Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida
Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida
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DOI：
10.1007/s10530-010-9797-5
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发表时间：
2011-01-01
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Reed, Robert N.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Mazzotti, Frank J.;Cherkiss, Michael S.;Reed, Robert N.
最近在南部佛罗里达（2010年1月2日至11日）创纪录的寒流提供了一个机会，以评估一个既定的缅甸蟒蛇（蟒蛇molurus bivittatus）的人口的反应，以延长异常寒冷的天气。我们观察了行为，热生物学特征，确定了无线电遥测（n = 10）和非遥测（n = 104）缅甸蟒蛇的命运，并分析了蟒蛇在历史性寒流期间和之后所经历的栖息地和环境条件。在寒流来临之前，遥测蟒蛇已经被植入了无线电发射器和温度记录数据记录器。10条遥测蟒蛇中只有一条在寒流中幸存下来，而我们确定命运的99条非遥测蟒蛇中有59条（60%）幸存下来。8条死亡的遥测蟒蛇的体温在2010年1月9日之前有规律地波动，然后在寒冷时期（1月9日至11日）大幅下降，没有进一步的主动体温调节证据表明它们可能已经死亡。2010年1月异常寒冷的气温显然与大沼泽地缅甸蟒蛇的死亡率有关。一些无线电遥测的蟒蛇在寒冷时期似乎表现出适应不良的行为，包括试图晒太阳，而不是撤退到庇护所。我们讨论了我们的研究结果的持久性和传播的缅甸蟒蛇在美国和最大限度地提高其去除率的影响。
A recent record cold spell in southern Florida (2-11 January 2010) provided an opportunity to evaluate responses of an established population of Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to a prolonged period of unusually cold weather. We observed behavior, characterized thermal biology, determined fate of radio-telemetered (n = 10) and non-telemetered (n = 104) Burmese pythons, and analyzed habitat and environmental conditions experienced by pythons during and after a historic cold spell. Telemetered pythons had been implanted with radio-transmitters and temperature-recording data loggers prior to the cold snap. Only one of 10 telemetered pythons survived the cold snap, whereas 59 of 99 (60%) non-telemetered pythons for which we determined fate survived. Body temperatures of eight dead telemetered pythons fluctuated regularly prior to 9 January 2010, then declined substantially during the cold period (9-11 January) and exhibited no further evidence of active thermoregulation indicating they were likely dead. Unusually cold temperatures in January 2010 were clearly associated with mortality of Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Some radio-telemetered pythons appeared to exhibit maladaptive behavior during the cold spell, including attempting to bask instead of retreating to sheltered refugia. We discuss implications of our findings for persistence and spread of introduced Burmese pythons in the United States and for maximizing their rate of removal.