Survival and growth of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) hatchlings after artificial incubation and repatriation

Published source details Temsiripong Y., Woodward A.R., Ross J.P., Kubilis P.S. & Percival H.F. (2006) Survival and growth of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) hatchlings after artificial incubation and repatriation. Journal of Herpetology, 40, 415-423.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Release reptiles born/hatched in captivity from wild-collected eggs/wild-caught females without rearing Action Link

Release reptiles born/hatched in captivity from wild-collected eggs/wild-caught females without rearing

A replicated, controlled study in 1998–1999 in three lakes in Florida, USA (Temsiripong et al. 2006) found that captive-born American alligator Alligator mississippiensis hatchlings from wild-collected eggs that were released in their mother’s home ranges had higher survival than those released outside of their mother’s home ranges and similar survival but less growth than wild hatchlings. The chance of recapture after nine months was similar for hatchlings released in their mother’s home range (22% recaptured) and wild alligators (23%), whereas hatchlings released outside their mother’s home range had a lower chance of recapture (15%). Hatchlings released in their mother’s home range were shorter (42 cm) than wild hatchlings (45 cm) nine months after hatching, but hatchlings released outside their mother’s home range were similar in length to both other groups (42 cm). Clutches of alligator eggs were collected in summer 1998 from three lakes and artificially incubated at 32°C and hatched. Hatchling alligators were held in captivity for 2–4 weeks before being tagged and released either near to the original nest site (34 clutches) or more than 1 km outside the mother’s home range (14 clutches). Wild hatchlings (22 clutches) were collected by hand from boats in September to November 1998, tagged, measured and released. Clutches ranged from 8–41 hatchlings. Alligators were recaptured from May to July 1999 (347 hatchlings from 67 clutches).

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, William Morgan)