RAPID: Population Assessment and Sampling of an Invasive Species Wave in Puerto Rico: Apex-Predator Hypercompetition

在过去的几十年里，三种大型蟒蛇--巨蟒、网纹蟒蛇和球蟒--迅速入侵波多黎各，对该岛的生态系统构成了严重威胁。加勒比海群岛生物多样性热点已经因为全球连通性和气候变化而变得脆弱，现在面临着前所未有的生态挑战。这项研究由快速反应研究(RAPID)机制资助，解决了实时了解这些入侵者的适应生态动态的迫切需要。该项目旨在捕捉这些大型蟒蛇的基因组、微生物群和病原体的关键数据，为立即开展保护工作提供信息。这个项目的重点是对蟒蛇物种的来源和前沿种群进行采样，以记录潜在的真菌和病毒病原体、胃内容物、生活史数据和组织样本，用于基因组、后基因组、微生物和转录组测序。此外，还将收集永久凭证样本，用于编目和监测入侵动态。通过这个项目，波多黎各本科生研究人员和保护从业者将获得宝贵的培训，当地社区成员将参与关于入侵物种威胁的公共教育。波多黎各大型蟒蛇的入侵动态影响生态系统，并对当地濒危物种构成迫在眉睫的威胁，需要采取紧急行动。这项研究的学术价值在于其收集数据的独特机会，这些数据将使研究人员了解与快速适应和生态位竞争相关的进化过程，在三种物种入侵的情况下。通过弥合这些入侵者适应潜力和病原体共同进化方面的知识差距，这项研究有助于更广泛地理解全球入侵动态。收集的数据将为入侵者的分布和多样性提供关键的见解，并有助于实时了解病原体威胁。入侵者以联邦濒危鸟类为食。该项目不仅为USFWS、DNRA等机构和当地利益攸关方提供保护战略信息，还通过社区参与、实地考察、研讨会和外联材料强调科学教育。这一包容性办法促进了对波多黎各生物多样性的管理，并为任职人数不足的本科生研究人员提供了宝贵的机会。总而言之，该项目将对推进入侵动态的科学知识做出重大贡献，提供适用于全球管理战略的见解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The rapid invasion of three large constrictor species—boa constrictors, reticulated pythons, and ball pythons—into Puerto Rico over the past few decades presents a critical threat to the island's ecosystems. The Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot, already vulnerable due to global connectivity and climate change, now faces an unprecedented ecological challenge. This research, funded by the Rapid Response Research (RAPID) mechanism, addresses the urgent need to understand the adaptive ecological dynamics of these invaders in real time. The project aims to capture crucial data on the genomes, microbiomes, and pathogens of these large constrictors, informing immediate conservation efforts. This project focuses on sampling source and leading-edge populations of the constrictor species to document potential fungal and viral pathogens, stomach contents, life-history data, and tissue samples for genomic, metagenomic, microbial, and transcriptomic sequencing. Additionally, permanent voucher specimens will be collected for cataloging and monitoring invasion dynamics. Through this project Puerto Rican undergraduate researchers and conservation practitioners will gain valuable training and local community members will be involved in public education on the threats of invasive species.The invasion dynamics of large constrictors in Puerto Rico impact ecosystems and pose imminent threats to native endangered species, necessitating urgent action. The intellectual merit of this study lies in its unique opportunity to collect data that will allow researchers to understand the evolutionary processes associated with rapid adaptation and niche competition in a three-species invasion scenario. By bridging knowledge gaps in the adaptive potential and pathogen co-evolution of these invaders, the research contributes to a broader understanding of global invasion dynamics. The collected data will provide critical insights into the distribution and diversity of the invaders, known to feed on federally endangered birds, and help in real-time understanding of pathogen threats. The project not only informs conservation strategies for agencies like USFWS, DNRA, and local stakeholders but also emphasizes science education through community engagement, field trips, workshops, and outreach materials. This inclusive approach fosters stewardship for Puerto Rico's biodiversity and provides valuable opportunities for underrepresented undergraduate researchers. In summary, this project stands to contribute significantly to advancing scientific knowledge on invasion dynamics, offering insights applicable to global management strategies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.