Hatch dates of American crocodile nests in Everglades National Park and Turkey Point Power Plant 1983-2016

We monitored nests from 1983 to 2016 during the crocodile nesting season (April through August) as part of a long-term American crocodile monitoring programs within Everglades National Park (ENP; since 1978) and Turkey Point Power Plant (TP; since 1983). Nests were located during April and May (egg laying period) and monitored from June to August (hatching period). During the hatching period, surveys for hatchlings were conducted nightly at TP by airboat and one to five nights per week by skiff, kayak, or portaboat within ENP. Hatch dates for all known nests within ENP and TP were determined when possible.

本研究作为大沼泽地国家公园（Everglades National Park, ENP，监测始于1978年）与土耳其角发电厂（Turkey Point Power Plant, TP，监测始于1983年）的美洲鳄（American crocodile）长期监测项目的一部分，于1983年至2016年的鳄类筑巢季（4月至8月）对巢穴开展监测。研究人员于4月至5月（产卵期）完成所有巢穴的定位，并在6月至8月（孵化期）开展持续监测工作。孵化期内，TP区域每晚均通过气垫船开展幼鳄调查；ENP区域则采用小艇、皮划艇或便携艇进行调查，调查频率为每周1至5晚。在条件允许的情况下，研究人员会确定ENP与TP区域内所有已知巢穴的孵化日期。