Brian J. Smith

Christina Romagosa | Post-Docs | Graduate Students | Other Lab Members

Brian J. Smith , MS

My research focuses on the movement ecology of invasive Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades. I'm particularly interested in environmental drivers of movement in this highly cryptic species and in developing new GPS technology to help answer these difficult questions.

Research Interests

I am happiest when my research lies at the intersection of basic ecology and applied management. My general research interests include invasive species, community diversity, spatial modeling, and general quantitative approaches to ecology.

Education

BS University of Florida

MS University of Florida

Bio

I began my studies in ecology as an undergraduate at the University of Florida, right here in the department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation. Early in my career, I was particularly interested in studying mammalian Carnivores. My first technician position while I was still an undergraduate was radio-tracking Florida black bears in the Ocala National Forest. Later, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in southern Africa (in Namibia), where my independent research looked at the efficacy of scent lures in attracting mammals.

I graduated cum laude with my B.S. in in 2009. After graduation, I spent two summers traveling out west and working temporary technician jobs. I worked for Montana State University studying how swift foxes cross roads, and then for the University of Montana looking at genetic connectivity between gray wolf populations in Idaho.

After adventuring out west for a while, I returned to Florida at the end of 2010 and began working as a technician for the University of Florida, studying Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, and I haven't looked back since. In late 2011, I became a contractor for the USGS, and continued providing science support to the python problem. In Fall of 2014, I joined Dr. Romagosa's lab to begin my Master's research, and I continue to work closely with the USGS.

My personal interests of course begin with nature and the outdoors. Herping and birding, camping, hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. Other major interests include music, sports, and photography. For more information about me, see my personal website: www.ecosmith.org.

Publications

Smith, B.J., Hart, K.M., Mazzotti, F.J., Basille, M., & Romagosa, C.M. 2018. Evaluating GPS Biologging Technology for Studying Spatial Ecology of Large Constricting Snakes. Animal Biotelemetry 6:1. DOI: 10.1186/s40317-018-0145-3

Bonneau, M., Johnson, F.A., Smith, B.J., Romagosa, C.M., Martin, J., & Mazzotti, F.J. 2017. Optimal control of an invasive species using a reaction-diffusion model and linear programming. Ecosphere 8 (10): e01979. DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1979

Johnson, F.A, Smith, B.J., Bonneau, M., Martin, J., Romagosa, C., Mazzotti, F., Waddle, H., Reed, R.N., Ketterlin Eckles, J., & Vitt, L.J. 2017. Expert elicitation, uncertainty, and the value of information in controlling invasive species. Ecological Economics 137: 83-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.03.004

Mazzotti, F.J., Cherkiss, M.S., Parry, M., Beauchamp, J, Rochford, M., Smith, B., Hart, K., & Brand, L.A. 2016. Large reptiles and cold temperatures: Do extreme cold spells set distributional limits for tropical reptiles in Florida? Ecosphere 7(8): e01439. DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1439

Smith, B.J., Cherkiss, M. S., Hart, K.M., Rochford, M.R., Selby, T. H., Snow, R. W. & Mazzotti, F.J. 2016. Betrayal: radio-tagged Burmese pythons reveal locations of conspecifics in Everglades National Park. Biological Invasions. doi: 10.1007/s10530-016-1211-5

Selby, T.H., Hart, K.M., Fujisaki, I., Smith, B.J., Pollock, C.J., Hillis-Starr, Z., Lundgren, I., & Oli, M.K. 2016. Can you hear me now? Range-testing a submerged passive acoustic receiver array in a Caribbean coral reef habitat. Ecology and Evolution. doi:10.1002/ece3.2228

Hart, K. M., M. S. Cherkiss, B. J. Smith, F. J. Mazzotti, I. Fujisaki, R. W. Snow, and M. E. Dorcas. 2015. Home range, habitat use, and movement patterns of non-native Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. Animal Biotelemetry.

Hunter, M. E., S. J. Oyler-McCance, R. M. Dorazio, J. Fike, B. J. Smith, C. T. Hunter, R. N. Reed, and K. M. Hart. 2015. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling improves occurrence and detection estimates of invasive Burmese pythons. PLoS ONE 10(4):e0121655. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0121655

Smith, B. J., M. R. Rochford, M. Brien, M. S. Cherkiss, F. J. Mazzotti, S. Snow, and K. M. Hart. 2015. Largest breeding aggregation of Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae) and implications for potential development of a control tool. IRCF Reptiles and Amphibians 22(1): 16-19.

Pittman, S. E., K. M. Hart, M. S. Cherkiss, R. W. Snow, I. Fujisaki, B. J. Smith, F. J. Mazzotti, and M. E. Dorcas. 2014. Homing of invasive Burmese pythons in South Florida: evidence for map and compass senses in snakes. Biology Letters 10:20140040. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0040

Krysko, K. L., K. M. Hart, B. J. Smith, T. H. Selby, M. S. Cherkiss, N. T. Coutu, R. M. Reichart, L. P. Nunez, F. J. Mazzotti, and R. W. Snow. 2012. Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida. IRCF Reptiles and Amphibians 19:267-270.