Mike Cawthon
BIO106-Topics in Environmental Science
Professor Julie Allman
October 22nd, 2014
An exotic predator's ecological impact on Florida ecosystems
The sub-tropical environment of southern Florida supports a wide variety of introduced exotic reptile and amphibian species. The majority of these species were introduced by human activities. Irresponsible keepers, animal dealers, and the international trade has released large predators like African and Asian pythons, South American tegu lizards, and African monitor lizards into new ecosystems, which have the potential to create environmental havoc in ecosystems where no such predators exist. Varanus niloticus, the Nile monitor, is an African monitor lizard which was introduced into …show more content…
Although this impact will be initially localized to Cape Coral, it may spread as the range of Varanus niloticus increases. The Nile monitor is a known predator of bird and reptile eggs, especially those of crocodilians. It is a significant predator of Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, eggs and hatchlings (Bennett 1999). Many islands surrounding the Cape Coral peninsula serve as breeding and nesting sites for American crocodilians, chelonians, and seabirds. Some of these species are of significant conservation status, including the brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, which was previously listed as an endangered species from 1970-1985, and the presently endangered American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus (Enge et al. 2004). Nearby Monroe County is home to 6-8 annual crocodile nests (Enge et al. 2004) and monitors are increasingly observed in this area. Predation upon these nests could lead to a reduction in hatchling survivorship and even extirpation. Egg predation could also decrease burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia, and Gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, populations in Cape Coral. The city is presently home to 1,000 breeding pairs of burrowing owls, hosting the largest population in the state (Bancroft 2003), …show more content…
M., K. L. Krysko, K. R. Hankin, T. S. Campbell, and F. W. King. 2004. Status of the NileMonitor (Varanus niloticus) in Southwestern Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 3(4): 571–582.
Faust, R. J. Nile monitors: Everything about History, Care, Nutrition, Handling, and Behavior. Barron’s Educational Series. Hauppage, NY, 2001.
Goodnough, A. Forget the gators: Exotic pets run wild in Florida. The New York Times. 29 February 2004.
Muhigwa, J.B.B. 1998. Notes and records: Diel activity and biotype choices of the Nile monitor lizard in western Kenya. African Journal of Ecology 36: 271-275.
Mukaratirwa S., Dzoma B.M., Mantenga, E., Ruziwa, S.D. Sacchi, L., Pozio, E. 2005. Experimental infections of baboons (Papio spp.) and monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiopis) with Trichinella zimbabwensis and successful treatment with ivermectin. Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the World Association of Veterinary Parasitology 20: 120
Pozio, E., Marucci, G. Casulli, A., Sacchi, L., Mukaratirwa, S., Foggin, C.M., La Rose, G. 2004. Trichinella papuae and Trichinella zimbabwensis induce infection in experimentally infected varans, caimans, pythons and turtles. Parasitology 128:
BIO106-Topics in Environmental Science
Professor Julie Allman
October 22nd, 2014
An exotic predator's ecological impact on Florida ecosystems
The sub-tropical environment of southern Florida supports a wide variety of introduced exotic reptile and amphibian species. The majority of these species were introduced by human activities. Irresponsible keepers, animal dealers, and the international trade has released large predators like African and Asian pythons, South American tegu lizards, and African monitor lizards into new ecosystems, which have the potential to create environmental havoc in ecosystems where no such predators exist. Varanus niloticus, the Nile monitor, is an African monitor lizard which was introduced into …show more content…
Although this impact will be initially localized to Cape Coral, it may spread as the range of Varanus niloticus increases. The Nile monitor is a known predator of bird and reptile eggs, especially those of crocodilians. It is a significant predator of Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, eggs and hatchlings (Bennett 1999). Many islands surrounding the Cape Coral peninsula serve as breeding and nesting sites for American crocodilians, chelonians, and seabirds. Some of these species are of significant conservation status, including the brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, which was previously listed as an endangered species from 1970-1985, and the presently endangered American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus (Enge et al. 2004). Nearby Monroe County is home to 6-8 annual crocodile nests (Enge et al. 2004) and monitors are increasingly observed in this area. Predation upon these nests could lead to a reduction in hatchling survivorship and even extirpation. Egg predation could also decrease burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia, and Gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, populations in Cape Coral. The city is presently home to 1,000 breeding pairs of burrowing owls, hosting the largest population in the state (Bancroft 2003), …show more content…
M., K. L. Krysko, K. R. Hankin, T. S. Campbell, and F. W. King. 2004. Status of the NileMonitor (Varanus niloticus) in Southwestern Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 3(4): 571–582.
Faust, R. J. Nile monitors: Everything about History, Care, Nutrition, Handling, and Behavior. Barron’s Educational Series. Hauppage, NY, 2001.
Goodnough, A. Forget the gators: Exotic pets run wild in Florida. The New York Times. 29 February 2004.
Muhigwa, J.B.B. 1998. Notes and records: Diel activity and biotype choices of the Nile monitor lizard in western Kenya. African Journal of Ecology 36: 271-275.
Mukaratirwa S., Dzoma B.M., Mantenga, E., Ruziwa, S.D. Sacchi, L., Pozio, E. 2005. Experimental infections of baboons (Papio spp.) and monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiopis) with Trichinella zimbabwensis and successful treatment with ivermectin. Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the World Association of Veterinary Parasitology 20: 120
Pozio, E., Marucci, G. Casulli, A., Sacchi, L., Mukaratirwa, S., Foggin, C.M., La Rose, G. 2004. Trichinella papuae and Trichinella zimbabwensis induce infection in experimentally infected varans, caimans, pythons and turtles. Parasitology 128: