cientists collect information on many kinds of wildlife, and for a variety of reasons. Through their resarch they learn about the animals' habits, populations, and locations. Such information can help them learn more about the animals, protect endangered species, detect changes that may signal environmental problems, or keep track of animals that may present risks to humans.
In central Florida, where slligators and humans live in close proimity, it is important to track the locations and sizes of alligators. The animals may be spotted from the air, from a boat, or on land. Wildlife expects can accurately estimate the alligator's length, but they usually want to know the animal's weight as well. That's a little harder to determine, unless you'd like to be the one who picks the gator up to step on scale...
To develop a way to estimate the weight of an alligator, the wildlife researchers measured the lengths and weights of several captured alligators. Then they used those data to develop a model enabling them to estimate an alligator's weight from its length- something they can guess from a safe distance! Officials hope to use this model to identify alligators that should be relocated because they have grown so large as to pose a threat to humans.