http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4619498...ons-apparently-wiping-out-everglades-mammals/
Read the study. Here is my problem with it, They did a study on a decline in the population of mammals, nothing else. The biggest conclusion that they can draw is that there were less small mammals in the everglades. What they cannot conclude (but did so anyways) is what was causing the decline. There was no research into that area at all from what I read, they just ASSUMED it was the pythons because of the time period of the study. I am also not so sure about the accuracy of the population study because of their methods, I would much rather have seen them look into the number of healthy individuals throughout the entire park to get an estimation on the breeding population of the mammals but as Wolfgang mentioned, they needed numbers to compare to so they mimicked the road cruising method. Gator numbers in FL have been on a steady and swift rise for the past 20 years or so and I imagine that would have a big impact on mammal population as well as the poor pollution control caused by agricultural runoff in south central FL and increased human population in south FL. All of these seem like it would effect the mammals more than a few thousand pythons but what do I know?
Putting together a grant proposal right now to try and get support to debunk this pseudo-science.
Mods- I know links and news usually go in the media lounge but I wanted to start a discussion on the topic so am putting it in the main forum. Hope that is alright.
Read the study. Here is my problem with it, They did a study on a decline in the population of mammals, nothing else. The biggest conclusion that they can draw is that there were less small mammals in the everglades. What they cannot conclude (but did so anyways) is what was causing the decline. There was no research into that area at all from what I read, they just ASSUMED it was the pythons because of the time period of the study. I am also not so sure about the accuracy of the population study because of their methods, I would much rather have seen them look into the number of healthy individuals throughout the entire park to get an estimation on the breeding population of the mammals but as Wolfgang mentioned, they needed numbers to compare to so they mimicked the road cruising method. Gator numbers in FL have been on a steady and swift rise for the past 20 years or so and I imagine that would have a big impact on mammal population as well as the poor pollution control caused by agricultural runoff in south central FL and increased human population in south FL. All of these seem like it would effect the mammals more than a few thousand pythons but what do I know?
Putting together a grant proposal right now to try and get support to debunk this pseudo-science.
Mods- I know links and news usually go in the media lounge but I wanted to start a discussion on the topic so am putting it in the main forum. Hope that is alright.
