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
Filter Total Items: 17
Filter Total Items: 37
Brown Treesnake mating and reproductive success on Guam, 2004-2018 Brown Treesnake mating and reproductive success on Guam, 2004-2018
The mating and reproductive ecology of the invasive Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis) were generated by reconstructing a multigenerational genomic pedigree based on 654 single nucleotide polymorphisms for a geographically-closed population established in 2004 on Guam (N=426). The pedigree allowed annual estimates of individual mating and reproductive success to be inferred for snakes...
Visual Surveys and Morphometrics of Brown Treesnakes in Mariana Swiftlets caves on Guam Visual Surveys and Morphometrics of Brown Treesnakes in Mariana Swiftlets caves on Guam
Visual survey data for brown treesnakes from caves with and without swiftlets. Each record (line) represents the snake sightings that occurred during a block of time, typically 1 hour at one site by searcher(s) during one search (i.e. one date). Snakes removed from caves and adjacent areas during visual surveys were then necropsied. Each record (line) represents necropsy results for a...
Salvator merianae trapping in Georgia, USA Salvator merianae trapping in Georgia, USA
Argentine Giant Tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) trap effort and count data collected in southern Georgia, USA in 2019. Non-target species associated with the traps were also documented, as were type of bait used and condition of the traps during trap checks.
Brown Treesnake Mortality Habitat Management Unit Guam 2019 Brown Treesnake Mortality Habitat Management Unit Guam 2019
The dataset contains 16 columns of data collected on invasive Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) at a study site known as the Habitat Management Unit (HMU) in northern Guam. Snakes were fitted with radio-transmitters and teams of 2-4 biologist listened for signals from transmitters every seven days to determine if snakes were alive or dead. Survival data was then modeled in Program...
Dataset from 2015-2016 thermal and behavior monitoring of Argentine giant tegus in Everglades, Florida Dataset from 2015-2016 thermal and behavior monitoring of Argentine giant tegus in Everglades, Florida
Thermal data collected from iButton temperature loggers implanted into research animals (Argentine giant tegus) and in their surrounding environment. Tegus undergo winter dormancy (hibernation) to cope with colder temperatures, and we studied the thermal habits of wild tegus within their invaded range in southern Florida, USA. We used radiotelemetry and trail cameras to verify dates of...
Visual Surveys Rapid Response Saipan 2016 Visual Surveys Rapid Response Saipan 2016
Nocturnal visual encounter survey data conducted by 29 searchers over 17 transects obtained during a Brown Treesnake rapid response deployment to island of Saipan in 2016. Surveys took place in the vicinity of the Saipan airport and Dandan village (ca. 15.127°N, 145.735°E) from 06 January to 13 March 2016, 6-7 nights/week but with a break in surveying from 26 January through 21 February...
Airsoft electric gun evaluation on Brown Treesnakes, Guam, 2016 Airsoft electric gun evaluation on Brown Treesnakes, Guam, 2016
The data set consists of 2 spreadsheets from Airsoft Electric Gun (AEG) trials on brown treesnakes. AEG snake wound data contains AEG results from guns equipped with 0.39 gram ammunition (plastic pellets ) that were fired at dead and live snakes from distances of 4, 8, and 12 m to measure tissue-penetration depth, and noted if (a) the pellet was lodged inside the peritoneal cavity, (b)...
Failed Brown Treesnake bait cartridges from an aerially application in Guam, 2018 Failed Brown Treesnake bait cartridges from an aerially application in Guam, 2018
The dataset contains 6 columns of data collected during line transect surveys (Line) that evaluated bait cartridge efficacy for Brown Treesnake control on Guam. Two-person teams recorded all bait cartridges observed while walking the center line of transects in the Habitat Management Unit (HMU). Perpendicular distance (DIST (m)) to cartridges from center line was measured to the nearest...
