DOCSLIB.ORG

House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Inquiry into controlling the spread of Cane Toads SUBMISSION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY February 2019 Contents a) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. 3 b) National coordination................................................................................................................... 4 Cane Toads: Impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance ..................................... 5 c) Roles of the Department of the Environment and Energy ........................................................... 6 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 .................................................. 6 Funding ......................................................................................................................................... 10 National Park Management.......................................................................................................... 10 Information ................................................................................................................................... 11 d) Inquiry Terms of Reference ........................................................................................................ 11 The effectiveness of control measures to limit the spread of cane toads in Australia. ............... 11 Additional support for cane toad population control measures. ................................................. 13 e) Table 1: Species and sub-species threatened by the cane toads ............................................... 17 f) Table 2: Ecological Community threatened by the cane toads .................................................. 17 g) Table 3: Species to which cane toads are a perceived threat .................................................... 17 h) Figure 1: The indicative distribution of the cane toad (Rhinella marina) .................................. 18 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department of the Environment and Energy welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy Inquiry into controlling the spread of cane toads (Rhinella marina, formerly Bufo marinus). Many vertebrate animals introduced to Australia since colonisation have become pests. The Australian Pest Animal Strategy identifies pest animals as a significant social, economic, and environmental burden for Australia, negatively impacting on Australia’s agriculture, biodiversity, natural and built environment, public health and productivity. Within Australia, the combined efforts of local, state, territory and Commonwealth governments, together with the actions of landholders, communities, traditional owners, the private sector and non-government organisations, deliver biodiversity protection and conservation. This includes working together to control invasive plants and animals, including cane toads. The Department works closely with other Australian Government departments, particularly the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, on biosecurity activities that include abating the threats posed by feral animals. The Commonwealth also works with state and territory governments to develop strategies, undertake research and fund key management activities. The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) provides for the identification and listing of key threatening processes. The impacts of some feral animals, including cane toads, have been listed as key threatening processes and threat abatement plans have been developed. The Threat abatement plan for the biological effects, including lethal toxic ingestion, caused by cane toads was made in 2011. The National Landcare Program is a key part of the Australian Government’s commitment to natural resource management. Around $1 billion is being invested in Phase Two, building on the $1 billion invested from July 2014 to June 2018. Introduced feral animals and weeds are part of work in the program’s partnership with state and local governments, industry, communities and individuals. The Australian Government directed at least $11 million dollars to development of a broad-scale means to control cane toads between 1986 and 2011 and approximately $1.3 million to community action to remove cane toads from the landscape manually between 1986 and 2009. National Environmental Science Program funding of $145 million from 2015 to 2021 supports six themed research hubs along with projects to address emerging environmental research needs. The Threatened Species Recovery Hub project Protecting threatened quolls and other biodiversity on Kimberley islands from cane toads is analysing the mechanisms and risk factors associated with cane toad invasion of Kimberley islands. 