Written by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Invasive Species Research Team
Conservancy of Southwest Florida invasive species researchers Ian Bartoszek, Melinda Schuman, and Ian Easterling attended the North American Invasive Species Management (NAISMA) conference in Missoula, Montana. The mission of NAISMA is “to empower invasive species management in North America” and to provide tools to help researchers and land managers address the threats of invasive species. This was an opportunity to present current information about the ground-breaking invasive research being done at the Conservancy. Conferences also give researchers an opportunity to connect with a wide range of professionals working in their field of study and ultimately create new partnerships. In invasive animal research, it is essential to collaborate, as no single organization or entity can battle invasive species alone. We are more effective when we work together on conservation issues.
The Conservancy’s delegation made a powerful impression at the NAISMA conference. For Ian Bartoszek’s presentation, “Utilizing scout snakes as a primary removal tool for Burmese pythons in Southwest Florida”, he condensed the Conservancy team’s decade of research and removal effort and discussed the novel “scout snake” method. The second python presentation was in the form of a poster. Ian Easterling presented “Reproductive frequency and potential of Burmese pythons in Southwest Florida”, showcasing novel observations from the Conservancy biologists in the field. Melinda Schuman’s poster presentation, “Tracking the movement of cane toads (Rhinella marina) within two urban locations in Naples, Florida” offered insight into understanding this invasive animal’s behavior to create a more effective management plan. According to keynote speaker, Dr. Laura Meyerson, invasive vertebrates are responsible for a quarter of all modern global extinctions. This underscores the crucial nature of work done by the Conservancy science team to monitor and maintain local biodiversity and support evidence-based ecosystem management.