An INVASIVE species: 1) invasives Exotic species become are non‐native to the ecosystem invasive after it Increasing exotic populations has been under consideration and 2) their establishes itself. This primarily resultant of the pet trade, time frame can vary introduction causes or is likely to causing an exponential increase since the drastically. Climate change exacerbates Florida’s cause economic or environmental 1970s. These species enter Florida’s harm or harm to human health. problem because higher temperatures may habitats through escape or intentional create more suitable habitats. As habitats Invasive and exotic species are a release by owners and have caused in Central and South America are lost to problem most everywhere, but irreparable damage to sensitive climate change, Central and Northern they create the most issues in ecosystems. Florida may become a refuge for species areas with high percentages of unable to effectively adapt. endemic and other ecologically NOT ALL sensitive species, such as here in EXOTICS the FLORIDA SCRUBSCRUB. BECOME A FEW OF ARCHBOLD’S INVASIVE CURRENT SQUATTERS
Cuban Treefrog Greenhouse Frog Osteopilus septentrionalis Eleutherodactylus planirostris • STATUS: Invasive. • STATUS: Invasive. • NATIVE to Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands. • NATIVE to Cuba and the Bahamas. Has been a resident of southern Florida since the • MEANS OF INVASION: Hitchhiking in horticultural shipments, plantings, and vehicles. 19th century. • DISTRIBUTION: Most commonly around man‐made structures with outdoor lights that attract • MEANS OF INVASION: Rapid mainland dispersal through transportation of nursery prey, has an availability of hiding places, and standing water nearby that provides breeding sites. plants. May have dispersed into the Keys naturally, as well as in cargo ships.
• AVERAGE LENGTH ranges from 3 to 6 inches long. • DISTRIBUTION: A burrow symbiont of the gopher tortoise and shares ground cover http://images.enature.com/reptile_amph/reptile_amph_l/ar0002_1l.jpg
http://tangerinefl.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/lyraedisservlet1.jpg • DIET: Eats anything it can overpower and fit in its mouth including roaches, anoles, geckos, with eastern narrow‐mouth toads – significance of both interactions are largely frogs and toads. Will even practice cannibalism. unstudied. Also often found in gardens, greenhouses, landfills, hardwood hammocks, • IMPACTS: Secretes mucus from skin that may irritate the eyes or nose and may trigger asthma. and small stream valleys. They tend to only move around at night or in damp weather. Tadpoles compete with indigenous anuran larvae and negatively impact growth and • AVERAGE LENGTH ranges from 0.5 to 1.25 inches. development. It’s a storm‐adapted species able to immediately increase fecundity and rapidly • DIET: Eats insects, including ants, beetles, and roaches. disperse during and after hurricanes. However, as they move northward, their impact could • IMPACTS: May compete with other species for food, but threats are minimal. lessen because colder weather seems to reduce their average size – smaller frogs would be less • ERADICATION impossible as it is widespread throughout Florida. likely to consume as many native species. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/james_harding/Eleuth.plan.jpg/medium.jpg Archbold Station Photo • ERADICATION is highly unlikely because of its behavior and habitat preferences.
Indo‐Pacific Gecko Brown Anole Hemidactylus garnotii Anolis sagrei • STATUS: Exotic. • STATUS: Invasive. • NATIVE to Southeast Asia. • NATIVE to Cuba and the Bahamas. • MEANS OF INVASION: Arrived on shipments of greenhouse nursery stock and • MEANS OF INVASION: Documented in the Florida Keys in the 1800s, likely via the building materials. Of all seven gecko species introduced in Florida, the Indo‐ ornamental plant trade, then was inoculated to separate ports in the 1940s. Pacific has the widest distribution. • DISTRIBUTION: Widespread throughout Florida and Georgia. Well‐adapted to human http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/House_gecko_with_spider.JPG • DISTRIBUTION: Most commonly around man‐made structures with outdoor disturbance and quite prolific, enabling it to spread with future development. Well
http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki/65/Anolis_sagrei.jpg lights. Also found in natural habitats, including mangrove forests, sand pine established and now estimated to have higher population densities than other native scrub, and pine rocklands. lizard species in developed areas of its distribution. • AVERAGE LENGTH ranges from 3.75 to 5.5 inches long. • AVERAGE LENGTH ranges from 5 to 8.5 inches long. • DIET: Eats a variety of insects, spiders, and other vertebrates. • DIET: Mainly eats hatchling Green Anoles if available. Also feeds on crickets, • IMPACTS: Adaptable and unisexual mode of reproduction has helped it become grasshoppers, roaches, and spiders. a successful invader. Unknown what impact the introduction will have on native • IMPACTS: Evidence suggests that the Brown Anole is primarily responsible for the wildlife because their behavior is largely unknown. It is well established in Florida reduced numbers of Florida’s native Green Anoles, especially in human‐altered habitats.
and there are confirmed reports that it is moving northward. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/foma/hgarnotii.htm • ERADICATION not possible. Archbold Station Photo • ERADICATION highly unlikely.
