Florida, along with Hawaii, has among the two worst invasive species problems in the USA, and the state is espe-cially susceptible to establishment by alien reptiles. Besides the large numbers of established non-nativ...Florida, along with Hawaii, has among the two worst invasive species problems in the USA, and the state is espe-cially susceptible to establishment by alien reptiles. Besides the large numbers of established non-native reptile species in Florida, many of these species present novel difficulties for management, or have other characteristics making effective management ex-tremely challenging. Moreover, initiation of management action requires more than recognition by experts that a potentially harmful species has become established. It also requires the political will along with concomitant resources and appropriate per-sonnel to develop effective methods and apply them. We review the situation in Florida, including assessment of risk for estab- lishment, and we use a subset of prominent species to illustrate in more detail the array of invasive reptile species circumstances in Florida, including routes of introduction, impacts, and potential and implemented management actions. These examples not only highlight the severity of the invasive reptile problems in the state, but they also show the diversity in resolve and response towards them and the motivating factors [Current Zoology 57 (5): 599-612, 2011].展开更多
文摘Florida, along with Hawaii, has among the two worst invasive species problems in the USA, and the state is espe-cially susceptible to establishment by alien reptiles. Besides the large numbers of established non-native reptile species in Florida, many of these species present novel difficulties for management, or have other characteristics making effective management ex-tremely challenging. Moreover, initiation of management action requires more than recognition by experts that a potentially harmful species has become established. It also requires the political will along with concomitant resources and appropriate per-sonnel to develop effective methods and apply them. We review the situation in Florida, including assessment of risk for estab- lishment, and we use a subset of prominent species to illustrate in more detail the array of invasive reptile species circumstances in Florida, including routes of introduction, impacts, and potential and implemented management actions. These examples not only highlight the severity of the invasive reptile problems in the state, but they also show the diversity in resolve and response towards them and the motivating factors [Current Zoology 57 (5): 599-612, 2011].