MOVEMENT, DISPERSAL AND INTERPRETING HEALTH ASSESSMENT PARAMETERS FOR FREE-RANGING RAPTORS AND A REPTILE IN A COMPROMISED ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEM by Brian K. Mealey A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida August 2014 Copyright by Brian K. Mealey 2014 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express sincere gratitude to my committee for all of their guidance, patience and support, and special thanks to my advisor, Dr. John D. Baldwin for his persistence and continuing encouragement as I pursued one of the most challenging goals of my life, a Ph.D. A special gratitude to Dr. Michael R. J. Forstner, a true friend and excellent mentor, for his insight, sense of humor and always believing that I would complete my candidacy for a Ph.D. My warmest appreciation to Dr. Gregory Bossart, V.M.D. for his mentoring, insightful approach and friendship during the 20 years of collecting data for this investigation. To my wife and soul mate, Greta Mealey, my field partner, who shared my frustrations and challenges in pursuit of this major milestone of my life. Also my incredible children, Caitlin and Sean, for their field work and being so patient with my life sermons as we trekked where so few have gone before. A special thanks to George E. Batchelor, a pioneer in American aviation, for your support, patience and mentorship, we will be forever indebted. “Godspeed and until we meet again.” Our warmest appreciation is extended to S. Batchelor, J. Batchelor, D. Ferraresi and J. Falk and the Batchelor Foundation, Inc. for their support, suggestions, funding and participation from the onset of this project. K. Meyer and G. Kent from the Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI) for their mentorship, enthusiasm and contributions to this manuscript. We thank The A. D. Henderson Foundation, The Chingos Foundation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Florida Water Management for providing partial funding iv for the project. We appreciate the collaboration of the National Audubon Society and the Florida Audubon Society for their energy and dedication to the protection of South Florida’s fragile ecosystem. I very much appreciate the Everglades National Park (ENP) Rangers, D. King and D. Fowler for their advice, eyes and safety protocols while we were in the field. We extend special acknowledgements for the ENP’s Dispatch Service, Rangers and the Biologists for their support, guidance and vigilance over this most precious ecosystem. v ABSTRACT Author: Brian Keith Mealey Title: Movement, Dispersal and Interpreting Health Assessment Parameters for Free-Ranging Raptors and a Reptile in a Compromised Estuarine Ecosystem Institution: Florida Atlantic University Dissertation Advisor: Dr. John D. Baldwin Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Year: 2014 This investigation compared statistical parameters for the blood serum chemistries of free ranging Osprey nestlings from Florida Bay and an Osprey population from Lake Istokpoga, in Central Florida (Chapter 1). Florida Bay Ospreys showed higher mean rank values for alanine aminotransferase (H=6.79, P=.009), alkaline phosphatase (H=6.48, P=.011), and sodium (H=5.7, P=.017), and Central Florida had higher mean rank values potassium (H=13.19, P=.000) and carbon dioxide (H=6.23, P=.013). Serum chemistries values were also compared between free-ranging Bald Eagle and Osprey nestling in Florida Bay estuary in southern Florida (Chapter 2). There were significant differences between serum values of Bald Eagle and Osprey nestlings. Bald Eagle serum values were higher for total protein (H=17.833, P=.00002), Albumin (H=7.449, P=.006), Aspartate aminotransferase (H=113.153, P =.0001), and Calcium (H=7.148, P = 008). Osprey vi serum values were higher for alanine aminotransferase (H=11.824, P = 0.0005), alkaline phosphatase (H=105.5, P =.0001), creatine kinase (H=13.465, P = 0.0002), carbon dioxide (H=4.443, P = 0.035) and cholinesterase (H=99.3, P=.0001). Sixteen nestling Bald Eagles were fitted with satellite platform transmitter terminal (PTT) or VHF radio transmitter package for a duration of six years (Chapter 3) to identify their movement and dispersal. One of the 15 eagles migrated to North Carolina, whereas the other 14 (93%) confined their movements to Florida. Tracking duration per individual ranged from 82 to 1,531 days. We estimated first-year survival as 52% and 67% for the period from 1.5 to 3 years. Diamondback Terrapins (Chapter 4) were evaluated by an integrated assessment of physical, chemical, and physiological parameters. Extreme site fidelity of the turtles to mangrove habitat was evident along with a strong female biased sex ratio. There was a significant difference in the total number of individuals collected at the two sites (P =. 01) despite the total size and shorelines of the two sites being very nearly the same. Total recapture rate was 70% for combined population (TLK = 80% and CKW = 48%). We provide blood serum values and microbial cultures as baselines from these turtles in the wild. vii MOVEMENT, DISPERSAL AND INTERPRETING HEALTH ASSESSMENT PARAMETERS FOR FREE-RANGING RAPTORS AND A REPTILE IN A COMPROMISED ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEM LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xiii INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 I. COMPARING AND INTERPRETING SERUM CHEMISTRY VALUES OF OSPREY NESTLINGS, PANDION HALIAETUS, FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA AND FLORIDA BAY, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK .................................................... 5 Methods ....................................................................................................................... 6 Results ........................................................................................................................ 10 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 11 II. COMPARING AND INTERPRETING SERUM CHEMISTRY OF NESTLING BALD EAGLES (HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS) AND OSPREYS (PANDION HALIAETUS) IN FLORIDA BAY, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK ...................... 27 Methods ..................................................................................................................... 28 Results ........................................................................................................................ 31 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 33 III. MIGRATORY, DISPERSAL AND MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF BALD EAGLES (HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS) FLEDGED FROM FLORIDA BAY, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK ............................................................................... 55 Methods ..................................................................................................................... 57 Results ........................................................................................................................ 59 viii Discussion ................................................................................................................. 62 IV. CHARACTERISTICS OF MANGROVE DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN RHIZOPHORARUM) INHABITING ALTERED AND NATURAL MANGROVE ISLANDS ........................................................................... 109 Methods ................................................................................................................... 110 Results ...................................................................................................................... 113 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 115 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 123 Chapters 1 and 2 ...................................................................................................... 123 Chapter 3 .................................................................................................................. 124 Chapter 4 .................................................................................................................. 124 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................ 126 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................... 135 ix LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1. Hematological Value (PCV) and Metabolic Chemistry Values for Osprey Nestlings in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park and Lake Istokpoga in Highlands County, Florida ..................................................... 19 Table 1.2. Serum Enzymology Values for Osprey Nestlings in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park and Lake Istokpoga in Highlands County, Florida ......................................................................................................... 19 Table 1.3. Serum Electrolytes and Mineral Values for Osprey Nestlings in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park and Lake Istokpoga in Highlands County, Florida ...........................................................................................