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Cane toads were introduced to Australia from Central America as a natural form of pest control for beetles harming sugar cane. This was a very serious mistake. The cane toads did not consume the beetles. Instead, they spread and multiplied beyond expectation with catastrophic consequences for local wildlife. Specifically, cane toads are much larger than native wildlife and can reproduce very rapidly. They have deadly poison in glands on their skin. This poison almost instantly kills native snakes who consume them. Many species of snakes are being driven to extinction, as a result. Several interesting effects have been observed. First, cane toad legs have been gradually increasing in size since their introduction to Australia. This has been particularly observed on the edges of the toad population range, which are areas where they are newly invading. Longer legs appear to allow them to jump further and thus invade faster into new territory. Second, local snakes are longer than before the cane toad invasion. This is especially observed in the center of the toad population range where toad density is highest. While longer body length itself is not an advantage, it is correlated to mouth size. Longer snakes have smaller mouths. Smaller mouths mean they eat smaller native prey rather than the larger and poisonous cane toad. Edge of Cane Toad Population Range Center of Cane Toad Population Range

Cane toads were introduced to Australia from Central America as a natural form of pest control for beetles harming sugar cane. This was a very serious mistake. The cane toads did not consume the beetles. Instead, they spread and multiplied beyond expectation with catastrophic consequences for local wildlife. Specifically, cane toads are much larger than native wildlife and can reproduce very rapidly. They have deadly poison in glands on their skin. This poison almost instantly kills native snakes who consume them. Many species of snakes are being driven to extinction, as a result. Several interesting effects have been observed. First, cane toad legs have been gradually increasing in size since their introduction to Australia. This has been particularly observed on the edges of the toad population range, which are areas where they are newly invading. Longer legs appear to allow them to jump further and thus invade faster into new territory. Second, local snakes are longer than before the cane toad invasion. This is especially observed in the center of the toad population range where toad density is highest. While longer body length itself is not an advantage, it is correlated to mouth size. Longer snakes have smaller mouths. Smaller mouths mean they eat smaller native prey rather than the larger and poisonous cane toad. Edge of Cane Toad Population Range Center of Cane Toad Population Range

Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
15th Edition
ISBN:9781337408332
Author:Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Chapter45: Community Ecology
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 3DAA: Testing Biological Control Biological control agents are used to battle red imported fire ants....
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Cane toads were introduced to Australia from Central America as a natural form of pest control for beetles harming sugar cane. This was a very serious mistake. The cane toads did not consume the beetles. Instead, they spread and multiplied beyond expectation with catastrophic consequences for local wildlife. Specifically, cane toads are much larger than native wildlife and can reproduce very rapidly. They have deadly poison in glands on their skin. This poison almost instantly kills native snakes who consume them. Many species of snakes are being driven to extinction, as a result. Several interesting effects have been observed. First, cane toad legs have been gradually increasing in size since their introduction to Australia. This has been particularly observed on the edges of the toad population range, which are areas where they are newly invading. Longer legs appear to allow them to jump further and thus invade faster into new territory. Second, local snakes are longer than before the cane toad invasion. This is especially observed in the center of the toad population range where toad density is highest. While longer body length itself is not an advantage, it is correlated to mouth size. Longer snakes have smaller mouths. Smaller mouths mean they eat smaller native prey rather than the larger and poisonous cane toad. Edge of Cane Toad Population Range Center of Cane Toad Population Range SW- E Time O
Transcribed Image Text:Cane toads were introduced to Australia from Central America as a natural form of pest control for beetles harming sugar cane. This was a very serious mistake. The cane toads did not consume the beetles. Instead, they spread and multiplied beyond expectation with catastrophic consequences for local wildlife. Specifically, cane toads are much larger than native wildlife and can reproduce very rapidly. They have deadly poison in glands on their skin. This poison almost instantly kills native snakes who consume them. Many species of snakes are being driven to extinction, as a result. Several interesting effects have been observed. First, cane toad legs have been gradually increasing in size since their introduction to Australia. This has been particularly observed on the edges of the toad population range, which are areas where they are newly invading. Longer legs appear to allow them to jump further and thus invade faster into new territory. Second, local snakes are longer than before the cane toad invasion. This is especially observed in the center of the toad population range where toad density is highest. While longer body length itself is not an advantage, it is correlated to mouth size. Longer snakes have smaller mouths. Smaller mouths mean they eat smaller native prey rather than the larger and poisonous cane toad. Edge of Cane Toad Population Range Center of Cane Toad Population Range SW- E Time O
Consider the graph shown. The left bar in this bar graph is a measure of: Please choose the best option. Measurement (after 10 years of pest control efforts against sugar cane beetles) Center Edge Location within the population range Cane toad leg length Snake body length Snake population size (number of individuals) Beetle population size (number of individuals)
Transcribed Image Text:Consider the graph shown. The left bar in this bar graph is a measure of: Please choose the best option. Measurement (after 10 years of pest control efforts against sugar cane beetles) Center Edge Location within the population range Cane toad leg length Snake body length Snake population size (number of individuals) Beetle population size (number of individuals)
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