Aquatic Plant Control Research Program. Large-Scale Operations Management Test of Use of the White Amur for Control of Problem Aquatic Plants. The Herpetofauna of Lake Conway: Species Accounts.
Abstract
Species accounts provided in this report summarize our knowledge of the natural history of the 30 species of amphibians and reptiles known from Lake Conway, Florida. The accounts focus on two major objectives of the Lake Conway herpetofaunal project: (1) to identify spatial and temporal changes in life-history parameters of the component species, and (2) to determine whether any observed changes were the result of the white amur aquatic plant control program. Important confounding factors influencing the ecological organization of the Lake Conway herpetofaunal also were examined. Among the 30 species, ecological changes were recorded for two of four salamanders, all eight frogs, the American alligator, five to ten turtles, and one of seven snakes. Of those species in which yearly variation was observed, most showed a change in relative density (N=15), followed by seasonal activity (6), population structure (5), open water habitat use (4), food habits, (4) and movement patterns, (1). No yearly variation was detected in the use of specific littoral zone habitats, growth rates, or reproductive output per individual. Our ability to detect ecological changes was strongly dependent upon sample size for the species. Ecological shifts in the herpetofaunal of Lake Conway were caused by at least nine factors, grouped into four general categories: white amur, human disturbance, natural phenomena, unknown.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA132465
Entities
People
- Dareth A. Sutphen
- Dena T. Gross
- G. Thomas Bancroft
- J. Steve Godley
- N. Nan Rojas
Organizations
- University of South Florida