"Everglades from the surrounding urban areas. Some find the conditions quite favorable and have established self-sustaining populations, competing for food and space with native animals. Many tropical fish have been released, but blue tilapias (""Oreochromis aureus"") cause damage to shallow waterways by creating large nests and consuming aquatic plants that protect native young fish. Native to southern Asia, the Burmese python (""Python molurus bivittatus"") is a relatively new invasive species in the Everglades. This species can grow up to long, and they compete with alligators for the top of the food chain. Florida wildlife officials speculate that escaped pythons have"
"has reached a minimum viable population and become an invasive species. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was deemed responsible for the destruction of a python breeding facility and zoo, and these escaped snakes spread and populated areas into the Everglades. More than 1,330 have been captured in the Everglades. Also, between the years 1996 and 2006, the Burmese python has gained popularity in the pet trade, with more than 90,000 snakes imported into the US. By 2007, the Burmese python was found in northern Florida and in the coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle. The importation of Burmese pythons was banned"
"bobcat, rabbit, fox, and other mammalian species sightings. These declines were concordant with the spatial geography of python spread. It should be noted that most of these species are well-known to have increased in numbers following human disturbance, however. Smaller declines were observed where pythons were only recently documented and the greatest mammalian abundances were observed outside of the python's current range. Burmese pythons were the dominant predator of reintroduced marsh rabbits (""Sylvilagus palustris"") in Everglades National Park, and predation by pythons extirpated the rabbit population in less than 11 months. The overall extent to which the greatly reduced mammalian"
"1990 and 2000. During the storm, a facility housing Burmese pythons was destroyed, allowing many of them to escape into the Everglades. Although Burmese pythons – native to Southeast Asia – had been sighted in Everglades National Park since the 1980s, the destruction of this facility contributed significantly to the establishment of breeding populations in Florida. Due to rapid reproduction and ability to prey on many species, the population of Burmese pythons exploded, with possibly as many as 300,000 in the Everglades alone. Efforts have been made to curb the thriving population of these invasive snakes, including a ban on"
"media attention for its size and potential to harm children and domestic pets is the Burmese python (""Python bivittatus""), which has spread quickly throughout the area. The python can grow up to long and competes with alligators for the top of the food chain. Though exotic birds such as parrots and parakeets are also found in the Everglades, their impact is negligible. Conversely, perhaps the animal that causes the most damage to native wildlife is the domestic or feral cat. Across the U.S., cats are responsible for approximately a billion bird deaths annually. They are estimated to number 640 per"
"a hard time adapting defensive strategies before their populations are wiped out. A study of pyhton prey, in Everglades National Park shows an alarming declines among small mammal populations in the park. “There's a good chance we never would have found him,” said Scott Hardin, exotic-species coordinator for the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “This was always my concern, what would happen when an exotic species like the python intersects with an endangered species. Here it's happened, and it has the potential to be a serious problem.” Hardin later assumed the seven and a half foot snake was either"
"quality of life in many of these urban areas was linked to the degraded local environment. The State of Florida and the U.S. government devised and passed a plan in 2000 to restore as much of the Everglades to pre-drainage conditions as possible. It is the costliest and most comprehensive environmental restoration project in history. Humans have also adversely impacted the ecology of the Everglades by introducing numerous invasive species, which may prey on or compete with native species. A spectacular and particularly damaging example of this phenomenon is the recent proliferation of the Burmese python in the Everglades, as"
"source from the Everglades. Following the wall's construction, South Florida endured a drought severe enough to cause serious wildfires in 1939. The influx of humans had a detrimental effect on the plants and animals of the region when melaleuca trees (""Melaleuca quinquenervia"") were introduced to help with drainage, along with Australian pines brought in by developers as windbreaks. The region's timber was devastated for lumber supplies. Alligators, birds, frogs, and fish were hunted on a large scale. Entire rookeries of wading birds were shot to collect their plumes, which were used in women's hats in the early 20th century. The"
