Alligator

Diversity at Risk There are indicators that a certain environment is at risk of failing; such indicators include the organisms within the environment, their behaviour and many other factors. Problems within a given ecosystem or environment can develop to an endangered or at-risk species. The general health of an ecosystem is depended upon the diversity of organisms that happen to inhabit said ecosystem. When diversity is present within an ecosystem there is a high level of stability due to the fact that all organisms are dependent on each other to ensure survival. To such an extent that the non-existence of one organism in an environment would have a domino effect on every other organism within that ecosystem. The American Alligator has numerous unifying characteristics to its group; including its relativity to the Chinese Alligator and all caimans. Like other alligators in the world (being only one relative: the Chinese Alligator) they prefer to live in a freshwater habitat. Within this habitat they are able to fully use their characteristics to their advantage. These characteristics include a long body of scales called osteoderms or scutes, short and powerful legs, eyes on top of their head, and a long tail that helps them swim (see Appendix A). They also have about 80 teeth in a set at a time (see Appendix A). The life cycle of the American Alligator is a normal breeding cycle for a reptile. When the alligator reaches 10 years old it has the ability to reproduce, the females then build a “mound” of mud and other resources in order to have a nest for the eggs. The females can lay between 35-50 eggs, and after a month these eggs can hatch. After a month they are able to hatch, shortly after the birth the mother will bring the babies to the water in her mouth or her back. In this aquatic environment the female will continue to protect their young until they are one years old and they are then considered to be independent, and this cycle starts all over again (see Appendix C). There are currently over one million American alligators within the states of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia.These alligators inhabit a variety of freshwater habitats including lakes, marshes, rivers and swamps. The various characteristics already explained are necessary for their survival and has enabled them to strive in their ecosystems. These characteristics are also typical for those placed under the Alligatoridae family and are represented in its phylogenetic tree (see Appendix B). The ecological niche of this species within its ecosystem is to be the apex predator of an aquatic ecosystem; such as rivers or swamps. The role of an apex predator is to moderate the dynamics of a population of species, therefore the alligator moderates the population of species below it on the food chain. They are vital because they decrease over population and maintain the overall stability of their ecosystem. In 1967 the American Alligator was listed as an endangered species under United States law that would eventually become the Endangered Species Act. This act made the act of hunting alligators illegal to further aid their reproduction. However, now this alligator is no longer endangered, although currently classified as a threatened species, and is commonly found in numerous states in America. There are three easily identifiable threats to the well being of this species. The first being the increase in mercury found in the waters that the species live in. This mercury is believed to have a negative long-term effect on the ability to reproduce in these alligators. Another threat to the well-being of these alligators is the individuals who do not respect the current hunting laws. There are always going to be those who choose to break the rules and one of these rules being the hunting of the American alligator; in order to use for various items such as various clothing. The third threat to the alligators is the habitat loss due to climate change. The temperature produces either a male or female when the offspring is in its egg; therefore the rising temperature will cause there to be more males than females due to a higher temperature. The actions that are being taken to protect the American Alligator consist of the actions of various animal rights groups and protective laws. Animal rights groups, such as the American Alligator Cycle of Protection Program, work extensively in order to maintain the stability of American Alligators in the United States. By having a group such as this awareness is more likely to be spread and the news of a threatened species could be broadened. The Endangered Species Act was set in place in 1967 in order to stop the hunting of alligators for clothes and meat. This has served an effective purpose because hunting is regulated by designating a number of tags to each licensed hunter and now captive breeding produces about twenty thousand hatchlings annually. These organizations and efforts have had a significant long-term impact on the future of the group by the evident increase in the alligator population and status. Before the 1970’s the American Alligator was listed as an endangered species and now they are listed as threatened. Therefore, the positive change in status is representative of the increase in the well-being of alligators in the United States. Individuals have become more involved in protecting the diversity of the group by the aid of non-profit organizations. There are numerous agencies that allow individuals to adopt wildlife including the American Alligator. This is a way that the community can get involved in further funding the expansion of the population of the American Alligators. The ways that people can get involved in includes “nuisance alligator control, private lands alligator management, state-wide alligator harvest on state waters, alligator farming, and alligator egg and hatchling programs”. The International Convention of Biological Diversity and the Youth Accord for Biodiversity are two groups that aim to sustain the conservation of biodiversity within ecosystems. The International Convention of Biological Diversity is “an international treaty to sustain the diversity of life on Earth”. The formation of this group was inspired by the interest in biodiversity and was promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme. Their objectives consist of three aims: “The conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources”. Another group is the Youth Accord for Biodiversity who also has a similar cause however it has more of a focus on the younger generation and “incorporate the voice of youth in decision-making”. Their focus is to gain the attention of youth in order to spread the importance of biodiversity and to get them involved to change for a better future. The status of this group of alligators has changed due to the efforts of humanity. Appendix Appendix A: Appendix B: Appendix C: Works Cited "American Alligator | National Parks Conservation Association." National Parks Conservation Association | Protecting Our National Parks for Future Generations. Web. 06 Mar. 2011. . "American Alligator." AC Tropical Fish & Aquarium. Web. 06 Mar. 2011. . "American Alligator Cycle of Protection (AACOP) Program." Florida Seafood and Aquaculture. Web. 09 Mar. 2011. . "Biodiversity Matters - Youth Accord." Biodiversity Matters - Home. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. . "The Convention on Biological Diversity." Convention on Biological Diversity. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. . "Endangered American Alligators and Conservation Measures." Crocodile Skin, Leather and Caiman Crocodiles Facts in Detail. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. . "Global Youth Accord on Biodiversity." UN-CSD Youth Caucus. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. . "Mercury Distribution in American Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis) in Florida." Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 28 Mar. 1997. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. . -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. "American Alligator | National Parks Conservation Association." National Parks Conservation Association | Protecting Our National Parks for Future Generations. Web. 06 Mar. 2011. [ 2 ].  "American Alligator." AC Tropical Fish & Aquarium. 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