Brown Treesnake counts during visual encounter surveys at three walking paces, Guam 2016 Brown Treesnake counts during visual encounter surveys at three walking paces, Guam 2016
We evaluated three walking paces to estimate (1) how snake detection rate per unit distance changes with increasing pace, and (2) how total number of snakes found by the end of a night of surveying varies with pace when the amount of surveying time per night is held constant. For a ?fast? pace we searched the 220 meter-long transect in 10 minutes, corresponding to a walking pace of 1.32...
Brown Treesnake visual survey and radiotelemetry data, Guam 2015 Brown Treesnake visual survey and radiotelemetry data, Guam 2015
The dataset consists of two spreadsheets that contain brown treesnake data (location, perch taxa, perch height, time of detection, whether visible or not, and size of snake) collected during both visual surveys and radio telemetry within a 55-ha enclosure on Guam.
Removal count data of Veiled Chameleons on Maui, 2002-2012 Removal count data of Veiled Chameleons on Maui, 2002-2012
The data set consists of 3 spreadsheets: counts, efforts, and location that detail the 10-year removal effort of invasive Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) on the island of Maui. Recorded are the number of lizards removed from each site, the level of search effort at each site, and the centroid location of each sampled site.
Habitat characterization around standard brown treesnake traps on Guam, 2004 - 2017 Habitat characterization around standard brown treesnake traps on Guam, 2004 - 2017
Data were collected in association with locations of standard brown treesnake traps on Guam at location prior to suppression or control efforts and after control had occurred. In all cases study sites were closed or semi-closed populations of brown treesnakes. Habitat data focused on type and structure of the habitat within 10-m of the trap.
Filter Total Items: 96
Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
The design of successful invasive species control programs is often hindered by the absence of basic demographic data on the targeted population. Establishment of invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida USA has led to local precipitous declines (> 90%) of mesomammal populations and is also a major threat to native populations of...
Authors
Andrea Currylow, Bryan Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Christina M. Romagosa, Jillian Josimovich, Michael R. Rochford, Michael Cherkiss, Melia Gail Nafus, Kristen Hart, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray Snow, Robert Reed
Boiga irregularis (brown treesnake) Boiga irregularis (brown treesnake)
No abstract available.
Authors
Patrick Barnhart, Zachary Quiogue, Elisabeth Frasch, Diane Vice, Charlene Hopkins, Amy Yackel Adams, Robert Reed, Melia Gail Nafus
Open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management Open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management
Removal sampling data are the primary source of monitoring information for many populations (e.g., invasive species, fisheries). Population dynamics, temporary emigration, and imperfect detection are common sources of variation in monitoring data and are key parameters for informing management. We developed two open robust-design removal models for simultaneously modeling population...
Authors
Bradley Udell, Julien Martin, Christina Romagosa, J. Waddle, Fred Johnson, Bryan Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Sarah Funck, Jennifer Ketterlin Eckles, Eric Suarez, Frank Mazzotti
Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) move short distances and have small activity areas in a high prey environment Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) move short distances and have small activity areas in a high prey environment
Animal movements reflect temporal and spatial availability of resources as well as when, where, and how individuals access such resources. To test these relationships for a predatory reptile, we quantified the effects of prey abundance on the spatial ecology of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam. Five months after toxicant-mediated suppression of a brown treesnake...
Authors
Scott Boback, Melia Gail Nafus, Amy Yackel Adams, Robert Reed
Egg retention in wild-caught Python bivittatus in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA Egg retention in wild-caught Python bivittatus in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Retention of eggs in oviducts beyond the normal oviposition period is a common problem for captive reptiles, but the occurrence of egg retention in wild populations is largely unknown. The Burmese python (Python [molurus] bivittatus; Kühl 1820) is an oviparous snake native to south-eastern Asia that is now established in southern Florida. From 2011–2019, invasive Burmese pythons were...
Authors
Gretchen Anderson, Frank Ridgley, Jillian Josimovich, Robert Reed, Bryan G. Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Andrea Currylow
Chew-cards can accurately index invasive rat densities in Mariana Island forests Chew-cards can accurately index invasive rat densities in Mariana Island forests
Rats (Rattus spp.) are likely established on 80–90% of the world’s islands and represent one of the most damaging and expensive biological invaders. Effective rat control tools exist but require accurate population density estimates or indices to inform treatment timing and effort and to assess treatment efficacy. Capture-mark-recapture data are frequently used to produce robust density...
