A Runaway Train in the Making: The Exotic Amphibians, Reptiles, Turtles, and Crocodilians of Florida (Via Herp Digest)

Monograph-A Runaway Train in the Making: The Exotic Amphibians, Reptiles, Turtles, and Crocodilians of Florida
Monograph 1. Walter E. Meshaka, Jr. at State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120, USA,

E-mail: wmeshaka@state.pa.us

URL is -
http://herpconbio.org/Volume_6/Monograph_1/Meshaka_2011.pdf

RISK ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL INVASIVENESS OF EXOTIC REPTILES

RISK ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL INVASIVENESS OF EXOTIC REPTILES
IMPORTED TO SOUTH FLORIDA

Ikuko Fujisaki, Kristen M. Hart, Frank J. Mazzotti, Kenneth G. Rice, Skip Snow & Michael Rochford

2010. Biological Invasions 12: 2585-2596

Abstract: The recent explosion of exotic reptiles in south Florida requires effective management strategies. The objective of this study is to bring knowledge of ecological correlates and quantitative modeling methods into management by providing the foundation for a screening procedure that will identify potentially invasive species and assess adverse impacts associated with these species. We considered 17 variables and, based on model selection procedures, we identified the following significant predictors of establishment success: taxonomic order, maximum temperature match between a species' native range and Florida, animal sale price, and manageability (defined as a species' maintenance cost, aggressiveness, proneness to escape, and venomousness). Applying the models to predict establishment success of 33 reptiles that were most frequently imported through Miami and St. Petersburg ports from 2000 to 2005 and two additional reptiles of concern in Florida, we identified ei!
ght lizards and four snakes as potentially successful invaders. We further assessed adverse impacts associated with potential invaders, should they become established, by identifying species that are (1) dangerous to humans, (2) dangerous to the ecosystem (upper trophic-level predators), and (3) rapidly spreading. Controlling exotic reptiles can be expensive and labor intensive once they are established. Information on which species are potential invaders based on screening procedures and what impacts these species might cause will be a valuable contribution to the development of proactive management strategies.

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A pdf of this article is available from the CNAH PDF Library at

http://www.cnah.org/cnah_pdf.asp

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REPTILE JOURNAL NEWS

As a courtesy of Brill, the first issue of 2010 of Amphibia-Reptilia is currently freely available on Ingenta website: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/amre/2010/00000031/00000001


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Best wishes,

Mathieu Denoël



Mathieu Denoël F.R.S. - FNRS

Research AssociateCo-Editor of Amphibia-Reptilia

Behavioural Biology Unit

University of Liege

22 Quai van Beneden

4020 Liege (Belgium)



Tel: (+32) 04.366.50.84

Web site: http://www.etho.ulg.ac.be/denoel/home.html

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OLD SIAM SIR

Fleur has just emailed me with an interesting BBC story about the critically endangered Siamese crocodile, which was only relatively recently thought to be extinct. It is therefore a genuine cryptozoological success story..

Check it out HERE

In 1992 the Siamese crocodile was believed to be extinct, or at least functionally extinct, in the wild. or very nearly so. However a tiny population was found in Thailand (possibly numbering as little as two individuals, discounting recent reintroductions), and there is small population in Vietnam (possibly less than 100 individuals), and more sizable populations in Burma and Laos. There is a very small remnant population in northern Cambodia. There are no recent records from Malaysia, Brunei or Indonesia.