Supers:
:01-:05 Gainesville, FL
:14-:19 Dr. Janine Cianciolo - UF Veterinarian
:22-:27 Linda Kubitz Reporting
:48-:53 Dr. Franklin Percival - UF Wildlife Biologist
TRT: 1:25
TAG: ALLIGATORS CAN BE USED AS A KEY INDICATOR OF CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN THE EVERGLADES SUCH AS WATER QUALITY AND WATER LEVELS.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SPENDING A DAY BASKING IN THE SUN... BUT FOR ALLIGATORS, THIS ISN'T JUST A PLEASURABLE PASTTIME. IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
CIANCIOLO: "Body temperature is real important in terms of reproductive biology of the animal. It's important in terms of disease status. The immune system is all temperature dependent." (:12)
TAKING AN ALLIGATOR'S TEMPERATURE ISN'T AS EASY AS PUTTING A THERMONETER IN ITS MOUTH. SO UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCHERS HAD TO BE CREATIVE AND PUT THE TRANMITTER WHERE IT COULDN'T BE LOST. BEFORE THAT COULD HAPPEN, THEY HAD TO CATCH THE ALLIGATORS. A PROCESS THAT RESEMBLES AN GATOR ROUND-UP.
PERCIVAL: "We tend to use a snare as a principle way because it's the least harmful method that we can use for the alligator." (:09)
THE TRANSMITTER ALSO RECORDS BODY TEMPERATURE AROUND ONCE AN HOUR FOR UP TO A YEAR. SO FAR, THE RESULTS HAVE SHOWN GATORS ARE MORE ACTIVE IN THE SPRING AS A WAY TO INCREASE BODY HEAT FOR MATING SEASON. INFORMATION LIKE THIS IS VALUABLE BECAUSE IT GIVES US CLUES TO NOT ONLY THE HEALTH OF ALLIGATORS BUT THE EVERGLADES ECO-SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. IN FT. LAUDERDALE, I'M LINDA KUBITZ REPORTING.