Predatory Pythons Shift Everglades' Ecology

Predatory Pythons Shift Everglades' Ecology

Summary of Article

To coincide with the spread of the snakes have occurred among mammals in the region to dramatic changes. While before 2000, often at night on the streets in the Everglades, rabbits, raccoons, opossums (Opoassums), bobcats, white-tailed deer and foxes were counted, the number of observations is gone there in the years 2003 to 2011, compared to zero. Rabbits and foxes about were not seen again.

A whole series of indications suggest that there is indeed a connection between the spread of predatory invaders and the disappearance of the mammal. Thus, just in the southern Everglades, where pythons have long observed that mammal populations declined particularly sharply. Where are the snakes occur, however only recently, the number of mammals is smaller than in areas in which the lines are not yet penetrated.

In addition, fit all kinds that are now missing, the prey composition of snakes. And that several orders of mammals are affected, says the researchers, to prevent the disease. Disastrous for the mammal in Florida and that the robber is completely new to them, they are not adapted to large constrictors. For at least 16 million years, there are no snakes in North America, which would be large enough to hunt medium-sized mammals.

And while animals often disappear because their ecosystem is being destroyed by humans - as a result of deforestation and hunting - the Everglades are protected. For some species, the scientists suspect that hunting of pythons could indeed have positive consequences. Thus benefit them as turtles, birds and crocodiles when pounce less raccoons over their eggs. But it is unclear what the consequences of the spread of the constrictor on endangered species in the Everglades. After the pythons swallow and birds and even kill big cats, the scientists also worry ...