Hi mollysue,
Thank you for another interesting wildlife question. According to an
article written in August 1998 titled "Crocodiles of Belize" the
Morelet's Crocodile population has been steadily rising during the
past 20 years.
Crocodiles of Belize by Les Beletsky August 1998
Excerpted from Belize and Northern Guatemala: The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide
http://www.planeta.com/planeta/98/0898crocs.html - (written by Les D. Beletsky)
"Many of the Latin American crocodilians were hunted heavily during
the first half of the 20th century. MORELET'S CROCODILE, in
particular, is one of the more endangered species, listed by CITES
Appendix I and USA ESA. AMERICAN CROCODILES, considered by some
agencies as vulnerable to threat, are also CITES Appendix I and USA
ESA listed. Today, only the COMMON CAIMAN is hunted in large numbers,
particulary in the Pantanal region of Brazil. All crocodilians are
listed by the international CITES agreements, preventing or highly
regulating trade in their skins or other parts, and their numbers have
been steadily rising during the past 20 years. However, most of the 23
crocodilian species are still threatened or endandgered."
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Crocodilian Species List - Crocodylus moreletii (BIBRON & DUMERIL, 1851)
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/csp_cmor.htm
"Data exist for the status of the population over most of its range,
although much of this is incomplete (especially in Guatemala)."
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Species Accounts - Crocodylus moreletii
Common names: Morelet?s crocodile, alligator (Belize), Cocodrilo de
pantano (Mexico)
Range: Belize, Guatemala, Mexico
Conservation and status
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/act-plan/cmore.htm
"Populations of Morelet?s crocodile were greatly reduced in many areas
due to uncontrolled hide hunting, which took place principally in the
1940s and 1950s. A limited amount of basic survey work is available
over the range of the species in Mexico (Powell 1973, Campbell 1972b,
Perez-Higareda 1980) and Belize (Abercrombie et al. 1980). Detailed
surveys in Guatemala are lacking, although the species is reported to
be reasonably common in the Peten area. More recent survey data
available from Belize suggest some reduction of populations near human
centers of population (Abercrombie et al. 1982) although the species
is said to remain quite common in remote areas. Surveys at Cox lagoon
1990 - 1994 (Hunt and Tamarak 1992, Hunt et al. 1994), show a stable
population of 18 - 45 non-hatchlings. Morelet?s crocodile is sympatric
with C. acutus and extends its range into brackish habitats in the
lagoons of northeastern Belize (Ouboter 1992, Meerman 1992), where
several localities with small numbers of individuals are reported. A
study of the biology of crocodiles, including C. moreletii, in Belize
is underway (Platt 1994a, Platt and Montanucci 1993). Status in the
south of Belize is unknown. Recent information on the status of the
species in Mexico and Guatemala is lacking apart from incidental
records (e.g. Sigler and Gonzalez 1994, Sigler 1994). Anecdotal
reports suggest the species remains widely distributed in the Mexican
states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Yucatan and Quintana Roo although it may
be diminishing, largely due to habitat destruction and loss. Several
populations have been established on the Pacific coast of Mexico by
escapes from farms and deliberate introduction. The effect on local
populations of C. acutus is of concern. The situation in the interior
of Peten in Guatemala remains poorly known. There is inadequate
quantitative information to judge the status of this species
throughout the bulk of its range.
Populations of C. moreletii are considered to be depleted in all three
countries within the species? distribution. However, in some areas,
such as the Centla Biosphere Reserve, Lacandon forest and the Sian
Kaán Biosphere Preserve in Mexico, and in Belize, healthy populations
exist. Although wild populations are protected in all three countries,
some movement toward the development of sustainable management has
been made. In Mexico, a number of commercial farming operations have
started, including one in Sinaloa on the Pacific coast, outside the
species? natural range. Interest has been expressed both in Belize and
Guatemala in initiating sustainable management programs as well. An
application to register a captive breeding facility in Sinaloa for
international trade was approved in 1996 by the CITES Secretariat."
[edit]
"Surveys of status and distribution in Guatemala: Little is known
about this species in Guatemala, where, however, interest is
developing in its commercial management. Status surveys and ecological
studies need to be completed.
Surveys of status and distribution in Mexico: In view of the
increasing interest in sustainable use and captive breeding of this
species in Mexico, assessment of its current status and development of
effective management and conservation are urgently needed. Little is
known about populations along the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to
expanded surveys, ecological work in the Sian Kaán Biosphere reserve
should be continued, and a management plan developed for the species.
Moderate priority
Development of a management plan for Belize: Ongoing work by Howard
Hunt and colleagues in Cox Lagoon, and by Steve Platt throughout
Belize are providing baseline information on distribution and status.
A population monitoring project and long-term ecological studies need
to be implemented."
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Morelet's Crocodile
http://www.belizezoo.org/zoo/zoo/herps/cro/cro1.html
Prior to 1981, the Morelet's Crocodile was hunted heavily in Belize
for its hide. At the time of the passing of the Wildlife Protection
Act, the number of crocodiles was few. The population has since
rebounded and they can be found in most of the lowland interior rivers
and ponds.
