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 Reed; Nicholas Aumen; Michael L. Avery; Ian A. Bartoszek; Earl Campbell; Michael Cherkiss; Natalie M. Claunch; Andrea Faye Currylow; Tylan Dean; Jeremy Dixon; Richard M. Engeman; Sarah Funck; Rebekah Gibble; Kodiak C. Hengstebeck; John S. Humphrey; Margaret Hunter; Jillian Josimovich; Jennifer Ketterlin Eckles; Michael Kirkland; Frank J. Mazzotti; Robert A. McCleery; Melissa A. Miller; Matthew F. McCollister; M. Rockwell Parker; Shannon E. Pittman; Michael R. Rochford; Christina Romagosa; Art Roybal; Ray W. Snow; McKayla M. Spencer; Hardin Waddle; Amy A. Yackel Adams; Kristen Hart

doi:10.3897/neobiota.80.90439

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Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools

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Abstract

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.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 24.851330389987098° to 27.14107855796958° latitude; -82.41914099200025° to -79.51998158284334° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Jacquelyn C. Guzy, Bryan G. Falk, Brian J. Smith, John David Willson, Robert Reed, Nicholas Aumen, Michael L. Avery, Ian A. Bartoszek, Earl Campbell, Michael Cherkiss, Natalie M. Claunch, Andrea Faye Currylow, Tylan Dean, Jeremy Dixon, Richard M. Engeman, Sarah Funck, Rebekah Gibble, Kodiak C. Hengstebeck, John S. Humphrey, Margaret Hunter, Jillian Josimovich, Jennifer Ketterlin Eckles, Michael Kirkland, Frank J. Mazzotti, Robert A. McCleery, Melissa A. Miller, Matthew F. McCollister, M. Rockwell Parker, Shannon E. Pittman, Michael R. Rochford, Christina Romagosa, Art Roybal, Ray W. Snow, McKayla M. Spencer, Hardin Waddle, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Kristen Hart. 2023-01-10. Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.80.90439

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