Movement, dispersal and interpreting health assessment parameters for free-ranging raptors and a reptile in a compromised estuarine ecosystem

This investigation compared statistical parameters for the blood serum chemistries
of free ranging Osprey nestlings from Florida Bay and an Osprey population from Lake
Istokpoga, in Central Florida (Chapter 1). Florida Bay Ospreys showed higher mean rank
values for alanine aminotransferase (H=6.79, P=.009), alkaline phosphatase (H=6.48,
P=.011), and sodium (H=5.7, P=.017), and Central Florida had higher mean rank values
potassium (H=13.19, P=.000) and carbon dioxide (H=6.23, P=.013). Serum chemistries
values were also compared between free-ranging Bald Eagle and Osprey nestling in
Florida Bay estuary in southern Florida (Chapter 2). There were significant differences
between serum values of Bald Eagle and Osprey nestlings. Bald Eagle serum values were
higher for total protein (H=17.833, P=.00002), Albumin (H=7.449, P=.006), Aspartate
aminotransferase (H=113.153, P =.0001), and Calcium (H=7.148, P = 008). Osprey serum values were higher for alanine aminotransferase (H=11.824, P = 0.0005), alkaline phosphatase (H=105.5, P =.0001), creatine kinase (H=13.465, P = 0.0002), carbon dioxide (H=4.443, P = 0.035) and cholinesterase (H=99.3, P=.0001). Sixteen nestling Bald Eagles were fitted with satellite platform transmitter terminal (PTT) or VHF radio transmitter package for a duration of six years (Chapter 3)= to identify their movement and dispersal. One of the 15 eagles migrated to North Carolina, whereas the other 14 (93%) confined their movements to Florida. Tracking duration per individual ranged from 82 to 1,531 days. We estimated first-year survival as 52% and 67% for the period from 1.5 to 3 years. Diamondback Terrapins (Chapter 4) were evaluated by an integrated assessment of physical, chemical, and physiological parameters. Extreme site fidelity of the turtles to mangrove habitat was evident along with a strong female biased sex ratio. There was a significant difference in the total number of individuals collected at the two sites (P =. 01) despite the total size and shorelines of the two sites being very nearly the same. Total recapture rate was 70% for combined population (TLK = 80% and CKW = 48%). We provide blood serum values and microbial cultures as baselines from these turtles in the wild.