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
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
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
Data for analysis of open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management Data for analysis of open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management
Spatial mark-recapture and chew card rat data on Guam and Rota, 2018-2019 Spatial mark-recapture and chew card rat data on Guam and Rota, 2018-2019
Brown treesnake capture and morphometric data using live mouse- and bird-lure traps on Guam, 2013 Brown treesnake capture and morphometric data using live mouse- and bird-lure traps on Guam, 2013
Camera trap data of Brown Treesnakes at mouse-lure traps on Guam, 2015 Camera trap data of Brown Treesnakes at mouse-lure traps on Guam, 2015
Brown Treesnake morphological and behavioral differences following ingestion of large meals, 2015 Brown Treesnake morphological and behavioral differences following ingestion of large meals, 2015
Surveillance and reports of Brown Treesnakes on Saipan, 1980-2020 Surveillance and reports of Brown Treesnakes on Saipan, 1980-2020
Brown Treesnake trap captures, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, 2014 Brown Treesnake trap captures, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, 2014
Offspring, dam, sire pedigree assignments in a managed population of Brown Treesnakes on Guam Offspring, dam, sire pedigree assignments in a managed population of Brown Treesnakes on Guam
Brown Treesnake detections on transects using potential attractants of live-mouse lures or fish-spray scent, Guam Brown Treesnake detections on transects using potential attractants of live-mouse lures or fish-spray scent, Guam
Photo-documented sequences from 01 Jun 2021 - 30 Aug 2021 showing novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida, USA, bobcat and Burmese python Photo-documented sequences from 01 Jun 2021 - 30 Aug 2021 showing novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida, USA, bobcat and Burmese python
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.
Florida Kingsnake (Lampropeltis floridana) consumes a juvenile Burmese Python (Python molurus bivitattus) in southern Florida Florida Kingsnake (Lampropeltis floridana) consumes a juvenile Burmese Python (Python molurus bivitattus) in southern Florida
Capsaicin-treated bait is ineffective in deterring non-target mammals from trap disturbance during invasive lizard control Capsaicin-treated bait is ineffective in deterring non-target mammals from trap disturbance during invasive lizard control
Testicular abnormalities in the invasive Argentine Black-and-White Tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) in the Florida Everglades Testicular abnormalities in the invasive Argentine Black-and-White Tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) in the Florida Everglades
Maximum clutch size of an invasive Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Florida, USA Maximum clutch size of an invasive Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Florida, USA
Natives bite back: Depredation and mortality of invasive juvenile Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Natives bite back: Depredation and mortality of invasive juvenile Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools
Divergent Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States Divergent Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States
Increasing the efficiency and power of camera traps for EDRR & ecological monitoring Increasing the efficiency and power of camera traps for EDRR & ecological monitoring
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
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
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
Data for analysis of open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management Data for analysis of open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management
Spatial mark-recapture and chew card rat data on Guam and Rota, 2018-2019 Spatial mark-recapture and chew card rat data on Guam and Rota, 2018-2019
Brown treesnake capture and morphometric data using live mouse- and bird-lure traps on Guam, 2013 Brown treesnake capture and morphometric data using live mouse- and bird-lure traps on Guam, 2013
Camera trap data of Brown Treesnakes at mouse-lure traps on Guam, 2015 Camera trap data of Brown Treesnakes at mouse-lure traps on Guam, 2015
Brown Treesnake morphological and behavioral differences following ingestion of large meals, 2015 Brown Treesnake morphological and behavioral differences following ingestion of large meals, 2015
Surveillance and reports of Brown Treesnakes on Saipan, 1980-2020 Surveillance and reports of Brown Treesnakes on Saipan, 1980-2020
Brown Treesnake trap captures, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, 2014 Brown Treesnake trap captures, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, 2014
Offspring, dam, sire pedigree assignments in a managed population of Brown Treesnakes on Guam Offspring, dam, sire pedigree assignments in a managed population of Brown Treesnakes on Guam
Brown Treesnake detections on transects using potential attractants of live-mouse lures or fish-spray scent, Guam Brown Treesnake detections on transects using potential attractants of live-mouse lures or fish-spray scent, Guam
Photo-documented sequences from 01 Jun 2021 - 30 Aug 2021 showing novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida, USA, bobcat and Burmese python Photo-documented sequences from 01 Jun 2021 - 30 Aug 2021 showing novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida, USA, bobcat and Burmese python
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.
Florida Kingsnake (Lampropeltis floridana) consumes a juvenile Burmese Python (Python molurus bivitattus) in southern Florida Florida Kingsnake (Lampropeltis floridana) consumes a juvenile Burmese Python (Python molurus bivitattus) in southern Florida
Capsaicin-treated bait is ineffective in deterring non-target mammals from trap disturbance during invasive lizard control Capsaicin-treated bait is ineffective in deterring non-target mammals from trap disturbance during invasive lizard control
Testicular abnormalities in the invasive Argentine Black-and-White Tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) in the Florida Everglades Testicular abnormalities in the invasive Argentine Black-and-White Tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) in the Florida Everglades
Maximum clutch size of an invasive Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Florida, USA Maximum clutch size of an invasive Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Florida, USA
Natives bite back: Depredation and mortality of invasive juvenile Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Natives bite back: Depredation and mortality of invasive juvenile Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools
Divergent Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States Divergent Serpentoviruses in free-ranging invasive pythons and native colubrids in southern Florida, United States
Increasing the efficiency and power of camera traps for EDRR & ecological monitoring Increasing the efficiency and power of camera traps for EDRR & ecological monitoring
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.