This project involves ongoing development of tools for the detection and control 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 into, and impacts on, high-value resources such as Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Florida Keys, to access early detection methods of new incipient populations, to maintain rapid response capacity, and understand the population biology and ecology of invasive reptiles to inform management options.
Florida’s Greater Everglades Ecosystem encompass vast subtropical habitats within and around Everglades National Park, which is the only place in the United States designated as a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Significance. Billions of dollars have been committed to the long-term restoration of this ecosystem, but burgeoning populations of introduced and invasive reptiles threaten prospects for restoration.
USGS FORT Invasive Species Scientists are conducting research on a range of detection and control tools for invasive reptiles in Florida, including environmental DNA sampling methods for terrestrial systems, reproductive research to identify critical biological vulnerabilities, and vital rate fieldwork. Scientists are also conducting basic ecological research to better understand impacts of these invasive predators and inform development of control tools.
Python Problem
The invasive Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is established across South Florida and is implicated in the negative impacts of myriad native fauna. It is the most widely known of these invaders, and this giant snake appears to have contributed to drastic declines among several species of midsized mammals in the Everglades. For more than a decade, scientists and managers have investigated python ecology in the area to understand its habits and develop targeted removal and control tools. However, due to their incredible crypsis, pythons have proven extremely difficult to assess, and no tractable abundance estimates have yet been made.
Troublesome Tegus
Black and white tegus (Salvator merianae; tegu) are large terrestrial lizards from South America that are newly established in Everglades National Park, presenting a significant conservation issue. Tegus are dietary generalists with a predilection for eating eggs of ground-nesting animals, putting several threatened or endangered species and species that are indicators for Everglades Restoration at risk (for example, American crocodiles, black rails, and American alligators) within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Mentoring the next generation: USGS, NPS, and University of Florida Cooperative Research Unit Invasive Reptile Intern Program
USGS Everglades Research Office - Florida
Cruising to Improve the Detection of Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park
Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Below are publications associated with this project.
Supersize me: Remains of three white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in an invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in Florida
Challenges to a molecular approach to prey identification in the Burmese python, Python molurus bivittatus
Observations of two non-native snake species in the same remote area of southern Florida
Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling improves occurrence and detection estimates of invasive Burmese pythons
The influence of disturbed habitat on the spatial ecology of Argentine black and white tegu (Tupinambis merianae), a recent invader in the Everglades ecosystem (Florida, USA)
Caveats for correlative species distribution modeling
Brumation of introduced Black and White Tegus, Tupinambis merianae (Squamata: Teiidae), in southern Florida
Assessing risks to humans from invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Python molurus bivittatus (Burmese python). Minimum size at maturity
Invasive and introduced reptiles and amphibians
Phelsuma grandis (Madagascar day gecko)
Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
This project involves ongoing development of tools for the detection and control 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 into, and impacts on, high-value resources such as Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Florida Keys, to access early detection methods of new incipient populations, to maintain rapid response capacity, and understand the population biology and ecology of invasive reptiles to inform management options.
Scientist Michelle Collier holding a black and white tegu. USGS photo. Florida’s Greater Everglades Ecosystem encompass vast subtropical habitats within and around Everglades National Park, which is the only place in the United States designated as a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Significance. Billions of dollars have been committed to the long-term restoration of this ecosystem, but burgeoning populations of introduced and invasive reptiles threaten prospects for restoration.
USGS FORT Invasive Species Scientists are conducting research on a range of detection and control tools for invasive reptiles in Florida, including environmental DNA sampling methods for terrestrial systems, reproductive research to identify critical biological vulnerabilities, and vital rate fieldwork. Scientists are also conducting basic ecological research to better understand impacts of these invasive predators and inform development of control tools.
