Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Geosciences
Date of Award
5-2026
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Blaine W. Schubert
Committee Members
Joshua X. Samuels, Andrew Joyner
Abstract
Several studies have examined correlations between total body length (TL) and skeletal measurements in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), with some measurements serving as stronger predictors of TL than others. Femur length (FL) has been found to be tightly correlated with TL in A. mississippiensis, and this relationship has been used to estimate body size of extinct crocodilians. This thesis demonstrates that the humerus, radius, ulna, and tibia are also strongly correlated with TL and useful for body size estimation in A. mississippiensis, and thus, can be applied to related extinct crocodilians. Additionally, species distribution modeling was used to compare present-day and Pliocene habitat suitability for A. mississippiensis. Temperature was identified as the primary driver of suitable habitat, and warmer Pliocene conditions supported broader northern ranges than today. These results provide context for long-term ecological responses in Alligator.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Turala, Madelyn M., "Estimating Body Size and Biogeography in the Genus Alligator" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4687. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4687
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
