nest. Doing this allows the team to assess the reproductive
health of the mother by examining the eggs, hatching the eggs
under carefully controlled conditions, and then evaluating the
health of the hatchlings. This summer 41 eggs from one nest
were taken to the lab. About 90% were fertile, and 75% of the
eggs hatched. After a small clip was taken from the scute of all
hatchlings, they were returned to the nest. Shortly thereafter,
the mother alligator showed up to take care of the newborns.
One objective of the survey of alligators on the
southeastern coast is to analyze them for contaminants. Thus
far, we have one report regarding a family of compounds
based on perfluorooctanoic acid [CF3(CF2)6CO2H].
Photos by Jack Kotz
giant and Kiawah Island lost a valuable partner and friend.
Nonetheless, Lou’s team reorganized and carried on. In the
first season of work, they caught 32 animals (10 females and
22 males) from which they took blood and urine samples and
skin samples. They analyzed the blood and urine samples at
the Hollings Marine Laboratory (on James Island) for heavy
metals, pesticides, and hormone concentrations. Passive
Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags were also placed on all
the animals.
One aspect of the research is to find alligator nests in the
spring, remove the eggs from one or two nests to the lab
where they are hatched, and then return the hatchlings to the
Left: Eggs from one alligator nest were taken to the laboratory where they hatched. Shortly after, they were returned to the original
nest. Right: Theresa Cantu, a PhD student on the team, holds several of the hatchlings.
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Naturally Kiawah