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Master of the Marsh Information for Cart Mighty MikeMighty Mike:Mike: The Master of the Marsh A story of when humans and predators meet Alligators are magnificent predators that have lived for millions of years and demonstrate amazing adaptations for survival. Their “recent” interaction with us demonstrates the importance of these animals and that we have a vital role to play in their survival. Primary Exhibit Themes: 1. American Alligators are an apex predator and a keystone species of wetland ecosystems throughout the southern US, such as the Everglades. 2. Alligators are an example of a conservation success story. 3. The wetlands that alligators call home are important ecosystems that are in need of protection. Primary Themes and Supporting Facts 1. Alligators are an apex predator and, thus, a keystone species of wetland ecosystems throughout the southern US, such as the Everglades. a. The American Alligator is known as the “Master of the Marsh” or “King of the Everglades” b. What makes a great predator? Muscles, Teeth, Strength & Speed i. Muscles 1. An alligator has the strongest known bite of any land animal – up to 2,100 pounds of pressure. 2. Most of the muscle in an alligators jaw is intended for biting and gripping prey. The muscles for opening their jaws are relatively weak. This is why an adult man can hold an alligators jaw shut with his bare hands. Don’t try this at home! ii. Teeth 1. Alligators have up to 80 teeth. 2. Their conical teeth are used for catching the prey, not tearing it apart. 3. They replace their teeth as they get worn and fall out. iii. Eating prey whole and using the “Death Roll” 1. Younger alligators eat insects, shrimps, snails, small fish, tadpoles and frogs while adult alligators eat fish, birds, turtles, other reptiles and mammals. 2. Alligators main prey are smaller animals that they can kill and eat with a single bite. 3. The “Death Roll” - Alligators may kill larger prey by grabbing it and dragging it into the water to drown. They often do this by biting and then spinning or convulsing wildly until bite-size pieces are torn off their prey. This is referred to as the 'death roll'. iv. Body built for Stalking 1. The position of an alligator’s nose, eyes and ears are such that it can remain unseen and mostly submerged in the water as it waits for unsuspecting prey 2. Alligators are capable of short bursts of speed of up to 30 mph as they lunge to capture their prey. c. Why are alligators important? i. The alligator’s greatest value to the marsh and other animals within it are the “gator holes” that many adults create and expand through the years. During the dry season and extended droughts, gator holes provide vital water for fish, insects, crustaceans, snakes, turtles, birds, and other animals in addition to the alligator itself. Sometimes, the alligator may expand its gator hole by digging beneath an overhanging bank to create a hidden den. After tunneling as far as 20 feet, it enlarges the end, making a chamber with a ceiling high enough above water level to permit breathing. This is not the alligator’s nest but merely a place for the reptile to survive the dry season and winter. Below is a cross section of a gator hole. ii. Large alligator nesting mounds provide nesting and feeding sites for species of herons and egrets. Red-bellied turtles use old gator nests for incubating eggs. iii. Alligators eat a large number of gar, which is a predatory fish in its range. This helps maintain populations of game fish such as bass and bream. iv. As predators at the top of the food chain, they help control numbers of rodents and other animals that might overtax the marshland vegetation. v. Alligators have a strong immune system to help them fight off bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes. In recent years, scientists have begun analyzing alligators’ blood to identify compounds that could kill harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses, including those that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics. These discoveries could lead to new medicines that might help treat a variety of human illnesses. vi. Alligators are a tourist attraction to areas where they live and help support these regions economically 2. Alligators are an example of a conservation success story. a. Historically, alligators were depleted from many parts of their range as a result of market-hunting and habitat loss. By the 1960’s, hunters and poachers wiped out nearly 90% of the population in Louisiana and the population in Florida’s Everglades was near extinction. Many people believed this unique reptile would never recover. b. In 1967, under a law that preceded the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the alligator was listed as endangered, meaning it was considered in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A combined effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and State wildlife agencies in the South saved these unique animals. The Endangered Species Act prohibited alligator hunting, allowing the species to rebound in numbers in many areas where it had been depleted. As it began to make a comeback, States established alligator monitoring programs and used the information to ensure that numbers continued to increase. In 1987, the Fish and Wildlife Service pronounced the American alligator fully recovered and consequently removed the animal from the list of endangered species. c. Although the American alligator is secure, some related animals—such as several species of crocodiles and caimans —are still in trouble. For this reason, the Fish and Wildlife Service continues to protect the alligator under the ESA classification as “threatened due to similarity of appearance.” The Service thus regulates the harvest of alligators and legal trade in the animals, their skins, and products made from them, as part of efforts to prevent the illegal take and trafficking of endangered “look-alike” reptiles. The story of the American alligator is one of both drastic decline and complete recovery. A story of State and Federal cooperation, it is truly one of the prominent successes of the Nation’s endangered species program. d. Today, the greatest environmental threats to alligators are habitat loss and pollution. As Florida’s human population continues to encroach on alligator habitat, encounters between the two species are inevitable. Human fatalities due to alligators are rare, but 12,000 to 14,000 nuisance gators are reported to the state each year and licensed trappers kill 5,000 of these. e. As the human population grows, encounters between humans and alligators are increasing. Increasing people’s awareness of them and how to interact with them is important. http://www.susty.com/image/living_with_alligators_ppt_page_05-468.jpg 3. The wetlands that alligators call home are important ecosystems that are in need of protection f. Why are wetlands important? vii. Water quality and hydration viii. Wildlife habitat ix. Natural barriers for flood and hurricane protection x. Shoreline erosion prevention xi. Economic Value xii. Recreation and Aesthetics What Does it Take to be the Master of the Marsh Here are some of the behavioral and physical adaptations American Alligators have that allows them to keep their place at the top of the food chain in the wetlands where they are found. Strong Jaws - Their strong jaws with up to 80 cone-shaped teeth can bite down with 2,100 pounds of pressure to catch and hold their prey. They have the strongest bite of any known land animal! Sensors – Sensory pits along their snout help them detect the smallest vibrations made in the water by potential prey. Eyes - Eyes on top of their head help them see their prey while the rest of their body is underwater. Second eyelid - A second, clear eyelid (called a nictitating membrane) protects their eyes but allows them to still spot their prey. Ears, Nose and - Special valves close their ears, nose and throat when they dive so they don't take in water when they catch their prey. Immune system - Their immune system can fight off bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes that live in swamps & wetlands. What scientists are learning about their blood could help make new medicines for humans. Death Roll - Alligators spin underwater with their prey in their mouth to bite off chunks to eat. This is called the "Death Roll." Short bursts of speed - They can move up to 30 miles per hour in short bursts to catch their prey Thick scales - Thick, pointy, bony plates called osteoderms help protect them. You can easily feel the difference between the scales on their back and those on their side and belly. Strong tail - A strong tail helps move them through the water and launch them up to 5 feet out of the water to catch their prey. Camouflage – Alligators are born with bands or yellow on their darker blackish/green skin. These bands help the young blend in with the grasses where they are commonly found. These bands fade as they get older. The resulting dark coloration allows them to blend in with the mud and water of the wetlands where they wait to ambush their prey. The Gators at JBZGators JBZ Mighty Mike Length: ~13 feet, 1 inch in length (missing ~5 inches of his tail Weight: 596 (~600) pounds (weight upon arrival at JBZ) Approximate age: 40-50. Because he was wild caught, his age cannot be accurately determined. Mighty Mike was a nuisance alligator that was caught by a license nuisance alligator trapper after a resident placed a complaint with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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