Implications of the 2013 Python Challenge<sup>®</sup>for Ecology and Management of<i>Python molorus bivittatus</i>(Burmese Python) in Florida

Mazzotti, Frank J.; Rochford, Mike; Vinci, Joy; Jeffery, Brian; Eckles, Jennifer Ketterlin; Dove, Carla J.; Sommers, Kristen Penney

doi:10.1656/058.015.sp807

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This could indicate a massive underestimation of this cost type, although this pattern is not found in reptiles. Especially surprising is the low reported cost from Burmese python Python bivittatus considering the large number of impacts generated in the USA by the high predation capacity of this species, which has caused the decline of native species 45 , as well as great effort in the country to control its populations 46 . Yet, many of these ecological impacts are not monetised or available as they are not in the Inva-Cost database, and all recorded economic costs generated by P. bivittatus thus far are from a single eradication program targeting this species in Florida 47 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

Soto

Cuthbert

Kouba

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Biological invasions by amphibian and reptile species (i.e. herpetofauna) are numerous and widespread, having caused severe impacts on ecosystems, the economy and human health. However, there remains no synthesised assessment of the economic costs of these invasions. Therefore, using the most comprehensive database on the economic costs of invasive alien species worldwide (InvaCost), we analyse the costs caused by invasive alien herpetofauna according to taxonomic, geographic, sectoral and temporal dimensions, as well as the types of these costs. The cost of invasive herpetofauna totaled at 17.0 billion US$ between 1986 and 2020, divided split into 6.3 billion US$ for amphibians, 10.4 billion US$ for reptiles and 334 million US$ for mixed classes. However, these costs were associated predominantly with only two species (brown tree snake Boiga irregularis and American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus), with 10.3 and 6.0 billion US$ in costs, respectively. Costs for the remaining 19 reported species were relatively minor (< 0.6 billion US$), and they were entirely unavailable for over 94% of known invasive herpetofauna worldwide. Also, costs were positively correlated with research effort, suggesting research biases towards well-known taxa. So far, costs have been dominated by predictions and extrapolations (79%), and thus empirical observations for impact were relatively scarce. The activity sector most affected by amphibians was authorities-stakeholders through management (> 99%), while for reptiles, impacts were reported mostly through damages to mixed sectors (65%). Geographically, Oceania and Pacific Islands recorded 63% of total costs, followed by Europe (35%) and North America (2%). Cost reports have generally increased over time but peaked between 2011 and 2015 for amphibians and 2006 to 2010 for reptiles. A greater effort in studying the costs of invasive herpetofauna is necessary for a more complete understanding of invasion impacts of these species. We emphasise the need for greater control and prevention policies concerning the spread of current and future invasive herpetofauna.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

Soto

Cuthbert

Kouba

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This could indicate a massive underestimation of this cost type, although this pattern is not found in reptiles. Especially surprising is the low reported cost from Burmese python Python bivittatus considering the large number of impacts generated in the USA by the high predation capacity of this species, which has caused the decline of native species (Dorcas et al, 2012), as well as great effort in the country to control its populations (Mazzotti et al, 2016). Yet, many of these ecological impacts are not monetised or available as they are not in the InvaCost database, and all recorded economic costs generated by P. bivittatus thus far are from a single eradication program targeting this species in Florida (Smith et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

Soto

Cuthbert

Kouba

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Biological invasions by amphibian and reptile species (i.e. herpetofauna) are numerous and widespread and have caused severe impacts on ecosystems, the economy and human health. However, there remains no synthesised assessment of the economic costs of these invasions. Therefore, using the most comprehensive database on the economic costs of invasive alien species worldwide (InvaCost), we analyse the costs caused by invasive alien herpetofauna according to taxonomic, geographic, sectoral and temporal dimensions, as well as the types of these costs. The cost of invasive herpetofauna totaled 17.0 billion US$ between 1986 and 2020, divided between 6.3 billion US$ for amphibians, 10.4 billion US$ for reptiles and 334 million US$ for mixed classes. However, these costs were associated predominantly with only two species (brown tree snake Boiga irregularis and American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus), with 10.3 and 6.0 billion US$ in costs, respectively. Costs for the remaining 19 reported species were relatively minor (< 0.6 billion US$), and they were entirely unavailable for over 94% of known invasive herpetofauna worldwide. Also, costs were positively correlated with research effort, suggesting research biases towards well-known taxa. So far, costs have been dominated by predictions and extrapolations (79%), and thus empirical observations for impact were relatively scarce. The activity sector most affected by amphibians was authorities-stakeholders through management (> 99%), while for reptiles, impact was reported mostly through damages to mixed sectors (65%). Geographically, Oceania and Pacific Islands recorded 63% of total costs, followed by Europe (35%) and North America (2%). Cost reports have generally increased over time. A greater effort in studying the costs of invasive herpetofauna is necessary for a more complete understanding of invasion impacts of these species. We emphasise the need for greater control and prevention policies concerning the spread of current and future invasive herpetofauna.

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“…Humans are thought to be the primary cause of mortality for Burmese pythons in their native range, largely due to habitat loss and over-collection (Groombridge and Luxmoore 1991). Within their introduced range, humans are sources of mortality because of deliberate removal (e.g., Mazzotti et al 2016), vehicular mortality, and agricultural activities such as mowing and discing (Mazzotti et al 2011;). However, the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is vast and remote (see Introduction), and the interior is difficult to survey.…”

Section: Mortalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many individuals have been found along the western outskirts of Miami, farther northwest in Big Cypress National Preserve, along Florida's west coast in Naples (e.g., CSSP, PSSF, RBNERR; Table 1, Fig. 6), and in the vast marshes north of I-75 (Figs 1, 5; Snow et al 2007a;Mazzotti et al 2011Mazzotti et al , 2016McCleery et al 2015;Bonneau et al 2016;Reichert et al 2017;Bartoszek et al 2021b;Currylow et al 2022b). There are now many records north of I-75 including agricultural areas near Lake Okeechobee (EDDMapS 2018, Fig.…”

Section: History Of the Invasive Florida Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Guzy¹,

Falk²,

Smith³

et al. 2023

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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.

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Implications of the 2013 Python Challenge^®for Ecology and Management ofPython molorus bivittatus(Burmese Python) in Florida

Cited by 12 publications

References 18 publications

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

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

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Implications of the 2013 Python Challenge®for Ecology and Management ofPython molorus bivittatus(Burmese Python) in Florida

Cited by 12 publications

References 18 publications

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions

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

Contact Info

Product

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Implications of the 2013 Python Challenge^®for Ecology and Management ofPython molorus bivittatus(Burmese Python) in Florida

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