Authors
Emma B. Hanslowe, Amy Yackel Adams, Melia Gail Nafus, Douglas Page, Danielle Bradke, Francesca Erickson, Larissa L. Bailey
New state and county records of introduced amphibians and reptiles of Georgia, USA. New state and county records of introduced amphibians and reptiles of Georgia, USA.
Recent efforts to eradicate the invasive Argentine Giant Tegu (Salvator merianae) has led to the discovery of several county records of this introduced lizard as well as several other potentially invasive amphibian and reptile species in the state of Georgia, USA. New records were determined using a database of county records maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. All...
Authors
Michael Brennan, Lance McBrayer, Joseph Carroll, Kenneth Krysko, Amy Yackel Adams
Face-off: Novel depredation and nest defense behaviors between an invasive and a native predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA 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...
Authors
Andrea Currylow, Matthew McCollister, Gretchen Anderson, Jillian Josimovich, Austin Fitzgerald, Christina Romagosa, Amy Yackel Adams
Individual heterogeneity influences the effects of translocation on urban dispersal of an invasive reptile Individual heterogeneity influences the effects of translocation on urban dispersal of an invasive reptile
BackgroundInvasive reptiles pose a serious threat to global biodiversity, but early detection of individuals in an incipient population is often hindered by their cryptic nature, sporadic movements, and variation among individuals. Little is known about the mechanisms that affect the movement of these species, which limits our understanding of their dispersal. Our aim was to determine...
Authors
Abigail Fueka, Melia Nafus, Amy Yackel Adams, Larissa L. Bailey, Mevin B. Hooten
Can we prove that an undetected species is absent? Evaluating whether brown treesnakes are established on the island of Saipan using surveillance and expert opinion Can we prove that an undetected species is absent? Evaluating whether brown treesnakes are established on the island of Saipan using surveillance and expert opinion
Detection of invasive species and decisions centered around early detection and rapid response (EDRR) are notorious challenges for decision makers. Detection probability is low for cryptic species, resources are limited, and ecological harm (especially for island ecosystems) can result from failure to remove invasive species due to inadequate or delayed surveillance efforts. Due to the...
Authors
Amy Yackel Adams, Patrick Barnhart, Gordon Rodda, Eric T. Hileman, Melia Gail Nafus, Robert Reed
Agkistrodon conanti (Florida Cottonmouth) and Python bivittatus (Burmese Python). Diet and Predation Agkistrodon conanti (Florida Cottonmouth) and Python bivittatus (Burmese Python). Diet and Predation
Python bivittatus is established in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem in southern Florida, USA. Documented predators on pythons in Florida include Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator; Snow et al. 2006. Herpetol. Rev. 37:81–81), Drymarchon couperi (Gulf Coast Indigo Snake; Andreadis et al. 2018. Herpetol. Rev. 49:341–342), Lynx rufus (Bobcat; McCollister et al. 2021. Southeast...
Authors
Ian Bartoszek, Gretchen Anderson, Ian Easterling, Jillian Josimovich, Alex Furst, Frank Ridgley, Austin Fitzgerald, Amy Yackel Adams, Andrea Currylow
Demographic response of brown treesnakes to extended population suppression Demographic response of brown treesnakes to extended population suppression
From a management perspective, reptiles are relatively novel invasive taxa. Few methods for reptile control have been developed and very little is known about their effectiveness for reducing reptile populations, particularly when the goal is eradication. Many reptiles, and especially snakes, are cryptic, secretive, and undergo extended periods of inactivity, traits that decrease...
Authors
Melia Nafus, Shane Siers, Brenna Levine, Zachary Quiogue, Amy Yackel Adams
Non-USGS Publications**
Graham, L., A.A. Yackel Adams, and E.A. Odell. 1999. Devaluation of non-experiments in the current ecological paradigm. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 26(4): 1002-1006.
