New Paper Identifies Challenges in Modeling Potential Invasive Species Spread

 

A new paper by USGS scientists Gordon Rodda, Catherine Jarnevich, and Robert Reed describes the challenges in using certain models to produce climate-matching maps that forecast where invasive animals could potentially become established, with an emphasis on Burmese pythons. Currently, Burmese pythons are established in southern Florida. The new paper, published Feb. 9, 2011, in the online journal PLoS One, responds to another, non-USGS journal article that criticized the models USGS researchers used in their original paper in the peer-reviewed journal Biological Invasions. The new paper evaluates the findings of the non-USGS researchers, demonstrating that their results were based on erroneous data input as well as methodological/statistical procedures that go against suggestions called for in existing literature. For more information, see the technical announcement, Challenges in using models to predict snake and other animal invasions.

 For more information contact: Gordon Rodda

See Also:

 Challenges in Identifying Sites Climatically Matched to the Native Ranges of Animal Invaders

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