Invasive Species

This project involves development of tools for the detection and control of invasive reptiles in Florida, with an emphasis on pythons and tegu lizards. The goals are to reduce the risk of reptile invasions, investigate early detection methods, maintain rapid response capacity, and understand invasive reptile population biology and ecology to inform management options.

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...

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...

Many managers are hampered by the scope of the invasive species problem compared to their available resources. Habitat suitability models of invaders can help fill this resource gap, helping with activities such as watch list compilation and targeted surveillance and eradication efforts.

We are working on understanding the chemical ecology of Rapid ʽŌhiʽa Death - ROD -, which is critical for protecting both healthy and ROD-infected ʽōhi‘a. A better understanding could lead to early ROD detection tools and the development of attractants and repellents to manipulate ambrosia beetle populations.

Melaleuca, also known as a paperbark tree, is an invasive tree.

Brazilian waterweed is an invasive aquatic plant.

Brome is an invasive plant.

Leafy spurge is an invasive Eurasian perennial introduced into the United States as a contaminant of crop seed in the 1880s and 1890s. It is an invasive plant that is poisonous to cattle and infests more than 2.7 million acres in southern Canada and the northern Great Plains. It typically forms monocultures and because of the latex that occurs in all parts of the plant, it is not consumed by...

Siberian elm are an invasive tree.

The abundance of Russian olive varies across the Western United States; these species can be dominant, codominant, or subdominant relative to native species.

For more than a decade, USGS scientists have been leaders in understanding saltcedar invasion on riparian ecosystems in the southwest including effects on plant communities, water loss, erosion, wildlife use and human recreational resources. Models have been developed that quantify the extent of saltcedar distribution and inform management actions. In addition, USGS is studying the effectiveness...