Biogeography

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.

Worldwide research of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) has led to varied definitions and terminology regarding ways to group dolphins for study and management. An understanding of the demographic history and population structure of bottlenose dolphins residing within the Indian River Lagoon Estuary System (IRLES), Florida, is needed to help define the IRLES dolphin population: ecotype, population, or community. Using mitochondrial DNA sequencing and microsatellite genotyping, this study detected: (1) genetic differentiation between estuarine and coastal individuals (FstmtDNA=0.414, Fstmsat=0.057; p<0.05; K=2), (2) genetic differentiation between the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and Mosquito Lagoon (ML) (FstmtDNA=0.0201, Fstmsat=0.0234; p<0.09), and (3) minute undefined sub-structure within the IRLES (FstmtDNA=-0.00 -0.0379, Fstmsat=0.00 - vii 0.0445; p>0.1). Additionally, within ML this study detected non-mixing cohabitation of two potential ecotypes, estuarine and coastal. These findings raise many questions regarding how dolphins are presently categorized and managed which are critical to population assessments including abundance, vital rates, and health.

Fossiliferous rocks of the Snatolskaya and Kovachinskaya formations comprise a Middle and Late Eocene shallow-marine record of the central part of western Kamchatka. Gastropod assemblages of these formations contain taxa that are conspecific with those in Paleogene strata of western North America and Japan, as well as a large percentage of endemic species. Analysis of the latitudinal ranges and worldwide occurrences of gastropod genera from these formations show the presence of three biogeographic components: cosmopolitan, North Pacific, and endemic. No Tethyan, or circumtropical genera are present in these Kamchatkan Middle and Late Eocene gastropod faunas. Changes in the geographic distribution of North Pacific gastropod assemblages through the Middle and Late Eocene indicate that only eastern Pacific Tethyan taxa were subjected to latitudinal range reduction. The distribution of cosmopolitan and North Pacific elements did not significantly change from the Middle to Late Eocene, which suggests a relatively stable environment and climate stability during that time. High-latitude Eocene gastropod assemblages from Western Kamchatka demonstrate a high level of endemism at the species level and a low-level of endemism on the genus level. This pattern is thought to be a result of the unrestricted migration of cosmopolitan taxa northward along the shallow-marine margin of the Pacific rim.