**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
Filter Total Items: 17
Filter Total Items: 37
Brown Treesnake mating and reproductive success on Guam, 2004-2018 Brown Treesnake mating and reproductive success on Guam, 2004-2018
The mating and reproductive ecology of the invasive Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis) were generated by reconstructing a multigenerational genomic pedigree based on 654 single nucleotide polymorphisms for a geographically-closed population established in 2004 on Guam (N=426). The pedigree allowed annual estimates of individual mating and reproductive success to be inferred for snakes...
Visual Surveys and Morphometrics of Brown Treesnakes in Mariana Swiftlets caves on Guam Visual Surveys and Morphometrics of Brown Treesnakes in Mariana Swiftlets caves on Guam
Visual survey data for brown treesnakes from caves with and without swiftlets. Each record (line) represents the snake sightings that occurred during a block of time, typically 1 hour at one site by searcher(s) during one search (i.e. one date). Snakes removed from caves and adjacent areas during visual surveys were then necropsied. Each record (line) represents necropsy results for a...
Salvator merianae trapping in Georgia, USA Salvator merianae trapping in Georgia, USA
Argentine Giant Tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) trap effort and count data collected in southern Georgia, USA in 2019. Non-target species associated with the traps were also documented, as were type of bait used and condition of the traps during trap checks.
Brown Treesnake Mortality Habitat Management Unit Guam 2019 Brown Treesnake Mortality Habitat Management Unit Guam 2019
The dataset contains 16 columns of data collected on invasive Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) at a study site known as the Habitat Management Unit (HMU) in northern Guam. Snakes were fitted with radio-transmitters and teams of 2-4 biologist listened for signals from transmitters every seven days to determine if snakes were alive or dead. Survival data was then modeled in Program...
Dataset from 2015-2016 thermal and behavior monitoring of Argentine giant tegus in Everglades, Florida Dataset from 2015-2016 thermal and behavior monitoring of Argentine giant tegus in Everglades, Florida
Thermal data collected from iButton temperature loggers implanted into research animals (Argentine giant tegus) and in their surrounding environment. Tegus undergo winter dormancy (hibernation) to cope with colder temperatures, and we studied the thermal habits of wild tegus within their invaded range in southern Florida, USA. We used radiotelemetry and trail cameras to verify dates of...
Visual Surveys Rapid Response Saipan 2016 Visual Surveys Rapid Response Saipan 2016
Nocturnal visual encounter survey data conducted by 29 searchers over 17 transects obtained during a Brown Treesnake rapid response deployment to island of Saipan in 2016. Surveys took place in the vicinity of the Saipan airport and Dandan village (ca. 15.127°N, 145.735°E) from 06 January to 13 March 2016, 6-7 nights/week but with a break in surveying from 26 January through 21 February...
Airsoft electric gun evaluation on Brown Treesnakes, Guam, 2016 Airsoft electric gun evaluation on Brown Treesnakes, Guam, 2016
The data set consists of 2 spreadsheets from Airsoft Electric Gun (AEG) trials on brown treesnakes. AEG snake wound data contains AEG results from guns equipped with 0.39 gram ammunition (plastic pellets ) that were fired at dead and live snakes from distances of 4, 8, and 12 m to measure tissue-penetration depth, and noted if (a) the pellet was lodged inside the peritoneal cavity, (b)...
Failed Brown Treesnake bait cartridges from an aerially application in Guam, 2018 Failed Brown Treesnake bait cartridges from an aerially application in Guam, 2018
The dataset contains 6 columns of data collected during line transect surveys (Line) that evaluated bait cartridge efficacy for Brown Treesnake control on Guam. Two-person teams recorded all bait cartridges observed while walking the center line of transects in the Habitat Management Unit (HMU). Perpendicular distance (DIST (m)) to cartridges from center line was measured to the nearest...
Brown Treesnake counts during visual encounter surveys at three walking paces, Guam 2016 Brown Treesnake counts during visual encounter surveys at three walking paces, Guam 2016
We evaluated three walking paces to estimate (1) how snake detection rate per unit distance changes with increasing pace, and (2) how total number of snakes found by the end of a night of surveying varies with pace when the amount of surveying time per night is held constant. For a ?fast? pace we searched the 220 meter-long transect in 10 minutes, corresponding to a walking pace of 1.32...
