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USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Habitat
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by tigers9 on February 20, 2008
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Hmm, interesting timing considering that proposal to add constrictors to injurious federal list, what animal will be next?
Click link for maps referenced in the article
Z
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http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1875&from=rss
USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Habitat Along Three U.S. Coasts
Released: 2/20/2008 10:45:00 AM
Contact Information:
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Office of Communication
119 National Center
Reston, VA 20192 Gordon Rodda
Phone: 970-226-9471
Robert Reed (USGS Fort Collins Science Center, CO)
Phone: 970-226-9464
Skip Snow (Everglades National Park)
Phone: 305-242-7827
________________________________________
Burmese pythons—an invasive species in south Florida—could find comfortable climatic conditions in roughly a third of the United States according to new "climate maps" developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Although other factors such as type of food available and suitable shelter also play a role, Burmese pythons and other giant constrictor snakes have shown themselves to be highly adaptable to new environments.
The just-released USGS maps can help natural resource agencies manage and possibly control the spread of non-native giant constrictor snakes, such as the Burmese python, now spreading from Everglades National Park in Florida. These "climate match" maps show where climate in the U.S. is similar to places in which Burmese pythons live naturally (from Pakistan to Indonesia).
A look at the maps shows why biologists are concerned.
The maps show where climate alone would not limit these snakes. One map shows areas in the U.S. with current climatic conditions similar to those of the snakes' native ranges. A second map projects these "climate matches" at the end of this century based on global warming models, which significantly expands the potential habitat for these snakes.
Biologists with Everglades National Park confirmed a breeding population of Burmese python in the Florida Everglades in 2003, presumably the result of released pets. Python populations have since been discovered in Big Cypress National Preserve to the north, Miami's water management areas to the northeast, Key Largo to the southeast, and many state parks, municipalities, and public and private lands in the region.
An American alligator and a Burmese python locked in a struggle to prevail in Everglades National Park. This python appears to be losing, but snakes in similar situations have apparently escaped unharmed, and in other situations pythons have eaten alligators. Photo by Lori Oberhofer, National Park Service.
"Wildlife managers are concerned that these snakes, which can grow to over 20 feet long and more than 250 pounds, pose a danger to state- and federally listed threatened and endangered species as well as to humans," said Bob Reed, a USGS wildlife biologist at the Fort Collins Science Center in Colorado, who helped develop the maps. "Several endangered species," he noted, "have already been found in the snakes' stomachs. Pythons could have even more significant environmental and economic consequences if they were to spread from Florida to other states."
Control of exotic species is often prohibitively expensive once they have become established. Therefore, prevention through screening and risk assessment is of great importance, especially when protecting continental areas from invasive reptiles, said USGS invasive snake expert Gordon Rodda, also of the Fort Collins center. USGS scientists and their partners are seeking to compile the scientific data necessary to guide management efforts to prevent further introductions, control existing populations of snakes, and contain their spread.
Burmese pythons have been found to eat endangered Key Largo woodrats and rare round-tailed muskrats. "This makes it that much more difficult to recover these dwindling populations and restore the Everglades," said park biologist Skip Snow, "and all the more important that pet owners be responsible in their choice of pet and dispose of it properly should they need to. Releasing them into the environment is bad for that pet, bad for native species, and also illegal."
Currently, scientists with the USGS and Everglades National Park are investigating the behavior and biology of these snakes - that is, what are their requirements for survival? This information will help refine predictions of where the snakes might go next and their likelihood of survival. USGS researchers are also conducting a risk assessment for nine species of giant constrictors (including boa constrictors and yellow anacondas) that are prevalent in the pet trade and as such, potential invaders in the United States.
Due to be completed by early 2009, the assessment evaluates the risk of invasion for these species and the potential for social, economic, and environmental impacts. The two agencies are also developing and testing tools to control invasive snake populations and prevent their spread, especially to the Florida Keys where several listed species would be threatened by the presence of pythons or other constrictors.
For more information, visit the Florida Invaders Web site.
Areas of the continental United States with climate matching that of the pythons' native range in Asia. USGS image. Projected climate in the continental United States in the year 2100, based on global warming models, that matches climate in the pythons' native range in Asia. USGS image.
