Invasive Species biological science technician Michelle Collier holds an invasive black and white Tegu lizard.
Robert Reed
Robert N. Reed is the Center Director at the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center based in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. His past research focused on prevention, control, and containment of invasive reptiles.
Professional Experience
2024-present - Center Director, USGS-PIERC
2020-2023 - Deputy Center Director, USGS-PIERC
2012-2020 - Chief, Invasive Species Science Branch, USGS-FORT
2006-2012 - Research Wildlife Biologist, Brown Treesnake Project, USGS-FORT
2003-2006 - Assistant Professor (Biology), Southern Utah University, Cedar City UT
2001-2003 - Post-doctoral Associate, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken SC
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Auburn University, Biological Sciences, 2001
Fulbright Fellow, University of Sydney, Australia, 2000-2001
M.S. Arizona State University, Zoology, 1995
B.A. University of California at Berkeley, Zoology/English, 1991
Science and Products
Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity
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
Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Boiga irregularis (brown treesnake)
Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) move short distances and have small activity areas in a high prey environment
Egg retention in wild-caught Python bivittatus in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Emoia atrocostata (tidepool skink, mangrove skink). USA Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Saipan Island
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
Clutch may predict growth of hatchling Burmese pythons better than food availability or sex
Olfactory lures in predator control do not increase predation risk to birds in areas of conservation concern
Range eclipse leads to tenuous survival of a rare lizard species on a barrier atoll
Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Everglades
Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
Mentoring the next generation: USGS, NPS, and University of Florida Cooperative Research Unit Invasive Reptile Intern Program
USGS Everglades Research Office - Florida
Ecology and Management of Invasive Riparian Plants
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Sampling Improves Occurrence and Detection Estimates of Invasive Burmese Pythons and Other Constrictor Snakes in Florida
Cruising to Improve the Detection of Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park
Developing Ecological Forecasting Models for Invasive Species
Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
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
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
Florida physiological and morphological data from wild and recently captive Python bivittatus 2018-2019
Florida invasive Leiocephalus carinatus ecological niche model, thermal environment, and thermal tolerance, 1991-2020
Brown Treesnake Mortality Habitat Management Unit Guam 2019
Temperature data for tegu lizard study in Auburn, Alabama 2017-2018
Metrics of individual and demographic stress in the invasive Brown treesnake on Guam from 1992-2018
Dataset: Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers
Sex, length, total mass, fat mass, and specimen condition data for 248 Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) collected in the Florida Everglades
Invasive Species biological science technician Michelle Collier holds an invasive black and white Tegu lizard.
Boa constrictor "in situ" on a tree buttress right after some rain in Puerto Rico.
Boa constrictor "in situ" on a tree buttress right after some rain in Puerto Rico.
This is an image of a brown treesnake in a tree in Guam, taken in 2009.
This is an image of a brown treesnake in a tree in Guam, taken in 2009.
Science and Products
Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity
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
Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Boiga irregularis (brown treesnake)
Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) move short distances and have small activity areas in a high prey environment
Egg retention in wild-caught Python bivittatus in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Emoia atrocostata (tidepool skink, mangrove skink). USA Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Saipan Island
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
Clutch may predict growth of hatchling Burmese pythons better than food availability or sex
Olfactory lures in predator control do not increase predation risk to birds in areas of conservation concern
Range eclipse leads to tenuous survival of a rare lizard species on a barrier atoll
Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Everglades
Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
Mentoring the next generation: USGS, NPS, and University of Florida Cooperative Research Unit Invasive Reptile Intern Program
USGS Everglades Research Office - Florida
Ecology and Management of Invasive Riparian Plants
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Sampling Improves Occurrence and Detection Estimates of Invasive Burmese Pythons and Other Constrictor Snakes in Florida
Cruising to Improve the Detection of Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park
Developing Ecological Forecasting Models for Invasive Species
Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
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
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
Florida physiological and morphological data from wild and recently captive Python bivittatus 2018-2019
Florida invasive Leiocephalus carinatus ecological niche model, thermal environment, and thermal tolerance, 1991-2020
Brown Treesnake Mortality Habitat Management Unit Guam 2019
Temperature data for tegu lizard study in Auburn, Alabama 2017-2018
Metrics of individual and demographic stress in the invasive Brown treesnake on Guam from 1992-2018
Dataset: Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers
Sex, length, total mass, fat mass, and specimen condition data for 248 Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) collected in the Florida Everglades
Invasive Species biological science technician Michelle Collier holds an invasive black and white Tegu lizard.
Invasive Species biological science technician Michelle Collier holds an invasive black and white Tegu lizard.
Boa constrictor "in situ" on a tree buttress right after some rain in Puerto Rico.
Boa constrictor "in situ" on a tree buttress right after some rain in Puerto Rico.
This is an image of a brown treesnake in a tree in Guam, taken in 2009.
This is an image of a brown treesnake in a tree in Guam, taken in 2009.