First record of twin and triplet embryos found in the clutch of a wild Burmese python in southern Florida
No abstract available.
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Geology topics
Matthew McCollister
Publications and source records attributed to Matthew McCollister.
An early detection rapid response case study of the Black and White Tegu (Salvator merianae) and implications for a broader framework
Documentation of successful early detection rapid response (EDRR) efforts is lacking from the scientific literature but is needed to inform invasive species response protocols. The Black and White tegu (Salvator merianae) has become established in several Florida counties and its spread is of significant conservation concern. It is of high priority for state and federal managers to prevent the spread into sensitive ecosystems, including the Greater Everglades. Thus, coordinated EDRR efforts are essential given limited infrastructure and funding for such tasks. While tegus have been observed along the eastern boundary of Everglades National Park, there has been no evidence tegus are established within Big Cypress National Preserve. On 8 August 2024 an individual tegu was sighted by a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biologist in Big Cypress National Preserve who alerted National Park Service (NPS) staff and mobilized a response. Live traps were placed at the location of sighting within 24 hours and an individual tegu was captured on 13 August 2024. The individual tegu was determined to be the same individual that was observed five days early based on color, pattern, and other physical characteristics. No additional tegus were captured. The rapid, coordinated response of NPS and USGS likely contributed to this successful EDRR event, and highlights the need for more expansive EDRR frameworks at multiple jurisdictional scales.
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Flooding-induced failure of an invasive Burmese Python nest in southern Florida
It is important to understand the factors affecting the reproductive success of an invasive species to estimate population size and develop management plans. There remains much we do not understand about the reproductive biology of invasive Burmese Pythons in both their native and invasive range. Oviposition site selection is an important factor in determining reproductive success as nesting is a vulnerable period in the life of reptiles. Flooding can be particularly influential for nesting outcomes and success of developing embryos in habitats that experience periods of heavy rainfall or seasonal flooding. It is not clear how seasonal flooding may impact oviposition site selection by females or hatchling survival of Burmese Pythons in Florida. On 10 May 2023, a radio-transmitted female python oviposited in a hollow log and during incubation all eggs were completely submerged for variable amounts of time. All eggs were collected (n = 78) and dissected to confirm fertilization and assess the stage of embryo development. Two eggs were found to be infertile, while the remaining fertile eggs contained embryos that died at various stages of development. The observed failure of this python nest was a direct result of oviposition site selection by the female. The frequency at which females lay eggs in suboptimal locations in southern Florida is currently unknown. This maladaptive behavior would suggest Burmese Pythons have fitness levels below theoretical optima.
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Maximum clutch size of an invasive Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) in Florida, USA
Native to southeastern Asia, the Burmese Python (Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820) is an invasive species established in southern Florida (Snow et al. 2007; Krysko et al. 2016; Krysko et al. 2019). Pythons are documented as having negative effects on the Greater Everglades Ecosystem and they have proven to be a complex problem for managers trying to control populations (Guzy et al. 2023). This species can move long distances (Pittman et al. 2014; Hart et al. 2015), use diverse habitats (Hart et al. 2015; Walters et al. 2016; Bartoszek et al. 2021a), consume a wide range of vertebrate prey items (Romagosa et al. 2022; Guzy et al. 2023 and citations therein), and has few documented predators (Bartoszek et al. 2021b; Mccollister et al. 2021; Currylow et al. 2023). Another factor that likely has contributed to the success of Burmese Pythons as an invasive species is their reproductive output (Reed et al. 2012). Though data are limited, clutch sizes of pythons in Florida range from 22–84 (mean = 49; see Currylow et al. 2022a and citations therein). Herein we report, to the best of our knowledge, the largest number of eggs in a single wild python nest recorded to date in Florida.
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Natives bite back: Depredation and mortality of invasive juvenile Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus Kuhl, 1820) are one of the world’s largest snake species, making them a highly successful and biologically damaging invasive predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA. Though we have knowledge of python diet within this system, we understand very little of other interactions with native species. Effects native species have on invasive pythons, especially in the juvenile size class, are of particular interest as the prevalence of mortalities would inform potential population growth and trophic dynamics with native prey species. Native ophiophagous predators in Florida feed on smaller native snake species and it is unknown if they consistently recognize similarly sized juvenile invasive pythons as prey items. Using radiotelemetry, we found at least four native species within Big Cypress National Preserve that were implicated in juvenile python deaths, including three Florida cottonmouths (Agkistrodon conanti Gloyd, 1969), five American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis Daudin, 1802), one hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus Say and Ord, 1825), and three mesomammals. One mortality was the result of an attempt to subdue a prey item 106% the size of the python, constituting the largest predator:prey size ratio ever reported in this size class. This finding may indicate that phenotypic variation in individual juvenile pythons includes behavior that could be maladaptive within the novel Florida environment. Here we describe some of the first confirmed cases of non-anthropogenic mortality in juvenile Burmese pythons in Florida and present evidence that invasive pythons in this size class are now being incorporated into the diets of native species in its invasive range Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus Kuhl, 1820) are one of the world’s largest snake species, making them a highly successful and biologically damaging invasive predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA. Though we have knowledge of python diet within this system, we understand very little of other interactions with native species. Effects native species have on invasive pythons, especially in the juvenile size class, are of particular interest as the prevalence of mortalities would inform potential population growth and trophic dynamics with native prey species. Native ophiophagous predators in Florida feed on smaller native snake species and it is unknown if they consistently recognize similarly sized juvenile invasive pythons as prey items. Using radiotelemetry, we found at least four native species within Big Cypress National Preserve that were implicated in juvenile python deaths, including three Florida cottonmouths (Agkistrodon conanti Gloyd, 1969), five American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis Daudin, 1802), one hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus Say and Ord, 1825), and three mesomammals. One mortality was the result of an attempt to subdue a prey item 106% the size of the python, constituting the largest predator:prey size ratio ever reported in this size class. This finding may indicate that phenotypic variation in individual juvenile pythons includes behavior that could be maladaptive within the novel Florida environment. Here we describe some of the first confirmed cases of non-anthropogenic mortality in juvenile Burmese pythons in Florida and present evidence that invasive pythons in this size class are now being incorporated into the diets of native species in its invasive range.
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