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by tigers9 on February 20, 2008
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<< Projected climate in the continental United States in the year 2100, based on global warming models, that matches climate in the pythons' native range in Asia. USGS image.>>(subtitle to one of the maps)
I want it warmer, this Earth is too cold for me, but I don’t think I will be around in 2100, this is nuts, it has Gore crap all over it, global warming models, I am sure in 2100 people will have more to worry about than snakes, like hunger,…actually they might start using snakes as regular diet if human population keeps increasing,…, I think it is that type of evening when I drink Russian vodka and watch Penn and Teller BS episode on tree huggers agreeing to ban dihydrogen monoxide because it kills many people per year and it us so potent it is used as a fire retardant
Z
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by earthguy on February 21, 2008
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Hey now! check the name - I'm a tree hugger. Lets not start a thread about climate change here.
But seriously - those 'potential range' maps are INSANE! Lets assume for a moment that a Burmese Python could survive in the crazy mountains of Tennessee (their waether is almost as crazy as SC weather, and those 'mountain people' are crazier). What are they going to eat? How are they going to find each other to mate? How mobile are they in mountainous areas?
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by Phobos on February 21, 2008
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This topic and map made the front page of USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-02-20-burmese-pythons_N.htm
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by Cro on February 21, 2008
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The maps are not realistic at all, and as Zuzana stated, have Al Gore and Global Warming nonsense written all over them, along with the non-facts that the HSUS and PITA are known for.
This is clearly an effort to help get support for the USFWS proposed ban, by stirring up anti-snake public outcry with a carefully published propaganda campaign.
The work of the USFWS should be based on sound science, not assumptions and fears and misguided leadership.
Josh, I like trees also, and being ecologically awaire is great, however, we all know there are nut case tree huggers out there who work on sentiment and emotion and not scientific knowledge.
Burmese Pythons and other exotic snakes and lizards have surely excaped captivity in many parts of the country in the past, besides the everglades. We do not see populations of them anywhere else do we? Why are they not allready all over southern California, or extrme west Texas, or living in the swamps of Lousianna ?
I hope that everyone here will go back to the thread on the proposed USFWS ban, and start getting the letters written in protest. There is not much time. And signing a petition will not help at all, as the USFWS has allready said they will not read petitions.
They have to read well written letters though.
Do what you can to help.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by earthguy on February 21, 2008
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I know of the people who made the map. From what I've seen they do good work. The problem here is that we have a map with no explanation of the assumptions (some assumptions are obviously required, others are based on interpretation). The paper that explains the map is is not expected for another year. The authors may very well further restrict the range of the map based on availability of such limiting factors as shelter, food, water, etc. We just don't know.
My thought is that a higher up authority knew of the work, highjacked it, and released it at an 'appropriate' time.
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by tigers9 on February 21, 2008
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WOW, USA today was fast to pick up on the story today considering that tree hugger map was published yesterday (earthguy is exluded from this reference ;-) )
The same crap the antis were doing to us cat owners fo r over 10 years now is now happening to reptile folsk, scare the people, create public hysteria, anything to ban them,as we big cats, pythons are not a public safety issues, but u scare some people and they fall for it
Z
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by Cro on February 21, 2008
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And we should all know that as soon as they ban pythons as inherently dangerous animals, that venomous reptiles will not be far behind on the federal agenda!
Write the USFWS and protest this, and get all of your friends to do the same.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by 23bms on February 21, 2008
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The ridiculous potential range chart reminded me of an interesting article published in PLos Medicine a few months back. The article was "Why Most Published Research Findings Are False" by John P. A. Ioannidis.
(The author is "...in the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece, and Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Department of Medicine, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts..." Though published in a medical journal, the study has broad cross-disciplinary implications as noted in the summary.
From the summary:
"There is increasing concern that most current published research findings are false. The probability that a research claim is true may depend on study power and bias, the number of other studies on the same question, and, importantly, the ratio of true to no relationships among the relationships probed in each scientific field. In this framework, a research finding is less likely to be true when the studies conducted in a field are smaller; when effect sizes are smaller; when there is a greater number and lesser preselection of tested relationships; where there is greater flexibility in designs, definitions, outcomes, and analytical modes; when there is greater financial and other interest and prejudice; and when more teams are involved in a scientific field in chase of statistical significance. Simulations show that for most study designs and settings, it is more likely for a research claim to be false than true. Moreover, for many current scientific fields, claimed research findings may often be simply accurate measures of the prevailing bias."
For anyone interested, the article url is:
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0020124
jrb
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RE: USGS Maps Show Potential Non-Native Python Hab
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by MoccasinMan on February 22, 2008
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jrb- you are proving to be an interesting addition to our community.
Andrew
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