"wading bird population, invasion of exotic species and the survival challenges facing the Florida panther, of which there are only 160 left in the wild, an increase from 20 wild Florida panthers in the 1970s. Additionally, species such as the wood stork, the Cape Sable seaside sparrow and the manatee have an uncertain future in the Everglades as a result of environmental issues. Former Secretary of Friends of the Everglades, Sharyn Richardson said that she got started with the organization, attracted by its philosophical ideals, stating, ""when you see an injustice and you become aware of that injustice, you have"
"arid zone. ""Melaleuca quinquenervia"" (broad-leaved paperbark) is the most damaging of 60 exotic species introduced to the Florida Everglades to help drain low-lying swampy areas. Introduced in the early 20th century, it has become a serious invasive species, with damaging effects including the displacement of native species, reduction in wildlife habitat, alteration of hydrology, modification of soil, and changes in fire regimes. The area of infestation has increased 50-fold over 25 years. A psyllid, ""Boreioglycaspis melaleucae"" has been tested as a biological control agent. Some success has also been achieved with a weevil, ""Oxyops vitiosa"". Scientists from the Agricultural Research"
"fewer in number in their native lands often do not exist in the Everglades, and they compete with the embattled native species for food and space. Of imported plant species, melaleuca trees (""Melaleuca quinquenervia"") have caused the most problems. Melaleucas grow on average in the Everglades, as opposed to in their native Australia. They were brought to southern Florida as windbreaks and deliberately seeded in marsh areas because they absorb vast amounts of water. In a region that is regularly shaped by fire, melaleucas are fire-resistant and their seeds are more efficiently spread by fire. They are too dense for"
"Invasive species have been shown to have a negative effect on eelgrass and associated ecosystems. In Nova Scotia, the invasive exotic green crab (""Carcinus maenas"") destroys eelgrass when it digs in the substrate for prey items, or by directly eating eelgrass seeds. The decline of eelgrass in Antigonish Harbour has resulted in fewer Canada geese, which feed on the rhizome, and fewer common goldeneye, which eat invertebrates that live in eelgrass meadows. The slime mold ""Labyrinthula zosterae"" caused a ""wasting disease"" of eelgrass resulting in large-scale losses in the 1930s; localized populations are still affected by the slime mold today."
"the Nicobar Islands, through Myanmar, east to Indochina, southern China, Hong Kong and Hainan, as well as in the Malayan region of Indonesia and the Philippines. Some suggest that ""P. molurus"" and ""P. sebae"" have the potential to be problematic invasive species in South Florida. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that only ""Python bivittatus"" is an invasive species in the United States. In early 2016, after a culling operation yielded 106 of the animals, Everglades park officials suggested that ""thousands"" may live within the park, and that the species has been breeding there for some years. More recent"
"parts of the Everglades are flooded for shorter periods of time as layers of periphyton dry. Most of the phosphorus compounds also rid peat of dissolved oxygen and promote algae growth, causing native invertebrates to die, and sawgrass to be replaced with invasive cattails that grow too tall and thick for birds and alligators to nest in. Tested water showed 500 parts per billion (ppb) of phosphorus near sugarcane fields. State legislation in 1987 mandated a 40% reduction of phosphorus by 1992. Attempts to correct phosphorus levels in the Everglades met with resistance. The sugarcane industry, dominated by two companies"
"populations will disrupt the complex food web of the Everglades by indirectly affecting other native species, however, is unclear. The Everglades is a region of subtropical wetlands comprising the lower third of the Florida peninsula. Only 25% of the original Everglades remains, protected within Everglades National Park (ENP). The climate of South Florida and the location of the Everglades, surrounded by a metropolitan area to the east, Naples to the west, and Florida Bay to the south, make it particularly vulnerable to infestations of exotic species. Miami, in particular, is the hub for trade in exotic pets within the United"
"to limit the species effects on the delicate Everglades ecosystem. In 2015, the presence of the invasive land planarian ""Platydemus manokwari"" was recorded from several gardens in Miami. ""Platydemus manokwari"" is a predator of land snails and is considered a danger to endemic snails wherever it has been introduced. In Hawaii measures to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species are coordinated by the Hawaii Invasive Species Council. Currently the council is broken into five committees which focus on different areas of invasive species control. These focus areas are (1) prevention (2) management of established pests (3) increased public"
