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The New Population Of Cane Toads Essay

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TYPHOID MARY IN THE FROGPOND: CAN WE USE NATIVE FROGS TO DISSEMINATE A LUNGWORM BIOCONTROL FOR INVASIVE CAN TOADS?
I. Introduction: The new population of cane toads has been quickly growing throughout Australia while carrying with it, a parasitic nematode, rhabdias pseudosphaerocepala. Once infected with this lungworm, both adult and metamorph toads can experience stunted growth and reduced stamina. This is a problem that is effecting native species. When predators feast on these toads, they become poisoned. Introduced pests can sometimes be controlled by using native predators or competitors. By conducting experiments and finding possible solutions, researchers may be able to protect these native species. Researchers are currently trying to gain knowledge on the extent of the problem; how the parasite works, what species can be infected, and once infected, what species experience the least amount of symptoms. They believe that by infecting native tree frogs with this parasite, they may be able to increase the amount of parasites while decreasing the amount of toads. L.Pizzatto and R. Shine (2011) had three assumptions. “(1) The parasite has no detrimental effect on the frogs; (2) the frogs are capable of maintaining a lungworm infection long term; and (3) infective larvae passed in the frog’s faeces are capable of infecting toads and reducing their viability.” (p.546)
II. Materials and Methods Researchers collected lungworm-free cane toad metamorphs and twenty adult

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