If you spot one of these species Not yet documented at ENCROACHING during your visit, please record the Archbold Biological location and try to get a photo. Station, but are known Contact Betsie Rothermel with the to occur nearby. COLONIZERS info at brothermel@archbold‐ station.org sgs.gov/ u Argentine Tegu Burmese PhPython Python molurus bivittatus Tupinambis merianae http://nas.er. • STATUS: Invasive. • STATUS: Invasive. 2008 • NATIVE to rainforest areas of Southeast Asia. • NATIVE to East and Central South America.
Survey •
MEANS OF INVASION: Escapes from captivity or intentional releases by pet owners • MEANS OF INVASION:Pettrade. due to the species’ rapid growth rate and voracious appetite. http://www.reptilecare.com/jasper_head.jpg • DISTRIBUTION: Primarily in savannah and grassland habitats. Easily http://www.impactlab.com/wp‐content/uploads/2009/05/burmesepython.jpg Geological
• DISTRIBUTION: Thought to be widely distributed throughout the Everglades – domesticated, allowing it to live in close proximity to human development. US d bestpetlizard.com///images/argentinetegu.jpg confirme d bdibreeding popultilations and self‐sustiitaining for at ltleast 10 years insouthern an Tolerates cool temperatures and would be able to survive throughout Florida. peninsular Florida. Limits of their range are unknown because of their illusive nature • AVERAGE LENGTH ranges from 3 to 4.5 feet long. Interior and camouflage. the
• DIET: Omnivorous, eating both animal and plant matter. of • LENGTH averages between 6 and 10 feet long. • IMPACT: Burrowing animal – could pose threat to Gopher Tortoises and the • DIET: Large adults can specialize in eating animals from house wrens to white‐tailed commensal species associated with their burrows. Argentine Tegus become
Department deer. Capable of killing humans. reproductively mature at an early age, are highly prolific, can travel great US • IMPACTS: Resident prey species have not evolved defenses against them yet. 31 distances, have broad diets, and can inhabit a variety of habitats. 009 x.htm, http://www.naturephoto‐cz.com/burmese‐python:python‐molurus‐bivittatus‐photo‐1695.html e
http://phenomreptiles. com/yahoo_ site_ admin/assets/iadmin/assets/images/Moorgadamages/Moorgada_ Blk_ Wht_ Argentine_Tegu _Female .6270859 .jpg threatened or endangered Florida endemics are vulnerable to predation. 2 • ERADICOCATION: Prelim inary attempts have been difficu ltand lllargely Sighting Closest to Archbold: • ERADICATION EFFORTS: Controversial attempts, such as bounty hunting in the unsuccessful because there is no organized or coordinated monitoring effort. Sightings Closest to Archbold: Brighton Seminole Reservation in Everglades. Hillsborough and Polk Counties. Highlands and Glades Counties. December Cane Toad Nile Monitor Bufo marinus Varanus niloticus
• STATUS: Invasive. • STATUS: Invasive. Intern,
n .com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/Nonnative_ind c
• NATIVE to Central and South America. • NATIVE to Africa. o • MEANS OF INVASION: Intentionally released around 1936 for pest control in sugarcane fields. A • MEANS OF INVASION: Pet escapees and intentional releases. http://myfw
• http://www.vivanatura.org/Bufo_marinus1.jpg Highlands County population has been present since the late 1970s after the construction of a DISTRIBUTION: Species confirmed breeding and self‐sustaining throughout Educati residential subdivision. There have also been escapes from zoos. Florida for over 10 consecutive years. • DISTRIBUTION: Generally found near water. Can reproduce any warm time of year and lays http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/ArchOLD‐7/1190283184.jpg • AVERAGE LENGTH ranges from 4.9 to 6.6 feet long Commission ABS
thousands of eggs in any body of water. • DIET: Generalist feeder, eats a wide range of invertebrates and vertebrates • AVERAGE LENGTH ranges from 3.9 to 5.9 inches. caught by hunting or scavenging. Will eat anything it can fit in its mouth. Can Buck,
Conservation
a fe • DIET:Voraciouspredator – nonselective and opportunistic carnivore that feeds on invertebrates, foragebothaboveandbelowground. h
Wildli vertebrates, carrion, and sometimes plant matter. Will even eat cat or dog food left outside, as well • IMPACTS: Has the potential to eliminate or significantly reduce native species and as household garbage. through competition for habitat, food, and predation, causing particular damage to Fish
• IMPACTS: May displace native species in residential areas. When handled, secretes a highly toxic Burrowing Owls and Gopher Tortoises. High disappearance of domestic pets and Samant http://www.npsp.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/images/cane_toad.jpg
Florida http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/2303751367_2160452973.jpg
substance from large parotoid glands at the back of its head. Causes irritation and can kill cats and feral cats in southern Florida. Exotic parasites that live on Monitors may impact by
Sightings Closest to Archbold: dogs if ingested. Parasitized by ticks and hookworms, which could spread to other species. Sightings Closest to Archbold: First recorded in indigenous vertebrates and humans. SOURCES: Breeding population in Lake Placid, • ERADICATION would be expensive and difficult. DeSoto County in 2003 – seen in Arcadia, • ERADICATION: Numbers are high enough so total removal is not feasible. Poster KEY none yet recorded at Archbold. Brownville, and Fort Ogden along the Peace River.