Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, guys,
I was doing my calls today and called Rep. Inhofe from OK. They were so helpful that they forwarded me to their EPW representative! He said that they were against the bill as it stands. I thanked him and asked him to please spread the word to other members to vote against it.
He said he would and ASKED ME TO PLEASE FORWARD THE MATERIALS DEBUNKING THE USGS SURVEY TO HIM SO HE CAN HELP!
I'm at work and may not have the time to do so, but was thinking of the Barkers’ paper and the letter written by the group of scientists against the survey.
He asked me to please post his email on these forums to get him the info.
Again, he's already on our side but is ASKING FOR INFO FROM US to help spread the FACTS!
Can you please help get it to him!
Here's his email:
jonathan_hackett@epw.senate.gov
Remember he's on our side so please be professional and polite.
Thanks guys,
Aaron
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www.voodoomagicboas.com

Hmm. I think the problem is that in the Barker's response paper they only criticize the original study. Particularly with respect to how the study used the ranges of Burmese and Indian pythons to predict ranges in the U.S., but they dont actually reanalyze the data. So, while they complain about how the study was done, rightly or wrongly, there is no counter-study to show that the original was wrong so the USGS study was not actually debunked. Only complained about.

http://www.bellmuseum.org/herpetology/pdfdocs/may08.pdf

The only study to take a second look at the USGS one is this

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0002931;jsessionid=DBA2C757A3C97D5D7DEFF2F331A0DAD8

and while it finds the USGS study massively overestimates the parts of the US that are suitable habitat for invasive pythons. With this study showing the predicted range of pythons in the US limited only to Southern Florida.

But, even this study was criticized. Particularly for not accounting for changes in US habitat resulting from climate change. Most of the Southern US is expected to become better habitat while the East and West worse. Not that Inhofe believes in this kinda of thing. I mean massive international scientific conspiracy and all. But, I suppose when science is giving you data you like even he believe it. Just this time.

So I guess the PlOS ONE paper is the best one to send around.

Best
Vinny
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“There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that whilst this planet has gone on cycling according to the fixed laws of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” -C. Darwin, 1859

Natural Selection Reptiles

Ah... the good old Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter.... There are actually two photos in that newsletter of me!

http://www.bellmuseum.org/herpetology/pdfdocs/may08.pdf

Can you guess which one I am? (Those of you who have met me cannot guess )

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

I'm game.

The one with the goatee and the little albino boa??????

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“There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that whilst this planet has gone on cycling according to the fixed laws of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” -C. Darwin, 1859

Natural Selection Reptiles

Nope.

There are two photos, however in one of them I am paritially behind another person.

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC