Cane Toads: An Unnatural History Quiz

Questions and Answers

What threatened the sugarcane crop in the 1930s?

Cane grubs

What did the Australians decide to do about the threatened sugarcane crop and why?

They started using cane toads because they eat the cane grub.

Where were the cane toads native to?

Hawaii

What is the term used to describe the sexual clasping of amphibians proceeding egg laying and fertilization?

Amplexus Signup and view all the answers

How many eggs can a female cane toad lay?

Up to 40,000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the life cycle of a cane toad?

Cane toads start off as an egg, grow into a tadpole, then become a tad, and lastly a full-grown toad. Signup and view all the answers

Were the cane toads efficient at eating the cane grubs and beetles?

False Signup and view all the answers

Where are the glands in the cane toad that produce the toxic material located?

In the skin Signup and view all the answers

What is an alternative use of the cane toad's toxin?

It can be used as a hallucinogen drug. Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum penalty you can receive for carrying the drug from the cane toad?

Life in prison Signup and view all the answers

How do cane toads kill fish?

They try to strangle the fish by jumping and attacking. Signup and view all the answers

What has prevented cane toads from spanning the entire country of Australia?

They need water to survive, which limits their spread inland. Signup and view all the answers

How have cane toads changed the ecosystem of Australia?

They are an invasive species that have destroyed populations of other species. Signup and view all the answers

Describe two adaptations that allow the cane toad to gain competitive advantage.

They reproduce at a high rate and eat a wide variety of prey. Signup and view all the answers

Describe two characteristics of a community that causes it to be more susceptible to an invasive species.

Slow reproduction rates and fewer predatory species. Signup and view all the answers

How is a nonnative species introduced into a habitat? Do all nonnative species become invasive?

Introduced by humans or due to environmental changes; not all become invasive. Signup and view all the answers

How do invasive species threaten biodiversity? Discuss one strategy to control the cane toad.

They can wipe out whole populations; a control strategy is to find a natural predator. Signup and view all the answers

Name two other introduced species and their locations where they have become invasive.

Asian Carp from Russia and China, Zebra Mussel from the Black Sea region. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cane Toads Overview

Cane Grubs threatened sugarcane crops in the 1930s, prompting a response from Australians.
Australians introduced cane toads to control cane grub populations, hoping to increase sugar cane yield.

Cane Toad Characteristics

Cane toads are native to Hawaii.
Females can lay up to 40,000 eggs in a single reproductive cycle.
The term Amplexus describes the sexual clasping of amphibians during reproduction.

Cane Toad Life Cycle

The life cycle progresses from egg to tadpole, then to tad before reaching full-grown toad adulthood.

Ecological Impact

Cane toads were ineffective at controlling cane grubs due to differing lifestyles.
Toxic glands located in their skin can produce harmful substances.
Cane toads can kill fish by attacking and attempting to strangle them.
As an invasive species, cane toads disrupt local ecosystems and threaten native species populations.

Adaptations and Invasiveness

Cane toads have high reproductive rates and a broad diet, giving them competitive advantages over native species.
Communities with slow reproduction rates and fewer predators are more vulnerable to invasive species.

Introduction of Nonnative Species

Nonnative species can be introduced through human activity or environmental changes.
Not all nonnative species are invasive; to be classified as invasive, a species must harm its new habitat.

Threats to Biodiversity

Invasive species like cane toads can result in the extinction of local populations, leading to reduced biodiversity.
Proposed strategies to control cane toad populations include introducing a predatory species, which risks creating another invasive problem.

Other Invasive Species Examples

Asian Carp: Originating from Russia and China, now in North America and Europe; they overconsume resources, competing with native species.
Zebra Mussel: Native to the Black and Caspian seas, invasive in Europe and North America; they aggressively consume plankton, disrupting food chains.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the impact of cane toads introduced to Australia in the 1930s. This quiz covers their role in controlling sugarcane pests and the ecological consequences that followed. Perfect for students studying environmental science or biology.