University of Florida Invasive Research & Monitoring

Melissa A. Miller and Frank J. Mazzotti Ongoing Projects

• Python contractor data analysis • inventory of A.R.M. LoxahatcheeN.W.R. • Large Reptile Trap field test – see John Humphrey’s talk! • Interagency python control plan – see my other talk! • Teguresearch • Nile monitor research • Caiman research • EIRAMPsurveys • Rapid Response calls Python Contractor Data

• Analyzing data from contractor programs

• Modeling optimal capture conditions and performance of contractors Python Contractor Data

• Python removal rates affected by air temperature, rainfall, humidity and month of year. LOX CameraTrapping

• Inventory of at A.R.M. Loxahatchee N.W.R. LOX CameraTrapping

• Mammal inventory at A.R.M. Loxahatchee N.W.R.

• Pythons? Rate

Encounter Encounter (mammals/km) LOX CameraTrapping

• May 2019 –April 2020

• 40 camera traps on 20 tree islands

• N-S and E-W transects for spatial coverage LOX CameraTrapping

Results • 12,288 trap nights • 11 mammal species • Species richness of mammals ranged from 4 to 8 • Species evenness ranged 0.04 to 0.82 LOX CameraTrapping

Results • Occupancy modeling • Identified factors affecting presence and distribution of wildlife • Island size, elevation, hydrology, distance to python population LOX CameraTrapping

Results • Increase in species with decreasing elevation • Wading use of inundated wetlands

• No pythons observed, absent or not detected? Argentine Black & White Tegus Modeling teguoccupancy using camera trap surveillance network • Factors that affect occupancy and detection

• Goal is to locate tegus and to improve removal methods Argentine Black & White Tegus

Modeling tegumovement using telemetry data • Habitat selection

• Potential movement corridors Argentine Black & White Tegus

Modeling teguprobability of capture using live trap data • Improving rate of removal

• Factors affecting trap success Spectacled Caiman Removal

Two caiman projects

• Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands

• C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project Spectacled Caiman Removal

• Caimans persist at low levels

• Potential for eradication or containment Spectacled Caiman Removal

Concerns • Effect of habitat improvement in Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands

• Effect of C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project

Current flow Desired flow EIRAMP Update

Everglades Invasive Reptile and Amphibian Monitoring Program • Road-cruising surveys throughout Greater Everglades • Document native and exotic EIRAMPUpdate

2020 focus: • Eastern Everglades and WCA3B • Tracking mammal encounter rates before and after start of python contractor programs EIRAMPUpdate

• PEP contactors removed 773 pythons within 1 km of Eastern Everglades (n = 561) and WCA3B (n = 212) during 2017- 2020 • Increase in native mammal encounters in 2020 along both routes • Decrease in python encounters along Eastern Everglades 2019, 2020 • Slight decrease in python encounters along WCA3B in 2020 EIRAMPUpdate

2020 focus: • ENP Main Park Road • Weekly surveys • Long-term dataset EIRAMPUpdate

2020 focus: • Surveys for Nile Monitors • C-51 Canal • Update from Justin on outreach EIRAMPUpdate

2020 focus: • Additional caiman surveys Early Detection & RapidResponse

Several success stories! • 2 Argentine black and white tegus • 1 Hybrid black and white/? • 1 Gold tegu • 1 Burmese python • 1 Australian water python? • 1 Spectacled caiman • 2 Nile monitors Conclusions

• Importance of establishing active Early Detection and Rapid Response network • Interagency coordination

• Quantitative work enhances detection and removal of exoticspecies Recent Publications

Cole JM, Klovanish C, Mazzotti FJ. 2019. Mating of Argentine black-and-white tegus (Salvator merianae) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. IRCF & Amphibians. 26(2):121-122.

Dalaba JD, Rochford MR, Metzger EF III, Gillette CR, Schwartz NP, Gati EV, Godfrey ST, Altieri D, Mazzotti FJ. 2019. New county records for introduced reptiles in St. Lucie County, Florida, with some observations on diets. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians. 26(2): 155-158.

Vaca-Castano G, Driggers R, Furxhi O, Arvidson C, Mazzotti FJ. 2019. Multispectral camera design and algorithms for python snake detection in the Florida Everglades. Proc. SPIE 10986, Algorithms, Technologies, and Applications for Multispectral and Hyperspectral Imagery XXV, 109860Y.

Meshaka Jr. WE, Mazzotti FJ, Rochford MR. 2020. Ecological plasticity and the future of the Argentine giant tegu (Salvator merianae Duméril and Bibron, 1839) in the Southeastern US. Southeastern Naturalist. 18(4):659-676. Recent Publications

Mazzotti, F.J., Nestler, J.H., Cole, J.M., Closius, C., Kern, W.H., Rochford, M.R., Suarez, E., Brubaker, R., Platt, S.G., Rainwater, T., & Ketterlin, J.K. 2020. Diet of Nile Monitors (Varanus niloticus) Removed from Palm Beach and Broward Counties, Florida, USA. Journal of Herpetology. 54(2):189-195.

Nafus, M.G., Mazzotti, F.J., & Reed, R.N. 2020. Estimating Detection Probability for Burmese Pythons with Few Detections and Zero Recaptures. Journal of Herpetology. 54(1):24-30.

Miller, M.A., Kinsella J.M., Snow R.W., Falk B., Reed R.N., Mazzotti F.J., Guyer C., & Romagosa C.M. 2020. Highly competent native snake hosts extend the range of an introduced parasite beyond its invasive Burmese python host. Ecosphere. 11(6):e03153. 10.1002/ecs2.3153 Acknowledgements [email protected]

FWC: Kristen Sommers, Sarah Funck, Dan Quinn, McKayla Spencer FWS: Steve Henry, Laura Brandt, Art Roybal, Rebekah Gibble, Melissa Juntunen, Bill Thomas NPS: Tylan Dean, Bryan Falk, Jenny Ketterlin SFWMD :LeRoy Rodgers, Mike Kirkland, Ed Metzger USGS: Hardin Waddle, Brian Smith (Cherokee Nation Technologies), Mike Cherki ss USDA: John Humphrey, Brian Kluever UF: The Croc Docs Team