Photo-documented sequences from 01 Jun 2021 - 30 Aug 2021 showing novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida, USA, bobcat and Burmese python
Entire photo-documented sequence from 01 June 2021-09 September 2021, including novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida - the native bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the invasive Burmese python (Python bivittatus). A bobcat depredated an unguarded Burmese python nest and subsequently the python exhibited nest defense behavior following the return of both animals to the nest. First, a bobcat discovers an unguarded nest then proceeds to depredate, cache, and uncover the eggs over several days. The bobcat returns to find the female python back on the nest and later proceeds to swipe at the snake. After biologists attempted to the nest but leave the camera, the bobcat returns to scavenge discarded, inviable eggs over several weeks. This is the first documentation of any animal in Florida preying on python eggs, and the first evidence or description of such antagonistic interactions at a python nest. Photos were captured by U.S. Geological Survey equipment in Big Cypress National Preserve within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida USA.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Title | Photo-documented sequences from 01 Jun 2021 - 30 Aug 2021 showing novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida, USA, bobcat and Burmese python |
| DOI | 10.5066/P97ZDQHY |
| Authors | Andrea F Currylow, Gretchen E Anderson, Amy A Yackel |
| Product Type | Data Release |
| Record Source | USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog |
| USGS Organization | Fort Collins Science Center |
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Face-off: Novel depredation and nest defense behaviors between an invasive and a native predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
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Face-off: Novel depredation and nest defense behaviors between an invasive and a native predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
We describe several photo-documented novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida—the native bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the invasive Burmese python (Python bivittatus). Over several days we documented a bobcat's depredation of an unguarded python nest and subsequent python nest defense behavior following the return of both animals to the nest. This is the first documentation ofAuthorsAndrea Faye Currylow, Matthew F. McCollister, Gretchen Erika Anderson, Jillian Maureen Josimovich, Austin Lee Fitzgerald, Christina M. Romagosa, Amy A. Yackel Adams - Connect
Andrea Currylow, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Research EcologistGretchen Anderson, MSc (Former Employee)
Biological Science TechnicianAmy Yackel Adams, PhD
Supervisory Research EcologistEmailPhone