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Abstract

Invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) are extremely cryptic animals. Although their conservation status in their native range is Vulnerable, in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem (Florida, USA) they have become a dominant destructive force and usually are immediately removed whenever found. This poses a paradox where removals are occurring, yet the study and understanding of python ecology is needed to inform removal methods. An important component of life history includes the nesting season, but little is known about python nest site selection, nest brooding, thermogenesis, or hatching success in the wild. Here, we present the first complete and most detailed report of oviposition and brooding for this biologically significant time period of a female Burmese python. We describe anthropogenic nest site selection, document the extent of shivering thermogenesis, describe brooding behaviors, and provide photo‐documentation of complete hatching of the largest python clutch on record.

Details

1009240
Title
Wild Burmese python nest site selection, thermogenesis, and brooding behaviors in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Author
Currylow, Andrea F. 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; McBride, Lisa M. 1 ; Anderson, Gretchen E. 1 ; Guzy, Jacquelyn C. 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; McCollister, Matthew F. 3 ; Romagosa, Christina M. 4 ; Hart, Kristen M. 2 ; Yackel Adams, Amy A. 5 

 U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center–South Florida Field Station in Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida, USA 
 U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Davie, Florida, USA 
 National Park Service, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, Florida, USA 
 Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA 
 U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 
Publication title
Ecosphere; Washington
Volume
16
Issue
5
Publication year
2025
Publication date
May 1, 2025
Section
ARTICLE
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Place of publication
Washington
Country of publication
United States
Publication subject
e-ISSN
21508925
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Journal Article
Publication history
 
 
Online publication date
2025-05-16
Milestone dates
2025-05-16 (publishedOnlineFinalForm); 2025-02-24 (manuscriptReceived); 2025-03-14 (manuscriptAccepted)
Publication history
 
 
   First posting date
16 May 2025
ProQuest document ID
3212504081
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/wild-burmese-python-nest-site-selection/docview/3212504081/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
© 2025. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the "License"). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
Last updated
2025-05-28
Database
ProQuest One Academic