Cane Toad Research Paper

Abstract: Non-native species are not always invasive. However, in most instances involving the cane toad species Rhinella marina, there are devastating economic and ecological impacts. Cane toads, native to Central and South America, were introduced in a variety of places for biocontrol, which led to them quickly adapting to their new environment. These adaptations include a lack of natural predators, toxicity present in all stages of life, a generalist diet, rapid reproduction, and high dispersal levels leading to range expansion. With high ecological impacts, a variety of control methods have been tested with higher levels of eradication seen when multiple methods are used simultaneously.

Introduction: The difference between invasive and …show more content…
Both species have glands that produce toxins, making them poisonous to many other predators. This toxin is especially prevalent in R. marina that have invaded Australia. Additionally, their eggs contain this bufotoxin as well, which makes them inedible even before hatching (Hudson et al., 2021). Another aspect of R. marina that makes it incredibly invasive is its ability to fit into a variety of environments. They have invaded several locations, with most documentation focusing on Australia. In Australia, the species has no natural predators, and it is not impacted by disease (DCCEEW, 2010). The species can mate all throughout the year, with preference to the beginning of the wet season. The toads show a higher fecundity than native Australian amphibians where an individual lays between a thousand to two thousand eggs each year. In contrast, a single cane toad can lay between eight thousand to thirty thousand eggs annually (DCCEEW, 2010). These eggs can be laid wherever water is present (USGS, n.d.). Cane toads do need adequate moisture and will die without sufficient water. They absorb water through their skin, allowing them access to water in any slightly moist environment (DCCEEW, 2010). Cane toads have a variety of prey. R. marina uses both vision and smell to locate potential …show more content…
However, if they were to be listed as a Class 1 pest, all landholders would have a legal obligation to reasonably control the amount of cane toads that live on their property (Alford et al., 2005). If this decision was made, it would force anyone who owns property to start taking action against the cane toads. This would then, in turn, slow down the spread of the cane toad population in that area. In New South Wales, Australia, they have the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 1974, Threatened Species Conservation Act of 1995, Rural Lands Protection Act of 1998, and the Non-indigenous Animals Act of 1987. All these talk about how to protect and take care of native fauna and flora, how to control a species that is deemed a threat and if they can deem it a threat, how to deem it a pest and how to control it, and how to control the spread of an exotic species (Alford et al., 2005). These three acts all have ways to control the spread or eradication of cane toads, they just don’t have the resources in order to do it. Due to cane toads not being listed as a threat or pest because there is no specific, prescribed control method, they can’t get the legislature to offer a plan to control them. In the Northern Territories of Australia, they are proposing to amend the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act to make cane toad free areas, which would

Show More