They've even been known to eat alligators. What started out as a popular pet species, is now threatening an entire ecosystem. A hunt for Burmese pythons in south Florida is not a hoax; this non-native invasive species is threatening Everglades ecosystem restoration efforts and native wildlife. This decrease in mammal populations had led to a shift in blood hosts for Culex erraticus, a mosquito species, from mammals to reservoir host. 1.4 Invasive Species Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) and its Effect in Florida Lindsey A. Krusling. These top predators have been known to consume much of the natural wildlife, including birds and mammals. Scientists think that 90 percent or more of the fauna that used to inhabit the Everglades are now gone. Burmese pythons are taking over the Everglades ... will have on one Florida's most important ecosystems. For most of its history, that massive rain-fed series of wetlands, lakes and rivers we call the Everglades flowed from just below Orlando and through Lake Okeechobee south to the tip of the Florida peninsula, as well as east and west towards the coasts. Everglades National Park and our partners have spent more than 10 years investigating ways to remove pythons from the environment. According to the Independent newspaper, Burmese pythons have been responsible for rendering many local species practically extinct. We work to remove pythons from the park via our authorized agent program and we continue to support research on how to mitigate Burmese pythons. What Is the Importance of Snakes in the Ecosystem? Some species like birds and turtles may … Burmese pythons in the state of Florida are classified as an invasive species.They disrupt the ecosystem by preying on native species, outcompeting native species for food or other resources, and/or disrupting the physical nature of the environment. Similar to how most invasive species generally impact an ecosystem, the Burmese python preys on … Burmese pythons and American alligators will not battle over the course of millions of years for the same reason this highly imbalanced ecosystem arose in the first place: human intervention. The one-month ‘Python Challenge’ organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife, Burmese pythons are having a tremendous impact on the Everglades. Burmese Pythons are an established invasive species in Florida that have no natural predators. Threats to the ecosystem HOW IS THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM THREATENED? The python problem will get so bad that humans will have to take comprehensive and aggressive action to … Invasive Burmese pythons threaten the success of Everglades restoration efforts. An older example of invasive snakes is the brown tree snake, which was introduced to Guam sometime in the 1950s. How Does the Burmese Python Affect the Ecosystem? The Florida Everglades are famous throughout the world, with alligators as perhaps their best-known inhabitants. It hunts in trees among birds who don't expect it. They threaten the populations of mammal, reptilian and avian prey who do not recognize the snakes as predators. They have poor eyesight, and stalk prey using chemical receptors in their tongues and heat-sensors along the jaws. Burmese python populations are not only affecting the ecosystem but are also affecting the way infectious diseases are passed through mosquitoes causing significant threats to public health. Burmese pythons are carnivores, surviving primarily on small mammals and birds. Burmese pythons are having a tremendous impact on the Everglades. Environment The Burmese python and the fight for the Florida Everglades . To assist with management and population control decision making, USGS scientists are implementing genetic studies to identify potential new entry pathways and to help quantify the size of the breeding population.