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Python vs. Alligator

Posted by samzenpus on from the more-than-a-mouthful dept.

evil agent writes "Fox News is reporting an incident in Everglades National Park where a python tried to swallow an alligator whole, causing it to explode. A picture of the aftermath is also provided. Scientists say that these python vs. alligator battles are becoming more frequent due to pet owners who discard the nonnative pythons in the Everglades."

3 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Funny? I think not. by line-bundle · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe it's just that most slashdotters don't read articles, but I did read the article and it seems an environmental problem of some concern.

  2. Some folks have a wierd "static" idea of nature by Julian+Morrison · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's as if there weren't such thing as invasive species before humans came along to transplant them.

    Seriously, what you have there is an example of evolution in action. The snakey equivalent of a Darwin award. At some point over the next half-milennium, a new ecological balance will stabilize between indigenous gators and feral snakes. Either one will be the top predator, or they'll stay mutual predators, but with a better appreciation of "don't bite off more than you can chew". Meanwhile all the other beasties will match their habits to the new predator's methods - or die out, as it always has been and always shall.

    What's so special about eg: "endangered woodstorks" that makes their species worthy to get a free pass on evolution?

    1. Re:Some folks have a wierd "static" idea of nature by derdesh · · Score: 3, Insightful

      While you have a good point, it is important to remember that since the rise of human civilization and the spread of our species across the planet the number and rate of invasive species introductions have increased by orders of magnitude. Over geologic time ecosystems get invaded by a new species and reach a new equilibrium. Today systems are invaded by dozens of new species in the space of decades.

      As to why we should care about a particular species... different people have diverse reasons. But at the very least our own species is dependent upon functioning ecosystems, and we don't yet completely understand how they work. Large predators (like alligators) are often "keystone species" which have effects throughout the entire system, and removing them might have chaotic results we can't imagine.

      Or it might not. But one of my favorite epigrams on the subject is from Aldo Leopold: "The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the pieces."