5th April 07
Shedd Aquarium 2007 Research Project to Andros Island
Shedd Aquarium in Chicago created a conservation program to save the Rock Iguanas of the West Indies , they work in partnership with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) and with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums ( AZA ).
For the past 10 years Shedd has conducted field research mainly on Andros Island but also Exuma Island.
The 2007 expedition was lead by Chuck Knapp , a conservation biologist with both Shedd Aquarium and University of Florida. The aim was to capture as many Iguanas as possible to gather data including blood samples for genetic studies, measurements and tag them with beads to facilitate identification in the future. Behavioral observations were also noted , female C cychlura lay their eggs in termite mounds possibly to assure a regular temperature during incubation and also for protection.
Andros Island is the largest island of the Bahamas and the fifth largest in the Caribbean, it is 6000Km 2 ( 2300 square miles) in area, 167Km (104 miles) at its longest and 64 Km (40 miles ) at its widest point.
It is a subtropical island composed of 3 major islands, North Andros, Mangrove Cay and South Andros, there are five distinct vegetation zones.
There are 9 species of CYCLURA or Rock Iguanas in the West Indies , every species and sub-species are Endangered , most Critically Endangered and one thought to be Extinct !
Adult Iguanas have virtually no natural predators, however their numbers have been in decline since Pre-Colombian times when the Arawak and Lucayan Indians hunted them to supplement their poor diet. This may have initiated the process of decline but the real devastation began with the arrival of the Europeans to the Islands. The iguanas suffered extensive habitat loss as human populations increased but were more seriously affected by the domesticated animals they brought with them . Cattle, goats, pigs, dogs , cats , rats and even mongoose were all introduced to this already delicate ecosystem, the iguanas now had predators and also competition for food.
Rock Iguanas are large , diurnal lizards that are mainly herbivorous feeding on a wide variety of native plants and a small quantity of insects, land crabs and some carrion , mainly dead sea birds or fish.
The young iguanas will climb and have been found up to 5M in trees whereas the adults are ground dwelling . Their principal habitat is dry thorn forests that grow on a eroded limestone , this contains many caves and crevices that the iguanas use as retreats .Mating normally takes place during the same 2 - 3 week period each year regardless of the climatic conditions. Depending on the species , mating takes place from late may until mid june with the eggs being laid about 40 days later. The eggs are amongst the largest eggs laid by any lizard in the world, they are deposited in nest burrows that can be up to 1.5M in length where they will incubate for between 65 - 90 days. Mortality rates are very high for juvenile iguanas, as close to 100% on some islands ! Rock Iguanas attain sexual maturity from 2 years of age depending on species, their average lifespan is around 30 years although some researchers believe they can live up to 80 years !
ISG_Bklt_9(1).pdf
AndrosAssessment.pdf
For the past 10 years Shedd has conducted field research mainly on Andros Island but also Exuma Island.
The 2007 expedition was lead by Chuck Knapp , a conservation biologist with both Shedd Aquarium and University of Florida. The aim was to capture as many Iguanas as possible to gather data including blood samples for genetic studies, measurements and tag them with beads to facilitate identification in the future. Behavioral observations were also noted , female C cychlura lay their eggs in termite mounds possibly to assure a regular temperature during incubation and also for protection.
Andros Island is the largest island of the Bahamas and the fifth largest in the Caribbean, it is 6000Km 2 ( 2300 square miles) in area, 167Km (104 miles) at its longest and 64 Km (40 miles ) at its widest point.
It is a subtropical island composed of 3 major islands, North Andros, Mangrove Cay and South Andros, there are five distinct vegetation zones.
There are 9 species of CYCLURA or Rock Iguanas in the West Indies , every species and sub-species are Endangered , most Critically Endangered and one thought to be Extinct !
Adult Iguanas have virtually no natural predators, however their numbers have been in decline since Pre-Colombian times when the Arawak and Lucayan Indians hunted them to supplement their poor diet. This may have initiated the process of decline but the real devastation began with the arrival of the Europeans to the Islands. The iguanas suffered extensive habitat loss as human populations increased but were more seriously affected by the domesticated animals they brought with them . Cattle, goats, pigs, dogs , cats , rats and even mongoose were all introduced to this already delicate ecosystem, the iguanas now had predators and also competition for food.
Rock Iguanas are large , diurnal lizards that are mainly herbivorous feeding on a wide variety of native plants and a small quantity of insects, land crabs and some carrion , mainly dead sea birds or fish.
The young iguanas will climb and have been found up to 5M in trees whereas the adults are ground dwelling . Their principal habitat is dry thorn forests that grow on a eroded limestone , this contains many caves and crevices that the iguanas use as retreats .Mating normally takes place during the same 2 - 3 week period each year regardless of the climatic conditions. Depending on the species , mating takes place from late may until mid june with the eggs being laid about 40 days later. The eggs are amongst the largest eggs laid by any lizard in the world, they are deposited in nest burrows that can be up to 1.5M in length where they will incubate for between 65 - 90 days. Mortality rates are very high for juvenile iguanas, as close to 100% on some islands ! Rock Iguanas attain sexual maturity from 2 years of age depending on species, their average lifespan is around 30 years although some researchers believe they can live up to 80 years !
ISG_Bklt_9(1).pdf
AndrosAssessment.pdf
)