Brown Treesnake visual survey and radiotelemetry data, Guam 2015 Brown Treesnake visual survey and radiotelemetry data, Guam 2015
The dataset consists of two spreadsheets that contain brown treesnake data (location, perch taxa, perch height, time of detection, whether visible or not, and size of snake) collected during both visual surveys and radio telemetry within a 55-ha enclosure on Guam.
Removal count data of Veiled Chameleons on Maui, 2002-2012 Removal count data of Veiled Chameleons on Maui, 2002-2012
The data set consists of 3 spreadsheets: counts, efforts, and location that detail the 10-year removal effort of invasive Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) on the island of Maui. Recorded are the number of lizards removed from each site, the level of search effort at each site, and the centroid location of each sampled site.
Habitat characterization around standard brown treesnake traps on Guam, 2004 - 2017 Habitat characterization around standard brown treesnake traps on Guam, 2004 - 2017
Data were collected in association with locations of standard brown treesnake traps on Guam at location prior to suppression or control efforts and after control had occurred. In all cases study sites were closed or semi-closed populations of brown treesnakes. Habitat data focused on type and structure of the habitat within 10-m of the trap.
Filter Total Items: 96
Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
The design of successful invasive species control programs is often hindered by the absence of basic demographic data on the targeted population. Establishment of invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida USA has led to local precipitous declines (> 90%) of mesomammal populations and is also a major threat to native populations of...
Authors
Andrea Currylow, Bryan Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Christina M. Romagosa, Jillian Josimovich, Michael R. Rochford, Michael Cherkiss, Melia Gail Nafus, Kristen Hart, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray Snow, Robert Reed
Boiga irregularis (brown treesnake) Boiga irregularis (brown treesnake)
No abstract available.
Authors
Patrick Barnhart, Zachary Quiogue, Elisabeth Frasch, Diane Vice, Charlene Hopkins, Amy Yackel Adams, Robert Reed, Melia Gail Nafus
Open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management Open removal models with temporary emigration and population dynamics to inform invasive animal management
Removal sampling data are the primary source of monitoring information for many populations (e.g., invasive species, fisheries). Population dynamics, temporary emigration, and imperfect detection are common sources of variation in monitoring data and are key parameters for informing management. We developed two open robust-design removal models for simultaneously modeling population...
Authors
Bradley Udell, Julien Martin, Christina Romagosa, J. Waddle, Fred Johnson, Bryan Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Sarah Funck, Jennifer Ketterlin Eckles, Eric Suarez, Frank Mazzotti
Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) move short distances and have small activity areas in a high prey environment Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) move short distances and have small activity areas in a high prey environment
Animal movements reflect temporal and spatial availability of resources as well as when, where, and how individuals access such resources. To test these relationships for a predatory reptile, we quantified the effects of prey abundance on the spatial ecology of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam. Five months after toxicant-mediated suppression of a brown treesnake...
Authors
Scott Boback, Melia Gail Nafus, Amy Yackel Adams, Robert Reed
Egg retention in wild-caught Python bivittatus in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA Egg retention in wild-caught Python bivittatus in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Retention of eggs in oviducts beyond the normal oviposition period is a common problem for captive reptiles, but the occurrence of egg retention in wild populations is largely unknown. The Burmese python (Python [molurus] bivittatus; Kühl 1820) is an oviparous snake native to south-eastern Asia that is now established in southern Florida. From 2011–2019, invasive Burmese pythons were...
Authors
Gretchen Anderson, Frank Ridgley, Jillian Josimovich, Robert Reed, Bryan G. Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Andrea Currylow
Chew-cards can accurately index invasive rat densities in Mariana Island forests Chew-cards can accurately index invasive rat densities in Mariana Island forests
Rats (Rattus spp.) are likely established on 80–90% of the world’s islands and represent one of the most damaging and expensive biological invaders. Effective rat control tools exist but require accurate population density estimates or indices to inform treatment timing and effort and to assess treatment efficacy. Capture-mark-recapture data are frequently used to produce robust density...