3 National coordination The Government has international obligations to protect and conserve biodiversity under various conventions and treaties, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Government provides for the protection of environmental matters related to threatened species and ecological communities through the operation of the Act and delivers non-statutory measures such as programs that invest in recovery, restoration, monitoring, and science for the protection and conservation of biodiversity. In 2018, the Australian Government appointed a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer to enhance understanding and oversight of environmental biosecurity risks, perform a national policy, engagement and leadership role, ensure that Australia’s environmental and community biosecurity risks are better defined and prioritised, and improve the maturity of Australia’s environmental biosecurity preparedness, surveillance and response capacity. As biodiversity conservation and protection is a shared responsibility, the Australian Government works in collaboration with the states and territories, as well as the range of other government and non-government land and sea managers, to provide protection for, and conservation of, threatened species and ecological communities, and importantly the ecosystems on which they depend. States and territories are responsible for regulating invasive species, including cane toads. Regulations provide varying levels of requirement for control depending on their level of threat and ability of landholders to undertake effective control measures. All responsible landholders, managers and lessees contribute to biodiversity conservation through their management of lands and waters across Australia. Other groups and sectors that invest considerable time, effort and money to invasive species management for biodiversity protection include Indigenous groups, community groups, environmental non-government organisations, businesses including the agricultural sector, and researchers. In combination, these groups have considerable Indigenous, ecological, local knowledge, and technical expertise and play a critical role in on-ground implementation and raising community awareness. Most successes are the product of effective partnerships between governments and non-government groups. The Australian Government provides national coordination through overarching strategies and through species specific or site-specific plans. These strategies and plans allow state, territory and local government, local groups, non-government organisations and landholders to understand how their contribution fits into a broader picture and to provide best practice guidance on how to undertake appropriate management actions. Australian Pest Animal Strategy The Australian Pest Animal Strategy (2017-2027) is a strategy of the national Environment and Invasives Committee, which is part of the framework established under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. The strategy provides national guidance on best practice vertebrate pest 4 animal management. It re-affirms agreed national pest animal management principles, and sets national goals and priorities that will help improve Australia’s overall ability to prevent and respond to new pest animal incursions and manage the negative impacts of established pest animals. This provides the broad policy foundation to guide and inform the actions of stakeholders, including landholders, industry, communities and government, rather than prescribing detailed on-ground actions and activities. Cane toads are captured under this strategy. Cane Toads: Impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance Threatened Species Cane toads have a known impact on seven threatened species, one threatened sub-species, (Table 1) and one ecological community (Table 2). They are a perceived threat to a further seven species or sub-species, because either the cane toad has not reached their habitat or the impact is unknown1 (Table 3). The State of the Environment 2016 (Cresswell and Murphy 2017) report notes that that: Poisoning by the invasive cane toad (Rhinella marina) is a major threat to 4 species of threatened mammal. The cane toad has had a significant impact on populations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in northern Australia (Woinarski et al. 2014). Scientists have also recorded marked declines during the past 5 years in many iconic, and culturally and ecologically significant reptile species across northern Australia because of poisoning by cane toads (Shine & Wiens 2010, Fukada et al. 2016). For
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Animals from the Outback ANIMALS from the OUTBACK Introduction
    Animals From The Outback ANIMALS FROM THE OUTBACK Introduction • Australia is a big country with many different animal habitats. Australia’s deserts, rainforests, reefs, swamps, bushlands and mountains provide homes for many different types of animals. • Many of Australia’s animals are ‘endemic’ to the country. This means that they are only found in Australia, and nowhere else on Earth. • The main reason is because Australia is surrounded by sea, and isolated from the rest of the world. Many Australian animals have evolved on their own, and haven’t been able to spread to other countries or continents. Bandicoot Bandicoot • Bandicoots are marsupials that are endemic to Australia and New Guinea. (As we saw above, if an animal is ‘endemic’ to an area, then it isn’t found anywhere else.) • There are over 20 species of bandicoot – most are rabbit-sized, and all have long legs, thin tails and pointed noses. Bandicoots are omnivores that forage for food in their bushland habitat. Black Swan Black Swan • Black swans are elegant birds with black feathers and bright red bills. Black swans inhabit wetlands across Australia. They eat plants and algae, and use their long necks to find food. Cane Toad Cane Toad • Many Australians would rather the cane toad was not on a list of Australian animals! Cane toads secrete poison from behind their ears as a defense against predators. • The cane toad is an invasive species in Australia and has spread rapidly across the country since its introduction in the 1940s. Cane toads are a threat to many native Australian animals, who fall ill after eating the toads.
