Mercury Concentrations in Burmese Pythons Across the Greater Everglades Region in Florida from 2001 to 2022

Burmese Pythons are an invasive reptilian species that has spread throughout southern Florida. Mercury (Hg) concentration in python tail muscles were examined across the Great Everglades region in two periods, 2001 - 2011 and 2014 - 2019. The python samples collected spanned a large range of habitats, including wetland, forested, and urban areas. In 2022 tissues from the offspring six female pythons were sampled. Kidney, liver, and muscle were analyzed for Hg concentration to assess internal cycling of Hg in juvenile pythons. Blood Hg concentrations from the maternal pythons was used to examined maternal transfer of Hg to their offspring.