NeoBiota (Jan 2023)
Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools
- Jacquelyn C. Guzy,
- Bryan G. Falk,
- Brian J. Smith,
- John David Willson,
- Robert N. Reed,
- Nicholas G. Aumen,
- Michael L. Avery,
- Ian A. Bartoszek,
- Earl Campbell,
- Michael S. Cherkiss,
- Natalie M. Claunch,
- Andrea F. Currylow,
- Tylan Dean,
- Jeremy Dixon,
- Richard Engeman,
- Sarah Funck,
- Rebekah Gibble,
- Kodiak C. Hengstebeck,
- John S. Humphrey,
- Margaret E. Hunter,
- Jillian M. Josimovich,
- Jennifer Ketterlin,
- Michael Kirkland,
- Frank J. Mazzotti,
- Robert McCleery,
- Melissa A. Miller,
- Matthew McCollister,
- M. Rockwell Parker,
- Shannon E. Pittman,
- Michael Rochford,
- Christina Romagosa,
- Art Roybal,
- Ray W. Snow,
- McKayla M. Spencer,
- J. Hardin Waddle,
- Amy A. Yackel Adams,
- Kristen M. Hart
Affiliations
- Jacquelyn C. Guzy
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
- Bryan G. Falk
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Florida Field Station
- Brian J. Smith
- Cherokee Nation Technologies, contracted to the U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
- John David Willson
- University of Arkansas
- Robert N. Reed
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center
- Nicholas G. Aumen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southeast Region
- Michael L. Avery
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center
- Ian A. Bartoszek
- Conservancy of Southwest Florida
- Earl Campbell
- U.S. Geological Survey, Ecosystems Mission Area
- Michael S. Cherkiss
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
- Natalie M. Claunch
- University of Florida
- Andrea F. Currylow
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center - South Florida Field Station in Everglades National Park
- Tylan Dean
- National Park Service, Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks
- Jeremy Dixon
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Richard Engeman
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center
- Sarah Funck
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Rebekah Gibble
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Kodiak C. Hengstebeck
- University of Florida
- John S. Humphrey
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center
- Margaret E. Hunter
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
- Jillian M. Josimovich
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center - South Florida Field Station in Everglades National Park
- Jennifer Ketterlin
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Southwest Region
- Michael Kirkland
- South Florida Water Management District
- Frank J. Mazzotti
- University of Florida
- Robert McCleery
- University of Florida
- Melissa A. Miller
- University of Florida
- Matthew McCollister
- National Park Service, Big Cypress National Preserve
- M. Rockwell Parker
- James Madison University
- Shannon E. Pittman
- Athens State University
- Michael Rochford
- University of Florida
- Christina Romagosa
- University of Florida
- Art Roybal
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Ecological Services Field Office
- Ray W. Snow
- National Park Service, Everglades National Park
- McKayla M. Spencer
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- J. Hardin Waddle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
- Amy A. Yackel Adams
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center
- Kristen M. Hart
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.80.90439
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 80
pp. 1 – 119
Abstract
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Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are native to southeastern Asia, however, there is an established invasive population inhabiting much of southern Florida throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Pythons have severely impacted native species and ecosystems in Florida and represent one of the most intractable invasive-species management issues across the globe. The difficulty stems from a unique combination of inaccessible habitat and the cryptic and resilient nature of pythons that thrive in the subtropical environment of southern Florida, rendering them extremely challenging to detect. Here we provide a comprehensive review and synthesis of the science relevant to managing invasive Burmese pythons. We describe existing control tools and review challenges to productive research, identifying key knowledge gaps that would improve future research and decision making for python control.