    [Show full text]
  • Protecting Threatened Quolls and Other Biodiversity on Kimberley Islands from Cane Toads
    Protecting threatened quolls and other biodiversity on Kimberley islands from cane toads Project Summary Project 4.2.5 Kimberley islands. Photo: Mark Cowan Research in Brief Why is the research impacts when they reach islands and in relatively short time periods. This research will use existing needed? In combination, these factors mean data to predict future invasion Cane toads (Rhinella marina) have that keeping cane toads off currently by cane toads of Australian caused extensive declines and local uninvaded Australian islands is a high islands, particularly the Kimberley extinctions of many species on priority for conservation managers. islands. This information is mainland Australia. Both aquatic and important for prioritizing The endangered Northern Quoll terrestrial species that eat frogs or (Dasyurus hallucatus) was once surveillance action on these toads are highly at risk. islands in order to conserve widespread across Northern Australia toad-sensitive species such as Australia’s islands are important but many local declines have been the endangered Northern Quoll. conservation refuges which are rich observed following the invasion of in unique endemic species. Islands cane toads. Northern Quolls occur that are free from invasive species, on several islands across the northern particularly feral animals, have also Australian coast. Many islands in enabled some species to persist that Queensland and the Northern have become extinct on the mainland. Territory have already been invaded The value of islands as refuges from by cane toads. The more than invasive species has led conservation 2,500 islands off Western Australia’s managers to use them as arks to Kimberley coast are thought to be host insurance populations of highly cane toad free, although cane toads vulnerable mainland species.
    [Show full text]
  • Cane Toads on Sanibel and Captiva
    April 2020 SCCF Member Update Cane Toads on Sanibel and Captiva By Chris Lechowicz, Herpetologist and Wildlife & Habitat Management Director It is that time of year again when it is slowly starting to warm up and any out-of-season rainstorms can trigger Parotoid gland amphibian breeding. On Sanibel, this is limited to frogs and toads as we do not have any salamander species on the island. Besides the southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) which is our sole true winter breeder, the southern toad (Anaxyrus terrrestris) and the giant toad aka cane toad (Rhinella marina) are the usual suspects for late winter/early spring breeding, especially after a heavy rain. The southern toad is native and too often confused for the invasive exotic giant toad — the cane toad — in our area. Giant toads go by several local names, depending on where you are located. In Florida, the most common The first cane toad (Rhinella marina) documented on Sanibel names are cane toad, faux toad, or Bufo toad. Outside right before it was captured while attempting to breed. Female Florida, many people call them marine toads. The local cane toads can lay up to 35,000 eggs at a time (average 8,000 name “Bufo toad” comes from the former scientific name - 25,000). Inset: Cane toad eggs are laid in long strings that (Bufo marinus). In 2008, the cane toad was split off into resemble black beads. These were collected the night they were a new group of South American beaked toads (Rhinella). first documented by SCCF on July 17, 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • Preface. Cane Toads
    ) ' +'* & %& January 1532, estuarine mudflats of Baia de Santos on the coast of Brazil. Portuguese sailors rowed ashore on a flooding tide, breached mangrove barricades and landed their commander Martim Afonso de Sousa, Governor of the Land of Brazil.1 In the Bay of Saints he sought blessings from on high and contemplated the magnitude of his tasks: chase away the French, harvest pau brasil (brazilwood [Caesalpinia echinata]), plant sugar cane and found a nation. Saints were beseeched, forests cleared, soils tilled, billets of cane trimmed, laid in rows and bur- ied. The giant toad aguaquaquan, known also as Bufo marinus, Rhinella marina and now colloquially as the cane toad, would look on as sugar cane plantings spread northwards into its homeland. January 2013, wet season, northern Australia. A savannah of sparse trees and resinous grasses scavenged sustenance from stony hills in the East Kimberley Ranges, Western Australia. A stately goanna flicked its forked tongue under a fire-blackened log and sensed food, sensed the vanguard of cane toads heading ever westwards across Aus- tralia’s tropical north, nocturnal invaders waiting out the heat of the day in the shade of the log. The goanna ate the toad in two swallows of its long neck, staggered a while, regurgitated a mucous lump, collapsed 1 Augeron & Vidal 2007, p. 23. $1 ( -), Figure 0.1 Redistribution of Bufo marinus from South America. (Redrawn and updated after Easteal 1981 and Zug & Zug 1979.) 1 + ! )!-),(' ( Figure 0.2 Redistribution of Bufo marinus from Hawai‘i. (Redrawn and up- dated after Easteal 1981 and multiple sources.) 1$ ( -), and died.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendices, Glossary and Index
    7 Appendices Appendix A: Agency resourcing statement 2010–11 Appendix B: Portfolio Budget Statements reporting 2010–11 Appendix C: Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance Appendix D: Freedom of information statement Appendix E: Compliance index Christmas Island red crabs. Photo: Parks Australia Appendix A: Agency Resourcing Statement 2010–11 The Agency Resourcing Statement was introduced to Portfolio Budget Statements in 2008–09 to provide information about the various funding sources that the Director of National Parks may draw upon during the year. The Director of National Parks is required to publish the Agency Resourcing Statement in the annual report that reconciles to cash reserves in the financial statements. Actual available Payments Balance appropriation Made Remaining $’000 $’000 $’000 Opening balance/Reserves at bank 38,353 – 38,353 REVENUE FROM GOVERNMENT Ordinary annual services¹ Outcome 1 – – – Total ordinary annual services – – – Other services² Non-operating 2,249 – 2,249 Total other services 2,249 – 2,249 Total annual appropriations 2,249 – 2,249 Payments from related entities3 Amounts from the portfolio department 46,444 46,444 (0) Total 46,444 46,444 (0) Total funds from Government 46,444 46,444 (0) FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES Interest 1,575 1,575 – Sale of goods and services 15,486 15,486 – Other 2,328 1,390 938 Total 19,389 18,451 938 Total net resourcing for DNP 106,435 64,895 41,540 All figures are GST exclusive As per the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Section 514S, DSEWPaC is directly appropriated the Director of National Parks (DNP) appropriations, which is then allocated to the DNP by the Secretary.
    [Show full text]
  • Bufo Marinus (Amphibian)
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center Other Publications in Wildlife Management for June 2006 Bufo marinus (amphibian) Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdmother Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons "Bufo marinus (amphibian)" (2006). Other Publications in Wildlife Management. 31. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdmother/31 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Other Publications in Wildlife Management by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. issg Database: Ecology of Bufo marinus http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=113&fr=1&sts= all 6 all 6 Bufo marinus (amphibian) Management References Ecology Distribution Impacts Contacts Info and Links Taxonomic name: Bufo marinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms: Bufo agua Clark 1916, Bufo marinis [sic] Barbour 1916, Bufo marinus marinus Mertens 1972, Bufo marinus Mertens 1969, Bufo marinus Schneider 1799, Bufo strumosus Court 1858 Common names: Aga-Kröte (German), bufo toad, bullfrog, cane toad (English), crapaud (Caribbean), giant American toad (English), giant toad (English), kwapp (Caribbean), macao (Dominican Republic), maco pempen (Dominican Republic), Maco toro (Dominican Republic), marine Toad, Suriname toad Organism type: amphibian The cane toad, Bufo marinus was introduced throughout the world as a biological control for various insect pests of sugarcane and other crops. It has become a pest in its introduced range. It will feed on any organism available. It preys on and competes with native amphibians for food and breeding habitat.
    [Show full text]
  • Tackling Indian Mynas
    The Myna Problem = a Major Issue Bill Handke OAM Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Inc Julian Robinson Indian (Common) Myna Sturnus tristis • Native to Indian sub-continent – distinctive colouring and call – aggressive / territorial • but roost communally – opportunistic feeder : omnivorous – long lived – breeds Oct – March • up to 3 clutches of 6-8 chicks ❖ adaptive, intelligent, highly invasive • Not to be confused with the Noisy Miner – native – nectar feeder – protective of food source – becoming more common in Canberra urban fringe – can cause some environmental problems (just like the Bell Miner) The Myna Invasion • Introduced Melbourne 1862 – to control locusts in market gardens • Taken to Sydney in early 1880s • Taken to Qld canefields (1883) – to control cane beetle • same as for cane toad • Introduced Canberra in 1968 – 250 per km2 • Now across eastern seaboard – densities ↑ 750-1250 km2 Testimonials • Among 100 most invasive species worldwide – (IUCN 2000) • Voted most hated pest in Aust – ABC Wild Watch Quest for Pests 2005 • beat cane toad, feral cat and fox • Most Extreme Threat Category – Bureau Rural Science / Dept Environment & Water • “You can have native birds or Indian Mynas — but not both” Mat & Cathy Gilfedder – Ian Fraser, local naturalist & 2006 Winner Aust Natural History Medallion The International Experience • Mynas have lead to the demise / decline of: – Mangaia Kingfisher (Cook Is) – Red-moustached Fruit Dove (French Polynesia) – Seychelles Magpie Robin (Seychelles) – Echo Parakeet (Mauritius) – Tui, NZ Pigeon
    [Show full text]
  • Estuarine Wetlands
    ESTUARINE WETLANDS • An estuary occurs where a river meets the sea. • Wetlands connected with this environment are known as estuarine wetlands. • The water has a mix of the saltwater tides coming in from the ocean and the freshwater from the river. • They include tidal marshes, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, river deltas and mudflats. • They are very important for birds, fish, crabs, mammals, insects. • They provide important nursery grounds, breeding habitat and a productive food supply. • They provide nursery habitat for many species of fish that are critical to Australia’s commercial and recreational fishing industries. • They provide summer habitat for migratory wading birds as they travel between the northern and southern hemispheres. Estuarine wetlands in Australia Did you know? Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory: Jabiru build large, two-metre wide • Kakadu has four large river systems, the platform nests high in trees. The East, West and South Alligator rivers nests are made up of sticks, branches and the Wildman river. Most of Kakadu’s and lined with rushes, water-plants wetlands are a freshwater system, but there and mud. are many estuarine wetlands around the mouths of these rivers and other seasonal creeks. Moreton Bay, Queensland: • Kakadu is famous for the large numbers of birds present in its wetlands in the dry • Moreton Bay has significant mangrove season. habitat. • Many wetlands in Kakadu have a large • The estuary supports fish, birds and other population of saltwater crocodiles. wildlife for feeding and breeding. • Seagrasses in Moreton Bay provide food and habitat for dugong, turtles, fish and crustaceans. www.environment.gov.au/wetlands Plants and animals • Saltwater crocodiles live in estuarine and • Dugongs, which are also known as sea freshwater wetlands of northern Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Ramsar Site Guidelines
    AUSTRALIAN RAMSAR SITE NOMINATION GUIDELINES Module 4 of the National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands— Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia WAT251.0912 Published by While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population the contents of this publication are factually correct, the and Communities Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy GPO Box 787 or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable CANBERRA ACT 2601 for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Endorsement Endorsed by the Standing Council on Environment and Citation Water, 2012. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia 2012 and Communities (2012). Australian Ramsar Site Nomination Guidelines. Module 4 of the National Guidelines for Ramsar Information contained in this publication may be copied or Wetlands—Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia. reproduced for study, research, information or educational Australian Government Department of Sustainability, purposes, subject to inclusion of an acknowledgment of the Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. source. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: ISBN: 978-1-921733-66-6 Assistant Secretary The publication can be accessed at http://www.environment. Aquatic Systems Policy Branch gov.au/water/topics/wetlands/ramsar-convention/australian-
    [Show full text]
  • The Economic, Social and Icon Value of the Great Barrier Reef Acknowledgement
    At what price? The economic, social and icon value of the Great Barrier Reef Acknowledgement Deloitte Access Economics acknowledges and thanks the Great Barrier Reef Foundation for commissioning the report with support from the National Australia Bank and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. In particular, we would like to thank the report’s Steering Committee for their guidance: Andrew Fyffe Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg Finance Officer Director of the Global Change Institute Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Professor of Marine Science The University of Queensland Anna Marsden Managing Director Prof. Robert Costanza Great Barrier Reef Foundation Professor and Chair in Public Policy Australian National University James Bentley Manager Natural Value, Corporate Responsibility Dr Russell Reichelt National Australia Bank Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Keith Tuffley Director Stephen Fitzgerald Great Barrier Reef Foundation Director Great Barrier Reef Foundation Dr Margaret Gooch Manager, Social and Economic Sciences Stephen Roberts Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Director Great Barrier Reef Foundation Thank you to Associate Professor Henrietta Marrie from the Office of Indigenous Engagement at CQUniversity Cairns for her significant contribution and assistance in articulating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander value of the Great Barrier Reef. Thank you to Ipsos Public Affairs Australia for their assistance in conducting the primary research for this study. We would also like
    [Show full text]
  • The Nature of Northern Australia
    THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects 1 (Inside cover) Lotus Flowers, Blue Lagoon, Lakefield National Park, Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 2 Northern Quoll. Photo by Lochman Transparencies 3 Sammy Walker, elder of Tirralintji, Kimberley. Photo by Sarah Legge 2 3 4 Recreational fisherman with 4 barramundi, Gulf Country. Photo by Larissa Cordner 5 Tourists in Zebidee Springs, Kimberley. Photo by Barry Traill 5 6 Dr Tommy George, Laura, 6 7 Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 7 Cattle mustering, Mornington Station, Kimberley. Photo by Alex Dudley ii THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects AUTHORS John Woinarski, Brendan Mackey, Henry Nix & Barry Traill PROJECT COORDINATED BY Larelle McMillan & Barry Traill iii Published by ANU E Press Design by Oblong + Sons Pty Ltd The Australian National University 07 3254 2586 Canberra ACT 0200, Australia www.oblong.net.au Email: [email protected] Web: http://epress.anu.edu.au Printed by Printpoint using an environmentally Online version available at: http://epress. friendly waterless printing process, anu.edu.au/nature_na_citation.html eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and saving precious water supplies. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry This book has been printed on ecoStar 300gsm and 9Lives 80 Silk 115gsm The nature of Northern Australia: paper using soy-based inks. it’s natural values, ecological processes and future prospects. EcoStar is an environmentally responsible 100% recycled paper made from 100% ISBN 9781921313301 (pbk.) post-consumer waste that is FSC (Forest ISBN 9781921313318 (online) Stewardship Council) CoC (Chain of Custody) certified and bleached chlorine free (PCF).
    [Show full text]
  • Cane Toad Control Should Be Based on Evidence Not Guesswork Submission to Inquiry Into Controlling the Spread of Cane Toads
    Cane toad control should be based on evidence not guesswork Submission to Inquiry into controlling the spread of cane toads Professor Rick Shine December 2018 Abstract Extensive scientific research (mostly, funded by government) has been conducted into methods to limit the spread and impact of cane toads in Australia. Control efforts that ignore that knowledge base are unlikely to be useful. The impact of cane toads on native wildlife has often been exaggerated; the impact is devastating but is limited to a small group of species (apex predators) and to a relatively short timescale. Thus, control of toads over large areas where they already occur would have little benefit for biodiversity, and likely is impossible without resorting to methods (e.g., genetic manipulation) whose risks outweigh the benefits. The huge clutch sizes and great mobility of toads render localised control efforts ineffective within the toads’ main range in tropical Australia; vast effort (primarily into hand-collecting) has failed to slow the march of the toads, or to decrease their abundances. In contrast, control of toads is feasible in isolated populations on islands, and/ or near the southern edge of the species’ distribution. Such populations have been successfully extirpated by using a combination of methods including hand-collection, fencing of waterbodies, trapping of adult toads, and pheromone(chemical)-based trapping of tadpoles. Cane toads frequently are translocated to sites far outside their main range (usually by hiding in cargo in trucks), so we need effective methods to eradicate such satellite populations before they can spread. I identify four priorities for future investment: (1) new pheromone-based techniques for tadpole eradication; (2) deployment of aversion- inducing stimuli to train vulnerable predators not to eat toads; (3) a recently-identified pathogen that causes lethal amoebic dysentery to cane toads in Australia; and (4) plans to exclude toads from the Pilbara by restricting their access to water along the dryland corridor south of Broome.
    [Show full text]