Steven W. Ruckel

Tail meat samples from 22 American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) collected from 10 collection areas in Georgia during 1990 were analyzed for mercury (Hg) concentrations (wet weight basis). Mercury was detected in all samples and ranged from 0.1 ppm to 1.4 ppm (x = 0.48 ppm). No differences in mercury concentration were found between sexes (P = 0.638) or among all collection areas (P = 0.178). Pooled samples from collection sites on the headwaters of the Suwannee River system had higher mercury concentrations (P < 0.005) than those from all other collection sites combined....

Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) nest characteristics from 2 different habitats in southern Georgia were compared. Nest and egg measurements varied somewhat between Silver Lake, an open freshwater habitat, and Rhetts Island, a brackish marsh habitat. However, except for the distance nests were found from water, none of the differences between study areas were significant. Mean clutch size for the Silver Lake study area was 38.0 while that of Rhetts Island was 40.7. Fertility rate of eggs on Silver Lake was 92.1 %. Of 29 nests containing eggs on the Silver Lake area, 14 (48.3%) were...

Reproductive characteristics of110 woodchucks (Marmota monax) were examined between 13 March and 30 November in 1974 and 1975. Ovulation rates averaged 4.73 in adult females examined between March to June. Less than 50 percent of yearlings ovulated during this period compared to 100 percent of adults. Preimplantation loss of embryos averaged 0.5 per pregnancy. Corpora lutea persisted until August in one female but was a reliable indicator of ovulation only until July. Placental scars persisted until September in one female. The peak of spermatogenesis seemed to occur earlier in adult males...