Amy Yackel Adams, PhD
Amy Yackel Adams is a Research Ecologist focusing on improving management decisions of invasive reptiles worldwide.
Amy leads a diverse research program with other USGS scientists and various collaborators (NPS, USDA-NWRC, USFWS, DoD, universities, and state agencies) pertaining to early detection and rapid response, biology, ecology, genetics, control tool evaluation, eradication, and quantitative model development to improve adaptive management of invasive reptile species. Yackel Adams’ research areas in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem and Pacific Islands include: 1) Population and vital rate estimation of invasive Burmese Pythons, Veiled Chameleons, and Brown Treesnakes; 2) Estimating the impact of Brown Treesnakes on prey populations; 3) Enhancing early detection of invasive reptiles using new tools; and 4) Development and evaluation of removal and abundance models to inform and optimize eradication efforts.
Education and Certifications
PhD, Ecology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, 2005
MS, Ecology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, 1999
BS, Resource Conservation and Environmental Studies, University of Montana, 1986
Science and Products
Mentoring the next generation: USGS, NPS, and University of Florida Cooperative Research Unit Invasive Reptile Intern Program
USGS Everglades Research Office - Florida
USGS Coordinated Burmese Python Research Strategy for South Florida (FY21 – FY27)
Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Pacific
Hierarchical Models for Estimation of Population Parameters
Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Capsaicin-treated bait trials for Argentine Black and White Tegu lizards in Georgia and Florida, USA 2020-2021 Capsaicin-treated bait trials for Argentine Black and White Tegu lizards in Georgia and Florida, USA 2020-2021
Brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) scanning and behavioral data collected in experimental setup in Guam for testing remote PIT-tag reader Brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) scanning and behavioral data collected in experimental setup in Guam for testing remote PIT-tag reader
Diet of invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molorus bivittatus) in southern Florida, 1995-2020 Diet of invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molorus bivittatus) in southern Florida, 1995-2020
Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States, 2018-2020 Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States, 2018-2020
Brown treesnake movement following snake suppression in the Habitat Management Unit on Northern Guam from 2015 Brown treesnake movement following snake suppression in the Habitat Management Unit on Northern Guam from 2015
Size distribution and reproductive data of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA, 1995-2021 Size distribution and reproductive data of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA, 1995-2021
Using camera traps to estimate site occupancy of invasive Argentine Black and White Tegus (Salvator merianae) in South Florida Using camera traps to estimate site occupancy of invasive Argentine Black and White Tegus (Salvator merianae) in South Florida
Identifying Pareto-efficient eradication strategies for invasive populations Identifying Pareto-efficient eradication strategies for invasive populations
Double take: Ingestion of two rats by a juvenile Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Big Cypress National Preserve, FL, USA Double take: Ingestion of two rats by a juvenile Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Big Cypress National Preserve, FL, USA
Flooding-induced failure of an invasive Burmese Python nest in southern Florida Flooding-induced failure of an invasive Burmese Python nest in southern Florida
Limitations of invasive snake control tools in the context of a new invasion on an island with abundant prey Limitations of invasive snake control tools in the context of a new invasion on an island with abundant prey
See a snake, save a snake: Use of external tags to prevent mortality in pythons used in research. See a snake, save a snake: Use of external tags to prevent mortality in pythons used in research.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Mentoring the next generation: USGS, NPS, and University of Florida Cooperative Research Unit Invasive Reptile Intern Program
USGS Everglades Research Office - Florida
USGS Coordinated Burmese Python Research Strategy for South Florida (FY21 – FY27)
Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Pacific
Hierarchical Models for Estimation of Population Parameters
Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Capsaicin-treated bait trials for Argentine Black and White Tegu lizards in Georgia and Florida, USA 2020-2021 Capsaicin-treated bait trials for Argentine Black and White Tegu lizards in Georgia and Florida, USA 2020-2021
Brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) scanning and behavioral data collected in experimental setup in Guam for testing remote PIT-tag reader Brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) scanning and behavioral data collected in experimental setup in Guam for testing remote PIT-tag reader
Diet of invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molorus bivittatus) in southern Florida, 1995-2020 Diet of invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molorus bivittatus) in southern Florida, 1995-2020
Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States, 2018-2020 Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States, 2018-2020
Brown treesnake movement following snake suppression in the Habitat Management Unit on Northern Guam from 2015 Brown treesnake movement following snake suppression in the Habitat Management Unit on Northern Guam from 2015
Size distribution and reproductive data of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA, 1995-2021 Size distribution and reproductive data of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA, 1995-2021
Using camera traps to estimate site occupancy of invasive Argentine Black and White Tegus (Salvator merianae) in South Florida Using camera traps to estimate site occupancy of invasive Argentine Black and White Tegus (Salvator merianae) in South Florida
Identifying Pareto-efficient eradication strategies for invasive populations Identifying Pareto-efficient eradication strategies for invasive populations
Double take: Ingestion of two rats by a juvenile Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Big Cypress National Preserve, FL, USA Double take: Ingestion of two rats by a juvenile Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Big Cypress National Preserve, FL, USA
Flooding-induced failure of an invasive Burmese Python nest in southern Florida Flooding-induced failure of an invasive Burmese Python nest in southern Florida
Limitations of invasive snake control tools in the context of a new invasion on an island with abundant prey Limitations of invasive snake control tools in the context of a new invasion on an island with abundant prey
See a snake, save a snake: Use of external tags to prevent mortality in pythons used in research. See a snake, save a snake: Use of external tags to prevent mortality in pythons used in research.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.