Podcast
Questions and Answers
What threatened the sugarcane crop in the 1930s?
What threatened the sugarcane crop in the 1930s?
Cane grubs
What did the Australians decide to do about the threatened sugarcane crop and why?
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?
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?
What is the term used to describe the sexual clasping of amphibians proceeding egg laying and fertilization?
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How many eggs can a female cane toad lay?
How many eggs can a female cane toad lay?
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What is the life cycle of a cane toad?
What is the life cycle of a cane toad?
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Were the cane toads efficient at eating the cane grubs and beetles?
Were the cane toads efficient at eating the cane grubs and beetles?
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Where are the glands in the cane toad that produce the toxic material located?
Where are the glands in the cane toad that produce the toxic material located?
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What is an alternative use of the cane toad's toxin?
What is an alternative use of the cane toad's toxin?
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What is the maximum penalty you can receive for carrying the drug from the cane toad?
What is the maximum penalty you can receive for carrying the drug from the cane toad?
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How do cane toads kill fish?
How do cane toads kill fish?
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What has prevented cane toads from spanning the entire country of Australia?
What has prevented cane toads from spanning the entire country of Australia?
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How have cane toads changed the ecosystem of Australia?
How have cane toads changed the ecosystem of Australia?
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Describe two adaptations that allow the cane toad to gain competitive advantage.
Describe two adaptations that allow the cane toad to gain competitive advantage.
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Describe two characteristics of a community that causes it to be more susceptible to an invasive species.
Describe two characteristics of a community that causes it to be more susceptible to an invasive species.
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How is a nonnative species introduced into a habitat? Do all nonnative species become invasive?
How is a nonnative species introduced into a habitat? Do all nonnative species become invasive?
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How do invasive species threaten biodiversity? Discuss one strategy to control the cane toad.
How do invasive species threaten biodiversity? Discuss one strategy to control the cane toad.
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Name two other introduced species and their locations where they have become invasive.
Name two other introduced species and their locations where they have become invasive.
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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.
