Michael Cherkiss
Michael Cherkiss' research interests include population ecology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, with experience extending to radio telemetry and transmitter attachment on pythons, crocodilians, sea turtles and other species.
BACKGROUND
Prior to joining the USGS, Cherkiss was a biologist with the University of Florida for over ten years. He has over 15 years’ experience conducting research in the coastal areas of South Florida, Everglades ecosystems and internationally throughout the Caribbean, Central and South American.
Education and Certifications
M.S., Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 2000
B.S., Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 1996
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 48
Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida
The Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), is indigenous to northern India,east to southern China, and south to Vietnam and a few islands in Indonesia (Barker and Barker 2008, Reed and Rodda 2009). This species has been introduced since at least 1979 in southern Florida, USA, where it likely began reproducing and became established during the 1980s (Meshaka et al. 2000
Authors
Kenneth L. Krysko, Kristen M. Hart, Brian J. Smith, Thomas H. Selby, Michael S. Cherkiss, Nicholas T. Coutu, Rebecca M. Reichart, Leroy P. Nuñez, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow
Use of alligator hole abundance and occupancy rate as indicators for restoration of a human-altered wetland
Use of indicator species as a measure of ecosystem conditions is an established science application in environmental management. Because of its role in shaping wetland systems, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is one of the ecological indicators for wetland restoration in south Florida, USA. We conducted landscape-level aerial surveys of alligator holes in two different habitats
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kristen M. Hart, Kenneth G. Rice, Danielle Ogurcak, Michael Rochford, Brian M. Jeffery, Laura A. Brandt, Michael S. Cherkiss
The American crocodile in Biscayne Bay, Florida
Intensive crocodile monitoring programs conducted during the late 1970s and early 1980s in southern Florida resulted in an optimistic outlook for recovery of the protected species population. However, some areas with suitable crocodile habitat were not investigated, such as Biscayne Bay and the mainland shorelines of Barnes and Card Sounds. The objective of our study was to determine status and ha
Authors
Michael S. Cherkiss, Stephanie S. Romañach, Frank J. Mazzotti
Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida
A recent record cold spell in southern Florida (2–11 January 2010) provided an opportunity to evaluate responses of an established population of Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to a prolonged period of unusually cold weather. We observed behavior, characterized thermal biology, determined fate of radio-telemetered (n = 10) and non-telemetered (n = 104) Burmese pythons, and analyzed hab
Authors
Frank J. Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Kristen M. Hart, Ray W. Snow, Michael R. Rochford, Michael E. Dorcas, Robert N. Reed
A field test of attractant traps for invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in southern Florida
Context: Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are established over thousands of square kilometres of southern Florida, USA, and consume a wide range of native vertebrates. Few tools are available to control the python population, and none of the available tools have been validated in the field to assess capture success as a proportion of pythons available to be captured.
Aims: Our
Authors
Robert N. Reed, Kristen M. Hart, Gordon H. Rodda, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow, Michael Cherkiss, Rondald Rozar, Scott Goetz
A field test of attractant traps for invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in southern Florida
Context. Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are established over thousands of square kilometres of southern Florida, USA, and consume a wide range of native vertebrates. Few tools are available to control the python population, and none of the available tools have been validated in the field to assess capture success as a proportion of pythons available to be captured. Aims. Our
Authors
R.N. Reed, K.M. Hart, G.H. Rodda, F.J. Mazzotti, R.W. Snow, M. Cherkiss, R. Rozar, S. Goetz
Estimating trends in alligator populations from nightlight survey data
Nightlight surveys are commonly used to evaluate status and trends of crocodilian populations, but imperfect detection caused by survey- and location-specific factors makes it difficult to draw population inferences accurately from uncorrected data. We used a two-stage hierarchical model comprising population abundance and detection probability to examine recent abundance trends of American alliga
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, F.J. Mazzotti, R.M. Dorazio, Kenneth G. Rice, M. Cherkiss, B. Jeffery
Estimating trends in alligator populations from nightlight survey data
Nightlight surveys are commonly used to evaluate status and trends of crocodilian populations, but imperfect detection caused by survey- and location-specific factors makes it difficult to draw population inferences accurately from uncorrected data. We used a two-stage hierarchical model comprising population abundance and detection probability to examine recent abundance trends of American alliga
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, Frank J. Mazzotti, Robert M. Dorazio, Kenneth G. Rice, Michael Cherkiss, Brian Jeffery
Spatial and stage-structured population model of the American crocodile for comparison of comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) alternatives
As part of the U.S. Geological Survey Priority Ecosystems Science (PES) initiative to provide the ecological science required during Everglades restoration, we have integrated current regional hydrologic models with American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) research and monitoring data to create a model that assesses the potential impact of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) efforts on
Authors
Timothy W. Green, Daniel H. Slone, Eric D. Swain, Michael S. Cherkiss, Melinda Lohmann, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kenneth G. Rice
Alligators and crocodiles as indicators for restoration of Everglades ecosystems
Alligators and crocodiles integrate biological impacts of hydrological operations, affecting them at all life stages through three key aspects of Everglades ecology: (1) food webs, (2) diversity and productivity, and (3) freshwater flow. Responses of crocodilians are directly related to suitability of environmental conditions and hydrologic change. Correlations between biological responses and env
Authors
Frank J. Mazzotti, G. Ronnie Best, Laura A. Brandt, Michael S. Cherkiss, Brian M. Jeffery, Kenneth G. Rice
