C. L. Abercrombie

Five aerially estimated habitat variables and nest spacing patterns were used to develop predictive models for evaluating the status of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) nests on 2 lakes in central Florida. Models developed from data on 146 and 54 nests on Orange Lake and Lake Woodruff, respectively, indicated that none of the habitat variables were useful in predicting nest success. Nests occurred in clumped distributions in some years, but were not clumped in the same areas from year to year. Until more reliable methods for evaluating nest status are available, management...

People (N = 1,2(0) with first hand knowledge of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were interviewed in October 1982 by questionnaire to determine observability and reaction following harvest on Newnanas Lake, Alachua County, Florida. Of 353 respondents, 60% enjoyed seeing alligators, and 52% attributed a decline in abundance to harvest. Most (76%) approved of harvest, but 20% believed it was part of the nuisance alligator program. No differences (P > 0.05) were detected concerning harvest approval when compared by age, sex, and user group. Males (P ≤ 0.01) and young «40...