Invasive species are considered to be second only to habitat degradation in terms of negative impacts on the Earth’s ecosystems, and our scientists make up a significant proportion of the global expertise in the rapidly-growing problem of invasive reptiles.
Florida invasive reptile research focuses on understanding impacts and control opportunities for Burmese pythons and other recent invaders. Branch scientists combine extensive herpetological expertise with cutting-edge quantitative skills to estimate detection probability, population size, and eradication prospects for a range of invasive reptiles. Projects and collaborators span the globe, from the western Pacific Ocean, across the United States mainland, to Puerto Rico and beyond.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team
Control and Landscape-Scale Suppression of the Invasive Brown Treesnake
Cruising to Improve the Detection of Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park
Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Invasive Species in the Everglades – An Opportunity to Engage Youth in Science
- Overview
Invasive species are considered to be second only to habitat degradation in terms of negative impacts on the Earth’s ecosystems, and our scientists make up a significant proportion of the global expertise in the rapidly-growing problem of invasive reptiles.
A Burmese python slithering in the grass in the Everglades. Photo by Emma Hanslowe, USGS. Florida invasive reptile research focuses on understanding impacts and control opportunities for Burmese pythons and other recent invaders. Branch scientists combine extensive herpetological expertise with cutting-edge quantitative skills to estimate detection probability, population size, and eradication prospects for a range of invasive reptiles. Projects and collaborators span the globe, from the western Pacific Ocean, across the United States mainland, to Puerto Rico and beyond.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
This project involves ongoing development of tools for the detection and capture of invasive reptiles in Florida, with an emphasis on Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) and Black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae). The goals are to reduce the risk of reptile invasions in high-value resources such as Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys, to access early detection methods of new...Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team
Brown Treesnakes continue to cause major problems for the ecology, economy, and quality of life on Guam. Our scientists conduct research on this snake species, including control tool development and testing, ecological impacts, and early detection methods. We hold Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team training courses on Guam throughout the year to develop the skills needed to effectively respond to...Control and Landscape-Scale Suppression of the Invasive Brown Treesnake
The Brown Treesnake is a highly destructive reptile species that has extirpated many native species of birds, bats, and lizards from the U.S. Territory of Guam. For more than two decades branch scientists with the Invasive Reptile Project have developed, validated, and tested the feasibility of Brown Treesnake control and suppression at various spatial scales.Cruising to Improve the Detection of Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park
It is not uncommon to see researchers cruising around Everglades National Park (ENP) on what has been a routine basis for the past ten months. Every evening, interns pack into a Chevy Volt for their shift assisting the U.S. Geological Survey in conducting Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) nighttime surveillance through observational surveys. This effort to detect non-native snakes, namely...Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Since the mid-1990s, several species of non-native, giant constrictor snakes, such as Burmese pythons and boa constrictors, have surfaced in localities throughout southern Florida. Several are known or suspected to be breeding and appear to be spreading northward. Increasingly, media and other reports of sightings or encounters with these animals have emphasized the dangers they could impose on...Invasive Species in the Everglades – An Opportunity to Engage Youth in Science
Invasive reptiles like the Burmese python (Python bivittatus) and Black-and-White Tegu Lizard (Tupinambis merianae) are exerting tremendous harm on Everglades ecosystems, but these problematic species present an excellent opportunity to engage the next generation in science. Since entering into an agreement with Everglades National Park in late 2013, the Invasive Species Science Branch of the U.S... - Publications
- News