The Burmese python is considered an invasive species in Florida
Invasive species in Florida are introduced organisms that cause damage to the environment, human economy, or human health in Florida.[1]Native plants and animals in Florida are threatened by the spread of invasive species.[2] Florida is a major biodiversity hotspot in North America and the hospitable sub-tropical climate has also become a hotspot for invasive plants and animals due to anthropogenic introduction.[3][4]
The non-governmental organization FISC published the following list of invasive plant species in 2023.[171] Formerly known as Florida Exotic Plant Pest Council (FLEPPC), the council changed its name to Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) to retire outdated terminology.[172][173]
Three species have been added to Category I since 2019, and Category II now includes four additional species.[174][175][176] The watch list from FISC highlights species of concern which are not yet included in the Category I or II lists.[177]
FISC describes Category I species as plants which displace native species, disrupt ecological functions, or hybridize with native species.[180] Category II species have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species, but may be assigned to Category I if enough negative impact is reported.[180]
^Ober, Holly K.; DeGroote, Lucas W.; Mizell, Russell F. (2 November 2017). "Baiting the Nine-Banded Armadillo". UF/IFAS Extension. University of Florida. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
^Taulman, J F; Robbins, L W (1996). "Recent range expansion and distributional limits of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the United States". Journal of Biogeography. 23 (5): 635–648. Bibcode:1996JBiog..23..635T. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.1996.tb00024.x.
^Johnson, Steve A.; Hawk, Michelle (30 April 2009). "Florida's Introduced Birds: Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)". Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Edis (3). University of Florida/IFAS: 1–4. doi:10.32473/edis-uw299-2009. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC254. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024. p. 3: Muscovies are often found in large numbers, particularly in Florida, and produce a large quantity of droppings, which can seriously degrade water quality. In addition, domestic ducks are often responsible for the spread of several serious diseases to native ducks, and may also interbreed with native ducks, "muddying" the gene pools of those species and potentially decreasing their capacity to adapt, resist disease, and persist.
^Philipps, R. Brand (29 May 2008). "Columba livia (pigeons)". CABI Compendium (87913). CABI International. doi:10.1079/cabicompendium.87913. Rock pigeons are known to transmit pigeon ornithosis, encephalitis, Exotic Newcastle Disease, cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, salmonella food poisoning, and several other diseases. Rock pigeons and their nests are infested with ectoparasites, such as ticks, fleas, and mites, which can cause health problems for humans. [...] Large amounts of droppings may kill vegetation and produce an objectionable odour.
^Liker, Andras (4 October 2010). "Passer domesticus (house sparrow)". CABI Compendium (38975). CABI International. doi:10.1079/cabicompendium.38975. House sparrows are known for displacing native species through competition by out-competing them for trophic resources. In rural areas they may evict native birds from their nests.
^Johnson, Steve A.; Violett, Heather (1 June 2009). "Florida's Introduced Birds: European House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)". Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. University of Florida/IFAS. pp. 1–7. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC260. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024. p. 4: House Sparrows aggressively compete with native birds for food and nest sites and may reduce their nesting success. These invasive birds will use nest boxes intended for native birds and are known to evict other birds from nest sites, destroying eggs, killing nestlings, and sometimes killing incubating females.
^Tracey, John; Gehrke, Brandon (4 October 2010). "Sturnus vulgaris (common starling)". CABI Compendium (51979). CABI International. doi:10.1079/cabicompendium.51979. S2CID253611022. European starlings are extremely aggressive omnivores, and will compete with native fauna for food. [...] Usurping nests by contamination (as well as physical competition) is also a major problem (e.g. native parrots use little, if any, bedding, whereas starlings will rapidly fill and contaminate tree hollows).
^Johnson, Steve A.; Givens, Walter (31 May 2009). "Florida's Introduced Birds: European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)". Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Edis (4). University of Florida/IFAS: 1–6. doi:10.32473/edis-uw300-2009. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC255. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024. pp. 3–4: European Starlings feed in huge flocks, eating massive quantities of invertebrates and plant matter, and may have significant localized effects on invertebrate populations and thus on availability of food for other species. [...] European Starlings aggressively displace native cavity-nesting birds, evicting these species from their nest sites and destroying their eggs.
^Krysko, Kenneth L; Enge, Kevin M; Donlan, Ellen M; Seitz, Jason C (2007), "Distribution, Natural History, and Impacts of the Introduced Green Iguana in Florida", Iguana: Conservation, Natural History, and Husbandry of Reptiles, International Reptile Conservation Foundation, 14 (3): 142–151
^"Goldline Snakehead (Channa aurolineata) - Species Profile". NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species. United States Geological Survey (USGS). Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024. Channa aurolineata may outcompete native species for food and habitat. [...] Channa aurolineata is known to host the invasive Aphanomyces invadans, a disease causing epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) in fishes, in its introduced range in South Florida.
^Nico, Leo G.; Neilson, Matthew E.; Robins, Robert H.; Pfeiffer, John M.; Kali, Matthew; Randall, Zachary S. & Johnson, Eric (16 September 2022). "Occurrence of a reproducing wild population of Channa aurolineata (Pisces: Channidae) in the Manatee River drainage, Florida"(PDF). Aquatic Invasions. 17 (4): 577–601. Bibcode:2022AqInv..17..577N. doi:10.3391/ai.2022.17.4.07. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2024. pp. 596–597: As a predator and competitor, introduced snakeheads are of particular concern because of their large size and highly aggressive nature, their broad tolerance to a range of environmental conditions, reproductive potential, and high dispersal abilities. [...] In addition, snakeheads traveling on land have the potential to invade naturally fishless, aquatic habitats and prey on native fauna.
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