Publications

first reports of ectoparasites collected from wild-caught exotic reptiles in florida.	we collected ectoparasites from 27 of 51 wild-caught, free-ranging exotic reptiles examined in florida from 2003 to 2008. sampled animals represented eight species, five of which yielded ectoparasites. reported new parasite distribution records for the united states include the following: the first collection of the african tick amblyomma latum (koch) from a wild-caught animal [ball python, python regius (shaw)] in the united states; the first collection of the lizard scale mite hirstiella stami ...	2011	21337954
severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive burmese pythons in everglades national park.	invasive species represent a significant threat to global biodiversity and a substantial economic burden. burmese pythons, giant constricting snakes native to asia, now are found throughout much of southern florida, including all of everglades national park (enp). pythons have increased dramatically in both abundance and geographic range since 2000 and consume a wide variety of mammals and birds. here we report severe apparent declines in mammal populations that coincide temporally and spatially ...	2012	22308381
ecological correlates of invasion impact for burmese pythons in florida.	an invasive population of burmese pythons (python molurus bivittatus) is established across several thousand square kilometers of southern florida and appears to have caused precipitous population declines among several species of native mammals. why has this giant snake had such great success as an invasive species when many established reptiles have failed to spread? we scored the burmese python for each of 15 literature-based attributes relative to predefined comparison groups from a diverse ...	2012	22938523
environmental temperatures, physiology and behavior limit the range expansion of invasive burmese pythons in southeastern usa.	a well-established population of burmese pythons resides in the everglades of southern florida. prompted in part by a report that identified much of southern usa as suitable habitat for expansion or establishment of the burmese python, we examined the plausibility of this snake to survive winters at sites north of the everglades. we integrated daily low and high temperatures recorded from october to february from 2005-2011 at homestead, orlando and gainesville, florida; and aiken, south carolina ...	2012	22938524
detecting an elusive invasive species: a diagnostic pcr to detect burmese python in florida waters and an assessment of persistence of environmental dna.	recent studies have demonstrated that detection of environmental dna (edna) from aquatic vertebrates in water bodies is possible. the burmese python, python bivittatus, is a semi-aquatic, invasive species in florida where its elusive nature and cryptic coloration make its detection difficult. our goal was to develop a diagnostic pcr to detect p. bivittatus from water-borne edna, which could assist managers in monitoring this invasive species. first, we used captive p. bivittatus to determine whe ...	2014	24119154
homing of invasive burmese pythons in south florida: evidence for map and compass senses in snakes.	navigational ability is a critical component of an animal's spatial ecology and may influence the invasive potential of species. burmese pythons (python molurus bivittatus) are apex predators invasive to south florida. we tracked the movements of 12 adult burmese pythons in everglades national park, six of which were translocated 21-36 km from their capture locations. translocated snakes oriented movement homeward relative to the capture location, and five of six snakes returned to within 5 km o ...	2014	24647727
weighing empirical and hypothetical evidence for assessing potential invasive species range limits: a review of the case of burmese pythons in the usa.	range expansion potential is an important consideration for prioritizing management actions against an invasive species. understanding the potential for range expansion by invasive reptiles such as the burmese python can be challenging, because the lack of knowledge on fundamental physiological and behavioral constraints initially forces reliance on modeling to predict hypothetical invasive range potential. hypothetical predictions for burmese python range limits in the usa have been highly dive ...	2014	24943887
environmental dna (edna) sampling improves occurrence and detection estimates of invasive burmese pythons.	environmental dna (edna) methods are used to detect dna that is shed into the aquatic environment by cryptic or low density species. applied in edna studies, occupancy models can be used to estimate occurrence and detection probabilities and thereby account for imperfect detection. however, occupancy terminology has been applied inconsistently in edna studies, and many have calculated occurrence probabilities while not considering the effects of imperfect detection. low detection of invasive gia ...	2015	25874630
interactions between the invasive burmese python, python bivittatus kuhl, and the local mosquito community in florida, usa.	the burmese python, python bivittatus kuhl, is a well-established invasive species in the greater everglades ecosystem of southern florida, usa. most research on its ecological impacts focuses on its role as a predator and its trophic interactions with native vertebrate species, particularly mammals. beyond predation, there is little known about the ecological interactions between p. bivittatus and native faunal communities. it is likely that established populations of p. bivittatus in southern ...	2018	29342169