Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park Michael E Dorcas John D. Willson, Robert N. Reed, Ray W. Snow, Michael R. Rochford, Melissa A. Miller Walter E. Meshaka, Ir., Paul T. Andreadis, Frank J. Mazzoti, Christina M. Romagosa, and Kristen M. Hart Department 이 Fish and Wildlde Conservation wegnva Polytechnic hstttt and State Univer ty. 8lackuburg. VA 24061·Yort Colin, Soence Center, US Geological Survey, Fort Colin, c。 26; Homastead, FL KO Fort Lauderdale Research and [ducation Center, Univerity of Flonda, Davie, FL 34 unventy, Auburn, AL 3184k oStat, Mneum of Pernytwania, plamsburg, PA 17120, ‘Department of Biology、De non unvenity, Granvile, OH 4102); Edited by Peter M Vitonek, Stanford Universty, statse4, a nd approve 2000, when they finst were rocogniaed as being etablished (16) rondana smaa and wood stock (Meanu americana) (14-15. tems and more than 40 prey species for pythoms in Florida have 0 I1 y of being reoognized as an established invasive species Results common mammals found during roadkill surveys in ENP (Fig3) invasion bielogy population decines tep-dewn regulation reptiles mvasive species represent one of the most significant threats to being the most frequently enoountered species Sabstantial d gdobal biodiversity and ecosytem function (1). In the United creascs in the encounter ratcs of several spocies of mammals were States the cost of invasive species management exceeds $120 apparent froem 200-3011 (Fig. 44). Despte consitency of survey billion annually (2). Ivasive species affect native ecosystems via mxthods we observod no rabbits or fowes (hoyo alteration of habitat structure (3), competition <4), reduction of native predator populations (5), and alteration of trophK struc. cincreoargte and es" ) between 3x3 and 201 1 found a 9,3% decrease raco on obervations and decreases of 98 %,941%, and 875% Sor opossums, while ailed deetaleokaa st naanus), and lub can educe or even extirpate native invaders (9).Most reptiles are predators that, as ectotherms, can Paaomcolor conty increased slighrly (ceo100 km), bat the and reproduction ), oten allowing them to persist at high We also found comiderable spatial varation in mammal were not implicated in the dedine of nathe vertebrales for more than 30 y (13). Unfortunately, the time from the estaNishment of meR, MAM, W.EM.P.TA FIM.CMndKMH gerfomed wnh mEn nd an invasive reptile species to the recognition of impacts odten is now nhaeddata, and MLD. iD w,ANA,軋ws. wLM.PTA,CMA,and" MH. decades, and for many invasions, the historical data necessary to pper Burmese pythons (Python mobuas biras large (up to 55 T ies&PASon m) constrictors native to Southeast Asia (14), now are estab. ely ible oline eugh th Ppnion lished acros thousands of square klometers in southem Florida, to whomcoependene shouid be addresed Emal mid including all of Everglades National Park < ENP) (Fig. 1) (15). ms-ortam ing atonal". Pythons were sighted intermittently in ENP for abou·20 y before 100Xpruentsag 00epleren