A Burmese python slithering in the grass in the Everglades. Photo by: Emma Hanslowe, USGS. Public domain. Python Problem
The invasive Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is established across South Florida and is implicated in the negative impacts of myriad native fauna. It is the most widely known of these invaders, and this giant snake appears to have contributed to drastic declines among several species of midsized mammals in the Everglades. For more than a decade, scientists and managers have investigated python ecology in the area to understand its habits and develop targeted removal and control tools. However, due to their incredible crypsis, pythons have proven extremely difficult to assess, and no tractable abundance estimates have yet been made.Troublesome Tegus
Black and white tegus (Salvator merianae; tegu) are large terrestrial lizards from South America that are newly established in Everglades National Park, presenting a significant conservation issue. Tegus are dietary generalists with a predilection for eating eggs of ground-nesting animals, putting several threatened or endangered species and species that are indicators for Everglades Restoration at risk (for example, American crocodiles, black rails, and American alligators) within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Mentoring the next generation: USGS, NPS, and University of Florida Cooperative Research Unit Invasive Reptile Intern Program
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...USGS Everglades Research Office - Florida
The Daniel Beard Center in Everglades National Park provides the base for most of the field work done on the control of invasive reptiles by USGS Fort Collins Science Center staff. The team works in Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and other parts of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem focusing on, among other species of concern...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... - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 22Supersize me: Remains of three white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in an invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in Florida
Snakes have become successful invaders in a wide variety of ecosystems worldwide. In southern Florida, USA, the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) has become established across thousands of square kilometers including all of Everglades National Park (ENP). Both experimental and correlative data have supported a relationship between Burmese python predation and declines or extirpations of mAuthorsScott M. Boback, Ray W. Snow, Teresa Hsu, Suzanne C. Peurach, Carla J. Dove, Robert N. ReedChallenges to a molecular approach to prey identification in the Burmese python, Python molurus bivittatus
Molecular approaches to prey identification are increasingly useful in elucidating predator–prey relationships, and we aimed to investigate the feasibility of these methods to document the species identities of prey consumed by invasive Burmese pythons in Florida. We were particularly interested in the diet of young snakes, because visual identification of prey from this size class has proven diffAuthorsBryan Falk, Robert N. ReedObservations of two non-native snake species in the same remote area of southern Florida
No abstract available.AuthorsEmma B. Hanslowe, Bryan G. Falk, Michelle A. McEachern, Robert N. ReedEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) sampling improves occurrence and detection estimates of invasive Burmese pythons
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods are used to detect DNA that is shed into the aquatic environment by cryptic or low density species. Applied in eDNA studies, occupancy models can be used to estimate occurrence and detection probabilities and thereby account for imperfect detection. However, occupancy terminology has been applied inconsistently in eDNA studies, and many have calculated occurrence pAuthorsMargaret E. Hunter, Sara J. Oyler-McCance, Robert M. Dorazio, Jennifer A. Fike, Brian J. Smith, Charles T. Hunter, Robert N. Reed, Kristen M. HartThe influence of disturbed habitat on the spatial ecology of Argentine black and white tegu (Tupinambis merianae), a recent invader in the Everglades ecosystem (Florida, USA)
The threat of invasive species is often intensified in disturbed habitat. To optimize control programs, it is necessary to understand how degraded habitat influences the behavior of invasive species. We conducted a radio telemetry study to characterize movement and habitat use of introduced male Argentine black and white tegus (Tupinambis merianae) in the Everglades of southern Florida from May toAuthorsPage E. Klug, Robert N. Reed, Frank J. Mazzotti, Michelle A. McEachern, Joy J. Vinci, Katelin K. Craven, Amy A. Yackel AdamsCaveats for correlative species distribution modeling
Correlative species distribution models are becoming commonplace in the scientific literature and public outreach products, displaying locations, abundance, or suitable environmental conditions for harmful invasive species, threatened and endangered species, or species of special concern. Accurate species distribution models are useful for efficient and adaptive management and conservation, researAuthorsCatherine S. Jarnevich, Thomas J. Stohlgren, Sunil Kumar, Jeffrey T. Morisette, Tracy R. HolcombeBrumation of introduced Black and White Tegus, Tupinambis merianae (Squamata: Teiidae), in southern Florida
An established population of Tupinambis merianae (Black and White Tegu) in southeastern Florida threatens the Everglades ecosystem. Understanding the behavioral ecology of Black and White Tegus could aid in management and control plans. Black and White Tegus are seasonally active and brumate during the winter in their native range, but brumation behavior is largely unstudied in either the native oAuthorsMichelle McEachern, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Page E. Klug, Lee A. Fitzgerald, Robert N. ReedAssessing risks to humans from invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are now established across a large area of southern Florida, USA, including all of Everglades National Park (NP). The presence of these large-bodied snakes in the continental United States has attracted intense media attention, including regular reference to the possibility of these snakes preying on humans. Over the course of a decade (2003–201AuthorsRobert N. Reed, Ray W. SnowPython molurus bivittatus (Burmese python). Minimum size at maturity
No abstract available.AuthorsJohn D Willson, Ray W Snow, Robert N. Reed, Michael E DorcasInvasive and introduced reptiles and amphibians
Why is there a section on introduced amphibians and reptiles in this volume, and why should veterinarians care about this issue? Globally, invasive species are a major threat to the stability of native ecosystems,1,2 and amphibians and reptiles are attracting increased attention as potential invaders. Some introduced amphibians and reptiles have had a major impact (e.g., Brown Tree Snakes [Boiga iAuthorsRobert N. Reed, Kenneth L. KryskoPhelsuma grandis (Madagascar day gecko)
No abstract available.AuthorsKenneth L. Krysko, James G. Duquesnel, Robert N. ReedSevere mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park
Invasive species represent a significant threat to global biodiversity and a substantial economic burden. Burmese pythons, giant constricting snakes native to Asia, now are found throughout much of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park (ENP). Pythons have increased dramatically in both abundance and geographic range since 2000 and consume a wide variety of mammals and birds.AuthorsMichael E. Dorcas, John D. Wilson, Robert N. Reed, Ray W. Snow, Michael R. Rochford, Melissa A. Miller, Walter E. Meshaka, Paul T. Andreadis, Frank J. Mazzotti, Christina M. Romagosa, Kristen M. Hart - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.