florida, USA, where it occurs from Vero Beach to Tampa Bay (Kushlan & Mazzotti 1989b). Endang Species Res 36: 161–171, 2018 areas, including stopover locations for migratory wildlife, important nesting areas, or high-use foraging habitat, is important for developing effective management strategies. The distance between foraging and nesting habitats is an important determinant of how those species orient themselves in the landscape. Smith (1995) examined foraging behavior of wading birds in Florida and determined that the length of their flights during the nesting season was driven by the distance from foraging to nesting habitat. Kushlan & Mazzotti (1989a) analyzed home range areas for American crocodiles in South Florida and reported that nesting females can have 2 separate activity areas. Tucker et al (1997) described nest site fidelity in adult female Australian freshwater crocodiles C. johnstoni
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