Burmese Python Argumentative Essay

The Burmese python is a invasive species that has become a threat to the
Florida Everglades ecosystem. Their impact on South Florida's eco system
includes eating other animals, helping turtles overpopulate, and breaking bonds
of symbioses that the other biotic factors share. I think the Burmese pythons
impact on the Florida Everglades ecosystem is negative because they are
destroying what they Everglades truly is.
So how does this strange, invasive species even get here? Well to start out, the
Burmese python wasn't even consider to be an in the face of species until their
problem appearance starting in 2002. Most Burmese pythons for popular pets
that either escaped, or got dumped into the wild, or other pythons were brought
here by storms. (A, 4) " also popular as pets, Burmese pythons are one of nine
species of constrictor snakes, number about a million individuals, that have been
imported into the United States over the past three decades, according to the US
Fish and Wildlife Service. Many of these animals, which can grow to length of 20
feet (6 meters) have either escaped or been dumped into the wild." due to this
problem, the biotic animals of the Florida Everglades might be come pray for this
new, vicious predator. (B,3) " Burmese pythons are voracious feeders known to
prey on a variety of native wildlife, including raccoons, rabbits, bobcats, house
wrens, white ibises and limpkins. This disruption of the natural food chain has
potentially serious impact to the ecosystem inmate threaten many additional
species in the very near future." so I don have already taken advantage of being
the role of the tertiary consumer and have caused the population of some
animals to go down in numbers. (A,11 and 12) " raccoons observations dropped
by 99.3%, opossum I 98.9%, and bobcat by 87.5%. The scientist so I know
rabbits for foxes at all during their surveys. Also worrisome is what could be
happening to the species there were already rare - and thus more difficult to
research, Dorcas noted." this situation could be very bad for the future of the
Everglades.
I think the Burmese pythons impact on the Florida Everglades ecosystem is
negative because they are destroying the Everglades to change, and are eating
all of the Everglades animals. And due to the snakes constant reproduction, their
presence has become a never-ending problem. (B,5) " 4 years, park staff
suspected pythons were reproducing in the Everglades. Numerous small
hatchlings have been found there were unlikely to have been released by

humans, and several females were captured carrying from 30 to 50 fertile eggs.
In 2006, scientists confirm their suspicions by uncovering the first documented
nest in the park. This finding is of considerable concern, as it is believed that the
ecological impacts are likely to grow in step with continued reproductive
success." Their oversized population causes competition for a habitat. (B,4)
"Semi-aquatic in nature, Burmese pythons for providing quite productive in the
many environments of the Everglades. Consequently, they may also compete
with native Everglades species for habitat and space. A number of snakes,
including the Eastern Diamondback and the threatened Eastern Indigo snake,
maybe particularly succeptible. Both species occupy a variety of habitats,
including gopher tortoise burrows and limestone solution holes, the Pythons
consider prime real estate. Even at a very young age, full grown pythons easily
dwarf native snakes. Scientists continue to investigate how native populations
will be impacted as Burmese pythons spread across the landscape."
Also since the Burmese python population has grown enormously, they are
eating their way through all the Florida Everglades food chain. (A,1 to 3) "From
rabbits to deer to even Bobcats, invasive Burmese pythons appear to be eating
through the Everglades supply of mammals, new research shows. Since the giant
constrictors took hold in Florida in 2000 many previous common mammals have
plummeted in numbers - and some, such as cottontail rabbits, may be totally
gone from some areas. Scientists already knew from the setting the space that
they prey on a wide range of species within Everglades National Park." Even
though the Burmese pythons are over populating, and eating through the
Everglades, there are many mitigate effects taking place to help resolve that
problem.
Many mitigate actions are taking place to help solve the issue of pythons in the
Everglades. (A,20 to 23) " Meanwhile, some groups are mounting efforts to stem
the spread of the Burmese pythons. The Nature Conservancy's "Python Patrol",
for example, works to prevent the reptile from moving into the Florida Keys. And
on January 17th the US Department of the Interior announced a new law banning
importation and interstate transport of four species of invasive snakes, including
the Burmese python. "We have taken strong action to battle the spread of the
Burmese python and other non native species that threaten the Everglades and
other areas across the United States, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said
in a statement. "There's no single solution to this conservation challenge,
banning importation and the interstate transportation of these invasive snakes is

a critical step." While the Python Patrol" has banned the Burmese python by
importation and interstate transportation, the National Park Service is trying to
reduce the numbers are pythons that have escaped or were dumped into the wild
by creating a new project for 5th thru the 8th grade students called, "Don't Let It
Loose". (B,13) "Park staff have also developed a new curriculum aimed at
students in grades 5 through 8 that encourages responsible pet ownership.
Called Don't Let It Loose" the curriculum includes an activity guide (available in
cd-rom format) that provides educators with background on invasive species in
the Everglades and a suite of classroom activities on the impacts of these
exotics. Scientists have also been working on a bait that will trap the Pythons.
(B,9) "Scientists are also investigating a chemical attractant. In winter, Burmese
pythons gather together to reproduce. Biologists believe that the emails are
attracted to pheromones or chemical cues, emitted by females. in conjunction
with effective trap design, these chemicals may one day prove to be the perfect
bait." With the help of the mitigate effects, the pipes on problem will be gone in
no time!"
In conclusion, after reading the articles A, B and C, I think the Burmese pythons
impact on the Florida Everglades ecosystem is negative because they are
destroying what the Everglades truly is.