Face-off: Novel depredation and nest defense behaviors between an invasive and a native predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA

Andrea Faye Currylow; Matthew F. McCollister; Gretchen Erika Anderson; Jillian Maureen Josimovich; Austin Lee Fitzgerald; Christina M. Romagosa; Amy A. Yackel Adams

doi:10.1002/ece3.8639

USGS · 70228826

Face-off: Novel depredation and nest defense behaviors between an invasive and a native predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA

Andrea Faye Currylow·Matthew F. McCollister·Gretchen Erika Anderson·Jillian Maureen Josimovich·Austin Lee Fitzgerald·Christina M. Romagosa·Amy A. Yackel Adams

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Abstract

We describe several photo-documented novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida—the native bobcat ( Lynx rufus ) and the invasive Burmese python ( Python bivittatus ). Over several days we documented a bobcat's depredation of an unguarded python nest and subsequent python nest defense behavior following the return of both animals to the nest. This is the first documentation of any animal in Florida preying on python eggs, and the first evidence or description of such antagonistic interactions at a python nest.

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Ecology and Evolution Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 24.472150437226865° to 27.27416111737468° latitude; -82.6336669921875° to -79.969482421875° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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BibTeX RIS

Andrea Faye Currylow, Matthew F. McCollister, Gretchen Erika Anderson, Jillian Maureen Josimovich, Austin Lee Fitzgerald, Christina M. Romagosa, Amy A. Yackel Adams. 2022-02-19. Face-off: Novel depredation and nest defense behaviors between an invasive and a native predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8639

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