Percent composition of fish for each sample containing fresh prey was compared among

the lakes. Percent composition of fish was calculated as fish biomass/total sample

biomass 100. I hypothesized that the proportion of fish in the alligator diets would be

different and that alligators with the largest proportion of fish in their diet may also have

the highest condition. When significant differences were found among lakes using the

Kruskal-Wallis test, lakes were compared pair-wise using the Mann-Whitney U test.

 Condition data were analyzed using parametric tests. The general linear model

was used to detect differences in the condition of alligators. The LSD post hoc test was

used to detect differences among lakes. Values for both diet and condition data were

expressed as the mean + one standard error unless otherwise indicated. Both diet and

condition statistical tests used an alpha of 0. 10, with the null hypothesis of no differences.

The alpha was set at 0.10 due to the low sample size and in an effort to avoid a Type II

error and increase the power in the analysis (Peterman 1990, Searcy-Bernal 1994).

Abnormal Lake Griffin alligators

 Abnormal Lake Griffin alligators were sampled along with normal alligators during

2001. These alligators displayed neurological impairment (Schoeb et al. 2002) and these

samples were analyzed separately and not compared among the lakes. These samples

were analyzed in the same manner as the other samples, i.e., sorting to the lowest

possible taxa and minimum number of individuals, categorizing prey as fresh and old,

and estimating the fresh prey biomass. These samples will be reported and discussed

separately from normal alligator samples.