Sm. Jojola-elverum et al., Importance of bacterial decomposition and carrion substrate to foraging brown treesnakes, J CHEM ECOL, 27(7), 2001, pp. 1315-1331
Brown treesnakes are an invasive species to the island of Guam that have ca
used extensive ecological and economic damage. Efforts to control the snake
population have included trapping using live mouse lures, but for logistic
al and economic reasons a synthetic lure is needed. When searching for live
food, brown treesnakes use both visual and odor cues. However, when search
ing for carrion, odor cues are sufficient. Attempts to develop synthetic lu
res based on chemical reconstruction of the complex carrion odor have not s
ucceeded. We provide evidence that a microbial-substrate interaction is imp
ortant for bait take by brown treesnakes. Microbial cultures taken from mou
se carrion indicate that Enterobacter agglomerans is the predominant bacter
ium, and field tests suggest that this organism may be important to odor pr
oduction that attracts brown treesnakes. This information may prove useful
in the development of microbial-based biological reactors that could be for
mulated to produce a continuous stream of odor of sufficient complexity so
as to be attractive to foraging snakes.