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/SpeciesProfile?spcode=C006
Crocodile, Morelet's
Crocodylus moreletii
Family: Crocodylidae
Group: Reptiles
Endangered
On June 02, 1970, the Morelet's crocodile was designated as Endangered
in the Entire Range. Within the area covered by this listing, this
species is known to occur in: Belize, Guatemala, Mexico.
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Crocodylus moreletii - Belize, Guatemala, Mexico
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/csp_cmor.htm.
STATUS:
CITES: Appendix I
IUCN Red List: LRcd (LOW RISK, CONSERVATION DEPENDENT)
Estimated wild population: 10,000 to 20,000
Summary: Recent survey information shows moderate densities, and still
found over its historic distribution. Significant conservation program
underway.
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The Institute of Environmental and Human Health
Department of Environmental Toxicology
http://www.tiehh.ttu.edu/research/currentresearch.asp
"In 1995, in collaboration with Dr. Steven Platt of the Wildlife
Conservation Society, McMurry and Rainwater journeyed to Belize to
collect Morelet's crocodile eggs for contaminant analysis. Platt had
been studying Morelet's crocodile, an endangered species, since 1992
and was himself curious about possible exposure of these animals to
environmental contaminants in Belize where regulations governing the
use of chemicals are scant or difficult to enforce. Detectable levels
of DDT, its metabolites, and mercury were found in eggs from three
lagoons, providing the basis for further research. Through continuing
support by Mark and Monique Howells of Lamanai Field Research Center -
Lamanai Outpost Lodge, fieldwork has continued from 1995 to present.
Thus, this project represents a unique collaboration between academia
and private tourism in Belize, supporting both education and research
of the natural resources of Belize. To date, over 530 crocodiles have
been marked and released, and biological samples have been collected
from over 100 individuals.
With the acquisition of the EPA grant, TIEHH scientists now hope to
more thoroughly examine exposure and effects of EDCs on Morelet's
crocodile populations in Belize. They hypothesize that crocodiles
inhabiting contaminated areas contain higher EDC concentrations in
their tissues than individuals in non-contaminated areas, and that
differences in crocodile morphology, blood hormone levels, serum
chemistry, reproductive success, population density, and juvenile
survival exist between contaminated and non-contaminated sites. Blood,
fat, non-viable eggs, and population data will be collected from
crocodiles on contaminated and reference sites to examine exposure and
effects of EDCs at the individual and population levels.
When completed, this study will provide much-needed information on the
linkage between EDC exposure at the individual level and resulting
effects at the population level. Comparison of these data with data
from alligators from Lake Apopka will provide a unique opportunity to
examine whether Lake Apopka is a worst-case scenario or if similar
reproductive problems and population declines occur in other
crocodilian species exposed to EDCs. Moreover, this study will provide
valuable insight into the efficacy of reptiles, particularly
crocodilians, as sensitive indicators of environmental contamination
and ecosystems potentially at risk. This information will be
especially useful for ecological risk assessment in tropical countries
where reptiles are abundant and regulations governing the use of
chemicals, some of them EDCs, are underdeveloped or inadequately
enforced."
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(You must have a subscription to BioOne to view the full text of this article)
Genetic Diversity, Population Subdivision, and Gene Flow in Morelet
Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) from Belize, Central America
http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-document&issn=0045-8511&volume=002&issue=04&page=1078
Issn: 0045-8511 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Pages: 1078-1091
Authors: Dever, Jennifer A., Strauss, Richard E., Rainwater, Thomas
R., McMurry, Scott T., Densmore, Llewellyn D.
DOI: 10.1043/0045-8511(2002)002<1078:GDPSAG>2.0.CO;2
ABSTRACT
"The lack of information surrounding natural history and ecology of
the endangered Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) has prompted
a baseline study of the population genetics for this species. Nine
microsatellite loci have been used to estimate genetic structure
within and gene flow patterns among crocodiles (using a recently
described maximum likelihood approach) from seven localities in
north-central Belize. Individuals from the seven localities grouped
into four apparent populations. Within localities, a high degree of
genetic heterogeneity was observed. Among all localities, some
subdivision was present (FST = 0.062; RST = 0.100). Furthermore, among
the apparent populations, we found a significant correlation between
geographic distance and genetic subdivision. Our findings suggest a
relatively high level of migration among populations (Nm = 5.15) and
are consistent with an isolation-by-distance model of gene flow. Two
contiguous subpopulations in particular, New River and New River
Lagoon, may form an important source for genetic variation for smaller
populations throughout the region. These data will allow us to test
hypotheses of relatedness among C. moreletii for other drainages in
Belize and will be useful in optimizing future management programs for
C. moreletii."
Keyword search:
Morelet?s crocodile
Crocodylus moreletii
Morelet?s crocodile current population
Morelet?s crocodile population changes
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, International Affairs CITES Morelet's crocodile
Morelet's crocodile endangered species population
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
