Florida Live Reptile and Amphibian Import Records 1999-2018

12.74 million reptiles and 4.59 million amphibians were imported into Florida's three main ports over two decades. This dataset, created by Edison D. Bonilla-Liberato, compiles Law Enforcement Management Information System records to analyze the relationship between import volume and species establishment probability.

Use Cases

• Model establishment probability for reptiles using the 'import numbers' feature, which explains 26.4% of variation in outcomes.
• Analyze temporal trends in annual imports of regulated species, which decreased by 32,731 reptiles and 10,155 amphibians per year.
• Compare predicted establishment counts (99 reptiles, 6 amphibians) against reported established species (61 reptiles, 5 amphibians).
• Calculate propagule pressure thresholds, such as the 50% establishment probability for reptiles at 369,000 imported individuals.

Strengths

• Covers 1,162 reptile species and 350 amphibian species across a 20-year period (1999-2018).
• Data sourced from official Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) records for three major Florida ports.
• Includes probabilistic model outputs with confidence intervals (e.g., 95% CI: 71.06–147.32 for reptiles).

Limitations

• Dataset is small (151.2 KB), containing aggregated summary statistics rather than raw, row-level transaction records.
• Import numbers explain only 26.4% of establishment variation for reptiles and 8.26% for amphibians, indicating many unmeasured factors.
• Sample data and specific column names are unavailable, limiting detailed feature analysis.

Provenance

Source

Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) records for Florida ports.

Collection Method

Compiled and analyzed by the author for a research study on import dynamics and establishment success.

Time Range

1999 to 2018

Freshness

Data covers up to 2018; the record was last updated on the platform in April 2026.

Geography

Florida, United States, focusing on three main ports of entry.