"from land mammals, so are especially vulnerable to introduced predators. Their current decline is due to predation from stoats (""Mustela ermine""), rats (""Rattus"" spp.), and brushtail possums (""Trichosurus vulpecula) "" which target eggs and nestlings. One population was reduced by 85% in 2001 due to predator irruption after a beech mast (a season of high production by southern beech). Deer and possums also contribute to ""C. malherbi"" decline through forest destruction. Competition for food may also be a factor. Introduced birds, mice, wasps, and rats are considerably reducing invertebrate numbers, which the parakeet relies on during winter and spring. The"
"is a perceived need for better protection of the coastal wilderness. One of the larger issues the region faces are populations of invasive species. Invasive species have the biggest impact on the region. Population increases of red deer, and other browsing mammals such as wapiti, goat, and fallow deer, have caused severe damage and particularly threaten the integrity of the forest and alpine ecosystems. Commercial hunting has been used as a means of reducing these populations to ecologically acceptable levels. The Department of Conservation has control programs and the National Parks policy is to eradicate new invasions and eradicate or"
"species, the population of Burmese pythons has exploded, with possibly as many as 300,000 in the Everglades alone. Efforts have been made to curb the thriving population of these invasive snakes, including a ban on importation of the species to the United States since January 2012, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2008 regulating that boa and python owners have permits and tag their snakes, and Burmese python hunting contests. In March 2017, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) began its Python Elimination Program. Qualified individuals became authorized to capture Burmese pythons on SFWMD properties, with minimum"
"fire. Several animal species have been introduced to Everglades waterways. Many tropical fish are released, the most detrimental being the blue tilapia (""Oreochromis aureus""), which builds large nests in shallow waters. Tilapia also consume vegetation which would normally be used by young native fishes for cover and protection. Reptiles have a particular affinity for the South Florida ecosystem. Virtually all lizards appearing in the Everglades have been introduced, such as the brown anole (""Anolis sagrei"") and the tropical house gecko (""Hemidactylus mabouia""). The herbivorous green iguana (""Iguana iguana"") can reproduce rapidly in wilderness habitats. However, the reptile that has earned"
"About 230 live in the wild, primarily in the Everglades and the Big Cypress Swamp. The biggest threats to the panther include habitat destruction from human development, vehicle collisions, inbreeding due to their limited gene pool, parasites, diseases, and mercury poisoning. Four Everglade species of sea turtle including the Atlantic green sea turtle, the Atlantic hawksbill, the Atlantic loggerhead (""Caretta caretta""), and the Atlantic ridley (""Lepidochelys kempii"") are endangered. Also, the leatherback sea turtle (""Dermochelys coriacea"") is threatened. Numbers are difficult to determine, since males and juveniles do not return to their birthplace; females lay eggs in the same location"
"just the past three years. There are many examples of this problem in each of the Great Lakes, as well. The Great Lakes have been damaged by more than 180 invasive and non-native species. Some of these species include the zebra mussel, quagga mussel, round goby, sea lamprey, and alewife. Invasive plants include purple loosestrife and Eurasian watermilfoil. As well as throwing off the habitats of native species and the food web of the ecosystem, invasive species also threaten human health and have a major negative impact on the Great Lakes economy by damaging fisheries, agricultural industries, and tourism. Point-source"
"(""Lontra canadensis""), opossums (""Didelphis virginiana""), and foxes. The largest include white tailed deer (""Odocoileus virginianus""), the Florida black bear, and the Florida panther. Although slight changes in water level affect many species, the system as a whole also cycles and pulses with each change. Some transformations to the diversity of plant and animal life are natural, caused by fire or storms, and some are induced by humans, such as urban encroachment, the introduction of exotic species, and rapid global warming. Environmental conditions in the Everglades favor no particular species. Some species, such as snail kites and apple snails, do well"
"a result of clear-cutting forests to create plantations as well as the introduction of non-native species. Introduced black rats, raccoons, feral dogs, mongoose, hogs, and cats have taken their toll on the population by direct predation, as have the larvae of a moth (""Cactoblastis cactorum""), introduced decades ago to the Caribbean, which are rapidly devastating prickly-pear cacti, an important food source for the iguanas. The Guana Cay population has been reduced to less than 24 individual animals. Other threats by humans include tourists trampling iguanas' nests, iguanas contracting disease from eating human garbage, and illicit smuggling for the pet trade."
