Sánchez Herrera, Oscar, and Álvarez-Romero, Jorge G. (2006) Conservation status of the Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) in Mexico: a proposal for its reclassification in the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). In: Crocodiles: proceedings of the 18th working meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of IUCN the World Conservation Union. pp. 255-265. From: 18th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of IUCN the World Conservation Union, 19-23 June 2006, Montélimar, France.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Based on a field study (2002-2004), developed by a group of experts (COPAN Project), CONABIO concluded the first national evaluation of the status of wild populations of Crocodylus moreletii in Mexico. It gathered information on presence, abundance and habitat from 10 States (63 localities). Forty new localities were recorded, for a total of 105; the species was recorded in 21.9% of historic localities visited. A general index of abundance (total individuals/Km surveyed) gave a figure of 3.16 ind/Km. Based on these data and geographic projections of available habitat an estimation of ca. 15,000 adults in the wild was obtained (nearly 80,000 individuals of all ages). Adding available data from Guatemala and Belize, the estimation reached about 19,000 adults in the whole species' range (or slightly over 100,000 individuals of all ages). Furthermore, a dynamic population simulation using Vortex 9.42, with only about 1/3 of the total estimated population, due to the upper limit of the software (30,000 individuals) showed a very low probability of extinction (0.1380 ± 0.015). These results indicate an effective comeback of a resilient taxon, after nearly critical depletion of natural populations by 1970. On the basis of this, and other evidence, a proposal for removal (or downlisting) the species in the U. S. ESA was submitted by Mexico.

Item ID:	31574
Item Type:	Conference Item (Non-Refereed Research Paper)
Keywords:	swamp crocodyle; biodiversity conservation; widllife trade; population viability assessment; endangered species
Related URLs:	Organisation
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2015 00:59
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity @ 40% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management @ 30% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060207 Population Ecology @ 30%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960805 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales @ 30% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9607 Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards > 960707 Trade and Environment @ 30% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 40%
Downloads:	Total: 5
	More Statistics