New research on Burmese Survival

[radiata]

Results of a recent small scale peer reviewed study of burmese python survival in an outdoor captive enviroment suggest that they may not be able to survive beyond S. Florida:


The authors hypothesize that a lack of genetic variation among the south Florida python population has perhaps led to a reduced behavioral and ecological flexibility to adapt to climatic changes. Given the overall study findings the authors write,
"Our empirical observations cast doubt that Burmese pythons can become established and persist beyond the southern portion of the Florida peninsula."
Avery, M., Engeman, R., Keacher, K., Humphrey, J., Bruce, W., Mathies, T., & Mauldin, R. (2010). Cold weather and the potential range of invasive Burmese pythons Biological Invasions DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9761-4
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These authors had 9 Burmese pytons in captivity and in outside enclosurs. Sample size was small, starting with only 9 snakes. Two were excluded from the study, so down to 7. Of these, only 2 survived a cold unusual winter in no. Florida.



Here's a link to the abstract for the study:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/tw18g5472q408532/

Now the question is, "Will legislators and USFWS take this seriously?"

Al W.