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The influence of disturbed habitat on the spatial ecology of Argentine black and white tegu (Tupinambis merianae), a recent invader in the Everglades ecosystem (Florida, USA)

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Abstract

The threat of invasive species is often intensified in disturbed habitat. To optimize control programs, it is necessary to understand how degraded habitat influences the behavior of invasive species. We conducted a radio telemetry study to characterize movement and habitat use of introduced male Argentine black and white tegus (Tupinambis merianae) in the Everglades of southern Florida from May to August 2012 at the core and periphery of the introduced range. Tegus at the periphery moved farther per day (mean 131.7 ± 11.6 m, n = 6) compared to tegus at the core (mean 50.3 ± 12.4 m, n = 6). However, activity ranges were not significantly smaller in the core (mean 19.4 ± 8.4 ha, n = 6) compared to periphery (mean 29.1 ± 5.2 ha, n = 6). Peripheral activity ranges were more linear due to activity being largely restricted to levee habitat surrounded by open water or marsh. Tegus were located in shrub or tree habitat (mean 96 %) more often than expected based on random locations (mean 58 %), and the percent cover of trees and shrubs was higher in activity ranges (mean 61 %) than the general study area (17 %). Our study highlighted the ability of tegus to spread across the Florida landscape, especially in linear disturbed habitats where increased movement occurred and in areas of altered hydrology where movement is not restricted by water.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS Invasive Species Program, USGS Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystem Science Program, and the U.S. National Park Service. We thank the staff of the Everglades National Park for their support. We thank R. Rozar, E. Metzger, M. Curtis, J. Duquesnel, S. Goetz, S. Farris, S. Williams, M. Squires, D. Smith, B. Smith, S. McKinley, T. Pernas, J. Edwards, E. Larrivee, M. Serota, R. Bijlani, V. Briggs, C. Speroterra, P. Campbell, and E. Lavergne for assistance. L. Bonewell provided project management. We thank M. Hayes and L. Fitzgerald for providing comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Research was approved by the USGS Fort Collins Science Center Institutional Animal Care and Use (IACUC) committee. Research permits were provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and South Florida Water Management District. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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  1. U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA

    Page E. Klug, Robert N. Reed, Michelle A. McEachern & Amy A. Yackel Adams

  2. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 3205 College Avenue, Davie, FL, 33314, USA

    Frank J. Mazzotti & Joy J. Vinci

  3. Contracted to U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA

    Katelin K. Craven

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  1. Page E. Klug
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Correspondence to Page E. Klug.

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Katelin K. Craven has been contracted to U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center.

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Klug, P.E., Reed, R.N., Mazzotti, F.J. et al. The influence of disturbed habitat on the spatial ecology of Argentine black and white tegu (Tupinambis merianae), a recent invader in the Everglades ecosystem (Florida, USA). Biol Invasions 17, 1785–1797 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-014-0834-7

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