Authors
Emma B. Hanslowe, Amy Yackel Adams, Melia Gail Nafus, Douglas Page, Danielle Bradke, Francesca Erickson, Larissa L. Bailey
New state and county records of introduced amphibians and reptiles of Georgia, USA. New state and county records of introduced amphibians and reptiles of Georgia, USA.
Recent efforts to eradicate the invasive Argentine Giant Tegu (Salvator merianae) has led to the discovery of several county records of this introduced lizard as well as several other potentially invasive amphibian and reptile species in the state of Georgia, USA. New records were determined using a database of county records maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. All...
Authors
Michael Brennan, Lance McBrayer, Joseph Carroll, Kenneth Krysko, Amy Yackel Adams
Face-off: Novel depredation and nest defense behaviors between an invasive and a native predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA 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...
Authors
Andrea Currylow, Matthew McCollister, Gretchen Anderson, Jillian Josimovich, Austin Fitzgerald, Christina Romagosa, Amy Yackel Adams
Individual heterogeneity influences the effects of translocation on urban dispersal of an invasive reptile Individual heterogeneity influences the effects of translocation on urban dispersal of an invasive reptile
BackgroundInvasive reptiles pose a serious threat to global biodiversity, but early detection of individuals in an incipient population is often hindered by their cryptic nature, sporadic movements, and variation among individuals. Little is known about the mechanisms that affect the movement of these species, which limits our understanding of their dispersal. Our aim was to determine...
Authors
Abigail Fueka, Melia Nafus, Amy Yackel Adams, Larissa L. Bailey, Mevin B. Hooten
Can we prove that an undetected species is absent? Evaluating whether brown treesnakes are established on the island of Saipan using surveillance and expert opinion Can we prove that an undetected species is absent? Evaluating whether brown treesnakes are established on the island of Saipan using surveillance and expert opinion
Detection of invasive species and decisions centered around early detection and rapid response (EDRR) are notorious challenges for decision makers. Detection probability is low for cryptic species, resources are limited, and ecological harm (especially for island ecosystems) can result from failure to remove invasive species due to inadequate or delayed surveillance efforts. Due to the...
Authors
Amy Yackel Adams, Patrick Barnhart, Gordon Rodda, Eric T. Hileman, Melia Gail Nafus, Robert Reed
Agkistrodon conanti (Florida Cottonmouth) and Python bivittatus (Burmese Python). Diet and Predation Agkistrodon conanti (Florida Cottonmouth) and Python bivittatus (Burmese Python). Diet and Predation
Python bivittatus is established in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem in southern Florida, USA. Documented predators on pythons in Florida include Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator; Snow et al. 2006. Herpetol. Rev. 37:81–81), Drymarchon couperi (Gulf Coast Indigo Snake; Andreadis et al. 2018. Herpetol. Rev. 49:341–342), Lynx rufus (Bobcat; McCollister et al. 2021. Southeast...
Authors
Ian Bartoszek, Gretchen Anderson, Ian Easterling, Jillian Josimovich, Alex Furst, Frank Ridgley, Austin Fitzgerald, Amy Yackel Adams, Andrea Currylow
Demographic response of brown treesnakes to extended population suppression Demographic response of brown treesnakes to extended population suppression
From a management perspective, reptiles are relatively novel invasive taxa. Few methods for reptile control have been developed and very little is known about their effectiveness for reducing reptile populations, particularly when the goal is eradication. Many reptiles, and especially snakes, are cryptic, secretive, and undergo extended periods of inactivity, traits that decrease...
Authors
Melia Nafus, Shane Siers, Brenna Levine, Zachary Quiogue, Amy Yackel Adams
Non-USGS Publications**
Graham, L., A.A. Yackel Adams, and E.A. Odell. 1999. Devaluation of non-experiments in the current ecological paradigm. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 26(4): 1002-1006.
**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.