[Ecology / Invasive Species • 2022] Face-off: Novel Depredation and Nest Defense Behaviors between An Invasive and A Native Predator (Python bivittatus v Lynx rufus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA

 

in Currylow, McCollister, Anderson, et al., 2022. 

DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8639

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

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 

[Ornithology • 2015] Crying Wolf to A Predator: Deceptive Vocal Mimicry by A Bird Protecting Young

Figure 1. Predator–prey relationships between species, and aerial alarm vocalisations used in experiments.
(a) From top to bottom: brown goshawk Accipiter fasciatus (top predator), pied currawong Strepera graculina (nest predator), brown thornbill Acanthiza pusilla (mimic), New Holland honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (harmless species mimicked); arrows indicate direction of predator–prey relationship. (b) Spectrograms of brown thornbill non-mimetic aerial alarms, New Holland honeyeater aerial alarms and corresponding mimicry by brown thornbills.

Photo credits: brown goshawk, Geoffrey Dabb; rest, Steve Igic. (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0798)

Abstract

Animals often mimic dangerous or toxic species to deter predators; however, mimicry of such species may not always be possible and mimicry of benign species seems unlikely to confer anti-predator benefits. We reveal a system in which a bird mimics the alarm calls of harmless species to fool a predator 40 times its size and protect its offspring against attack. Our experiments revealed that brown thornbills (Acanthiza pusilla) mimic a chorus of other species' aerial alarm calls, a cue of an Accipiter hawk in flight, when predators attack their nest. The absence of any flying predators in this context implies that these alarms convey deceptive information about the type of danger present. Experiments on the primary nest predators of thornbills, pied currawongs (Strepera graculina), revealed that the predators treat these alarms as if they themselves are threatened by flying hawks, either by scanning the sky for danger or fleeing, confirming a deceptive function. In turn, these distractions delay attack and provide thornbill nestlings with an opportunity to escape. This sophisticated defence strategy exploits the complex web of interactions among multiple species across several trophic levels, and in particular exploits a predator's ability to eavesdrop on and respond appropriately to heterospecific alarm calls. Our findings demonstrate that prey can fool predators by deceptively mimicking alarm calls of harmless species, suggesting that defensive mimicry could be more widespread because of indirect effects on predators within a web of eavesdropping.

Branislav Igic, Jessica McLachlan, Inkeri Lehtinen and Robert D. Magrath. 2015. Crying Wolf to A Predator: Deceptive Vocal Mimicry by A Bird Protecting Young. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 282(1809). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0798.

Brown Thornbill Mimics Alarm Calls of Other Birds to Scare off Predators | Biology | Sci-News.com: http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-brown-thornbill-mimics-birds-2870.html 

[Herpetology / Invasive Alien • 2015] Tupinambis merianae as Nest Predators of Crocodilians and Turtles in Florida, USA

Fig. 1 Tupanmbis merianae leaving an American alligator Alligator mississippiensis nest on 11 August 2013 with an alligator egg in its mouth

DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0730-1

Abstract

Tupinambis merianae, is a large, omnivorous tegu lizard native to South America. Two populations of tegus are established in the state of Florida, USA, but impacts to native species are poorly documented. During summer 2013, we placed automated cameras overlooking one American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) nest, which also contained a clutch of Florida red-bellied cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni) eggs, and one American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) nest at a site in southeastern Florida where tegus are established. We documented tegu activity and predation on alligator and turtle eggs at the alligator nest, and tegu activity at the crocodile nest. Our finding that one of the first two crocodilian nests to be monitored was depredated by tegus suggests that tegus should be further evaluated as a threat to nesting reptiles in Florida.

Keywords: Tupinambis merianae, Alligator mississippiensis, Pseudemys nelsoni, Crocodylus acutus, Invasive species, Nest predation

Frank J. Mazzotti, Michelle McEachern, Mike Rochford, Robert N. Reed, Jennifer Ketterlin Eckles, Joy Vinci, Jake Edwards, Joseph Wasilewski. 2015.
Tupinambis merianae as Nest Predators of Crocodilians and Turtles in Florida, USA.
Biological Invasions. 17(1); 47-50; DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0730-1

Invasive lizards could threaten Florida's nesting reptiles http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140605140001.htm

http://news.ufl.edu/archive/2014/06/invasive-lizards-a-potential-threat-to-floridas-nesting-reptiles-ufifas-researchers-find.html
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25700-food-or-family-florida-reptiles-battle-over-eggs.html