Recent nesting of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
[No abstract available]
Authors
F.J. Mazzotti, M.S. Cherkiss, M.W. Parry, K.G. Rice
Effects of shoreline vegetation on visibility of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) during spotlight surveys
[No abstract available]
Authors
M.S. Cherkiss, F.J. Mazzotti, K.G. Rice
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 48
Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida
The Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), is indigenous to northern India,east to southern China, and south to Vietnam and a few islands in Indonesia (Barker and Barker 2008, Reed and Rodda 2009). This species has been introduced since at least 1979 in southern Florida, USA, where it likely began reproducing and became established during the 1980s (Meshaka et al. 2000
Authors
Kenneth L. Krysko, Kristen M. Hart, Brian J. Smith, Thomas H. Selby, Michael S. Cherkiss, Nicholas T. Coutu, Rebecca M. Reichart, Leroy P. Nuñez, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow
Use of alligator hole abundance and occupancy rate as indicators for restoration of a human-altered wetland
Use of indicator species as a measure of ecosystem conditions is an established science application in environmental management. Because of its role in shaping wetland systems, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is one of the ecological indicators for wetland restoration in south Florida, USA. We conducted landscape-level aerial surveys of alligator holes in two different habitats
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kristen M. Hart, Kenneth G. Rice, Danielle Ogurcak, Michael Rochford, Brian M. Jeffery, Laura A. Brandt, Michael S. Cherkiss
The American crocodile in Biscayne Bay, Florida
Intensive crocodile monitoring programs conducted during the late 1970s and early 1980s in southern Florida resulted in an optimistic outlook for recovery of the protected species population. However, some areas with suitable crocodile habitat were not investigated, such as Biscayne Bay and the mainland shorelines of Barnes and Card Sounds. The objective of our study was to determine status and ha
Authors
Michael S. Cherkiss, Stephanie S. Romañach, Frank J. Mazzotti
Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida
A recent record cold spell in southern Florida (2–11 January 2010) provided an opportunity to evaluate responses of an established population of Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to a prolonged period of unusually cold weather. We observed behavior, characterized thermal biology, determined fate of radio-telemetered (n = 10) and non-telemetered (n = 104) Burmese pythons, and analyzed hab
Authors
Frank J. Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Kristen M. Hart, Ray W. Snow, Michael R. Rochford, Michael E. Dorcas, Robert N. Reed
A field test of attractant traps for invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in southern Florida
Context: Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are established over thousands of square kilometres of southern Florida, USA, and consume a wide range of native vertebrates. Few tools are available to control the python population, and none of the available tools have been validated in the field to assess capture success as a proportion of pythons available to be captured.
Aims: Our
Authors
Robert N. Reed, Kristen M. Hart, Gordon H. Rodda, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow, Michael Cherkiss, Rondald Rozar, Scott Goetz
A field test of attractant traps for invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in southern Florida
Context. Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are established over thousands of square kilometres of southern Florida, USA, and consume a wide range of native vertebrates. Few tools are available to control the python population, and none of the available tools have been validated in the field to assess capture success as a proportion of pythons available to be captured. Aims. Our
Authors
R.N. Reed, K.M. Hart, G.H. Rodda, F.J. Mazzotti, R.W. Snow, M. Cherkiss, R. Rozar, S. Goetz
Estimating trends in alligator populations from nightlight survey data
Nightlight surveys are commonly used to evaluate status and trends of crocodilian populations, but imperfect detection caused by survey- and location-specific factors makes it difficult to draw population inferences accurately from uncorrected data. We used a two-stage hierarchical model comprising population abundance and detection probability to examine recent abundance trends of American alliga
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, F.J. Mazzotti, R.M. Dorazio, Kenneth G. Rice, M. Cherkiss, B. Jeffery
Estimating trends in alligator populations from nightlight survey data
Nightlight surveys are commonly used to evaluate status and trends of crocodilian populations, but imperfect detection caused by survey- and location-specific factors makes it difficult to draw population inferences accurately from uncorrected data. We used a two-stage hierarchical model comprising population abundance and detection probability to examine recent abundance trends of American alliga
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, Frank J. Mazzotti, Robert M. Dorazio, Kenneth G. Rice, Michael Cherkiss, Brian Jeffery
Spatial and stage-structured population model of the American crocodile for comparison of comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) alternatives
As part of the U.S. Geological Survey Priority Ecosystems Science (PES) initiative to provide the ecological science required during Everglades restoration, we have integrated current regional hydrologic models with American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) research and monitoring data to create a model that assesses the potential impact of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) efforts on
Authors
Timothy W. Green, Daniel H. Slone, Eric D. Swain, Michael S. Cherkiss, Melinda Lohmann, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kenneth G. Rice
Alligators and crocodiles as indicators for restoration of Everglades ecosystems
Alligators and crocodiles integrate biological impacts of hydrological operations, affecting them at all life stages through three key aspects of Everglades ecology: (1) food webs, (2) diversity and productivity, and (3) freshwater flow. Responses of crocodilians are directly related to suitability of environmental conditions and hydrologic change. Correlations between biological responses and env
Authors
Frank J. Mazzotti, G. Ronnie Best, Laura A. Brandt, Michael S. Cherkiss, Brian M. Jeffery, Kenneth G. Rice
Recent nesting of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
[No abstract available]
Authors
F.J. Mazzotti, M.S. Cherkiss, M.W. Parry, K.G. Rice
Effects of shoreline vegetation on visibility of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) during spotlight surveys
[No abstract available]
Authors
M.S. Cherkiss, F.J. Mazzotti, K.G. Rice