Caiman latirostris (broad-snouted caiman) nest predation: does low rainfall facilitate predator access?

LARRIERA, A.; PIÑA, C.I.

Herpetological Natural History

Año: 2000 vol. 7 p. 73 - 77

1069-1928

Many factors affect the embryonic development and subsequent hatch success of crocodilians. In this study we test if low rainfall increases nest depredation. We evluated 266 caiman nests durin three years. The number of nests predated in the driest year (1994-95, n = 35) was ignificantly higher than either the mean of all years or the number in wetter years. The num-ber of nests depredated was much higher in upland forest areas or savanna adjacent to the wetlands than nests on floating vegetation in the wetlands. Our results suggest that the high predation rates observed during low water levels are due to changing diets of Caiman latirostris nest predators as well as to the increased distance between nests and the water resulting in less female attention.