"some changes in harvesting may be needed to capitalize on their ability to control nutria. Recently, a population of Burmese pythons became established in Everglades National Park. Substantial American alligator populations in the Everglades may be a contributing factor in keeping the python populations low, preventing the spread of the species up north. While events of predation by Burmese pythons on young American alligators have been observed, no evidence of a net negative effect has been seen on overall American alligator populations. American alligator predation on Florida panthers is rare, but has been documented. Such incidents usually involve a panther"
"well as elsewhere in Florida. First observed in the wild in 1979 and not again until 1995, they have increased alarmingly since 2000. By 2011, decreases of 87.5%, 94.1%, 98.9% and 99.3% in sightings of bobcats, white-tailed deer, opossums and raccoons, respectively, were reported in park road surveys, while rabbits were no longer being seen at all. Geography and ecology of the Everglades The geography and ecology of the Everglades involve the complex elements affecting the natural environment throughout the southern region of the U.S. state of Florida. Before drainage, the Everglades were an interwoven mesh of marshes and prairies"
"actually a fox. Introduced European red deer, ""Cervus elaphus"", is having negative impact on natural renewal of the forest. Also damaging to the ecosystem balance is the introduced wild boar, ""Sus scrofa"". Three native species of carnivores of the Mustelidae group inhabit the Park. One is Molina's hog-nosed skunk, ""Conepatus chinga""; the second is lesser grison, ""Galictis cuja""; the third is southern river otter, ""Lontra provocax"", an endangered species. An introduced mustelid: American mink, ""Mustela vison"", has wrought havoc in the Parks ecosystems. The impact of mink has been devastating for bird species nesting on the ground and on floating"
"species extinctions (see Holocene extinction event). Easter Island, the easternmost island in Polynesia, shows evidence of a human-caused ecosystem collapse several hundred years ago, which contributed (along with slave raiding and European diseases) to a 99% decline in the human population of the island. The island, once lushly forested, is now mostly windswept grasslands. More recently, Guam's native bird and lizard species were decimated by the introduction of the brown tree snake (""Boiga irregularis"") in the 1940s. Oceanian realm The Oceanian realm is one of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) biogeographic realms, and is unique in not including any continental"
"clearcuts therefore act as a kind of population ""sink"" in which long-term reproduction and survival rates are reduced to the point of unsustainability One 2005 study concluded the main cause of recent decline to be predation ""associated with forestry and altered predator abundance and hunting patterns"". Major predators upon Vancouver Island marmots include golden eagles, cougars and wolves. The population crash may also be due to the Allee effect, named after zoologist Warder Clyde Allee. Allee proposed that social animals require a critical mass in order to survive, because survival requires group activities such as warning of predators and migration."
"consumers that naturally limit plants in their native environments do not exist in the Everglades, causing many to grow larger and multiply far beyond their average numbers in their native habitats. Approximately 26 percent of all fish, reptiles, birds, and mammal species in South Florida are exotic—more than in any other part of the U.S.—and the region hosts one of the highest numbers of exotic plant species in the world. Species that adapt the most aggressively to conditions in the Everglades, by spreading quickly or competing with native species that are sometimes threatened or endangered, are called ""invasive"". Thousands of"
"or been deliberately introduced to control mosquitoes. It has been nominated by the Invasive Species Specialist Group as one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. It can harm native fish populations through competition for food and nesting space, as well as by directly consuming small fish. In Hawaii, striped mullet ""Mugil cephalus"" are threatened because of the introduction of this species. Mozambique tilapia may also be responsible for the decline of the desert pupfish, ""Cyprinodon macularius"", in California's Salton Sea. As with most species of tilapia, Mozambique tilapia have a high potential for hybridization. They are often"
"on by large sharks, seals, and killer whales. Nesting females are attacked by flesh flies, feral dogs, and humans. Salt marsh mosquitos can also pester nesting females. In Australia, the introduction of the red fox (""Vulpes vulpes"") by British settlers in the 19th century led to significant reductions in loggerhead sea turtle populations. In one coastal section in eastern Australia during the 1970s, predation of turtle eggs destroyed up to 95% of all clutches laid. Aggressive efforts to destroy foxes in the 1980s and 1990s has reduced this impact; however, it is estimated that it will be the year 2020"
"goes on to add that the record cold weather in parts of Florida has led to a ""large number"" of deaths in the local Burmese Python population. Currently Federal and State officials are using technology in the hunt for these invasive species. In addition to legislation to restrict the flow of potentially invasive species into Florida there are extensive efforts to eradicate the current population of Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Current Florida legislation requires that all ""species of concern"" or ""prohibited species"" must be implanted with a microchip to aid in their tracking should they escape. Researches with the"