Abstract
We describe several photo-documented novel interactions between intraguild predators in southern Florida—the native bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the invasive Burmese python (Python bivittatus). Over several days we documented a bobcat's depredation of an unguarded python nest and subsequent python nest defense behavior following the return of both animals to the nest. This is the first documentation of any animal in Florida preying on python eggs, and the first evidence or description of such antagonistic interactions at a python nest.
Keywords: bobcat, Burmese python, intraguild predation, nest depredation, reptile–mammal interaction
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| Selected photo sequence at a Burmese python (Python bivittatus) nest site from June 01, 2021–August 30, 2021, starting at top left (a) and ending at bottom right (o)—camera deployment initiation photograph with clipboard where python is seen brooding her nest in center of frame (a); bobcat (Lynx rufus) discovers unguarded nest (b) and proceeds to depredate, cache, and uncover the eggs over several days (c–h); the bobcat returns to find the female python back on the nest (i) and later proceeds to swipe at the snake (j–l); post-nest salvage attempt by biologists, the bobcat returns to scavenge discarded, inviable eggs over several weeks (m–o). Entire photo sequence can be viewed in MP4 video format through the ScienceBase Catalog at: doi.org/10.5066/P97ZDQHY (Currylow et al., 2022). Photographs were captured in Big Cypress National Preserve within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA |
Andrea F. Currylow, Matthew F. McCollister, Gretchen E. Anderson, Jillian M. Josimovich, Austin L. Fitzgerald, Christina M. Romagosa and Amy A. Yackel Adams. 2022. Face-off: Novel Depredation and Nest Defense Behaviors between An Invasive and A Native Predator in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA. Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8639
