Publications

helminth parasites in chaunus marinus and cranopis valliceps (anura: bufonidae) from lagunas yalahau, yucatan, mexico.	eight helminth taxa were found parasitizing chaunus marinus (n = 40) and cranopsis valliceps (n = 40) from the parque estatal lagunas yalahau, yucatan, mexico. seven taxa (2 digeneans: langeronia macrocirra, mesocoelium monas; 1 acanthocephalan: oncicola sp.; 3 nematodes: rhabdias füleborni, aplectana itzocanensis, cruzia morleyi; and a nematode larva) were found in c. marinus, while 4 taxa (all nematodes: rhabdias fuelleborni, aplectana itzocanensis, ozwaldocruzia sp., and a nematode larva) wer ...	2008	18605789
neurally-derived nitric oxide regulates vascular tone in pulmonary and cutaneous arteries of the toad, bufo marinus.	in this study, the role of nitric oxide (no) in regulation of the pulmocutaneous vasculature of the toad, bufo marinus was investigated. in vitro myography demonstrated the presence of a neural no signaling mechanism in both arteries. vasodilation induced by nicotine was inhibited by the soluble guanylyl cyclase (gc) inhibitor, 1h-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one, and the no synthase (nos) inhibitor, n(omega)-nitro-l-arginine (l-nna). removal of the endothelium had no significant effect ...	2008	18753269
origin of the parasites of an invading species, the australian cane toad (bufo marinus): are the lungworms australian or american?	phylogeographical analyses that identify the geographical origin of parasites in invading species can clarify the parasites' potential for biological control of the invader and the risks posed by the parasite to native species. our data on nuclear and mitochondrial genetic sequences show that the nematode lungworms (rhabdias spp.) in invasive australian populations of cane toads (bufo marinus) are rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala, a south american species. we did not find this lungworm species in a ...	2008	18803593
impact of the invasive cane toad (bufo marinus) on an australian frog (opisthodon ornatus) depends on minor variation in reproductive timing.	invasive species are widely viewed as unmitigated ecological catastrophes, but the reality is more complex. theoretically, invasive species could have negligible or even positive effects if they sufficiently reduce the intensity of processes regulating native populations. understanding such mechanisms is crucial to predicting ultimate ecological impacts. we used a mesocosm experiment to quantify the impact of eggs and larvae of the introduced cane toad (bufo marinus) on fitness-related traits (n ...	2009	18853191
[not available].		1948	18908105
renal pathologies in giant toads (bufo marinus) vary with land use.	a variety of human land uses involve the release of toxins into the environment. wildlife live alongside humans across this array of land uses and thus, are exposed to varying chemical milieus. kidneys are the principle excretory organs for vertebrates and excessive or chronic exposure to exogenous toxins can lead to renal pathology and renal failure. although studies have linked chemical exposure to specific renal diseases across diverse taxa, none compare renal lesions occurring in wildlife li ...	2008	18947857
cane toad toxicity: an assessment of extracts from early developmental stages and adult tissues using mdck cell culture.	extracts of the cane toad (bufo [chaunus] marinus) adversely affected the growth of mardin-darby canine kidney (mdck) cells during culture. in a similar manner to ouabain treatment, application of toad extracts over a 24 h period resulted in high levels of cytotoxicity, as indicated by cell detachment, increased membrane permeability and loss of mitochondrial function. cell viability and growth were unchanged for controls (pbs) and increased with the application of limnodynastes peronii tadpole ...	2009	18948131
agriculture alters gonadal form and function in the toad bufo marinus.	many agricultural contaminants disrupt endocrine systems of wildlife. however, evidence of endocrine disruption in wild amphibians living in agricultural areas has been controversial. typically, studies on the effects of pollutants on wildlife attempt to compare polluted with unpolluted sites.	2008	19057706
some actions of tacrine on slow muscles of the toad (bufo marinus) and the chick.		1965	19108195
factors influencing responses to alarm pheromone by larvae of invasive cane toads, bufo marinus.	if pheromonal communication systems of invasive species differ from those of native biota, it may be possible to control the invader by exploiting that difference. when injured, the larvae of cane toads, bufo marinus, an invasive species of major concern in tropical australia, produce species-specific chemical cues that alert conspecific tadpoles to danger. repeated exposure to the alarm chemical reduces tadpole survival rates and body sizes at metamorphosis and, thus, could help control toad po ...	2009	19184225
the physical movement of urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder and bladder compliance in two anurans.	urine movement from the ureters to the bladder was accomplished by a combination of gravity and pressures resulting from lung inflation, buccal pumping, and smooth-muscle contraction. urine movement from the cloaca to the urinary bladder was the result of pressure generated by cloacal smooth-muscle contraction and opposed by urinary bladder pressure, resulting from compliance, lung inflation, and buccal movements. the frequency of cloacal smooth-muscle contraction measured in chaunus marinus (4. ...	2009	19199556
microbial biotransformation as a source of chemical diversity in cane toad steroid toxins.	the cane toad is an invasive pest that is rapidly colonising northern australia. the cane toad parotoid gland secretes cardiotoxic steroids (bufadienolides) that are poisoning native predator species. this study reveals bufadienolide diversity within the secretions of australian cane toads is different to cane toads from overseas, being far more structurally diverse than previously assumed. it is proposed that this variation is mediated by in situ bacterial biotransformation.	2009	19216077
ontogenetic variation in the chemical defenses of cane toads (bufo marinus): toxin profiles and effects on predators.	we conducted a quantitative and qualitative chemical analysis of cane toad bufadienolides--the cardioactive steroids that are believed to be the principal cane toad toxins. we found complex shifts in toxin composition through toad ontogeny: (1) eggs contain at least 28 dominant bufadienolides, 17 of which are not detected in any other ontogenetic stage; (2) tadpoles present a simpler chemical profile with two to eight dominant bufadienolides; and (3) toxin diversity decreases during tadpole life ...	2009	19263169
fatal attraction: adaptations to prey on native frogs imperil snakes after invasion of toxic toads.	adaptations that enhance fitness in one situation can become liabilities if circumstances change. in tropical australia, native snake species are vulnerable to the invasion of toxic cane toads. death adders (acanthophis praelongus) are ambush foragers that (i) attract vertebrate prey by caudal luring and (ii) handle anuran prey by killing the frog then waiting until the frog's chemical defences degrade before ingesting it. these tactics render death adders vulnerable to toxic cane toads (bufo ma ...	2009	19419984
impact of invasive cane toads on australian birds.	the cane toad (bufo marinus), a large, toxic, american anuran, was introduced to australia in 1935. populations of many of australia's reptiles (snakes, varanid lizards, crocodiles) and carnivorous mammals (dasyurid marsupials) have declined because these predators are killed by the toad's powerful toxins. in contrast to these well-studied species, little is known about the cane toads impacts on australian birds. we reviewed published and unpublished data on behavioral interactions between austr ...	2009	19508674
rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala infection in bufo marinus: lung nematodes reduce viability of metamorph cane toads.	cane toads (bufo marinus) were introduced to australia in 1935 and have since spread widely over the continent, generating concern regarding ecological impacts on native predators. most australian cane toad populations are infected with lung nematodes rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala, a parasite endemic to new world (native-range) cane toad populations; presumably introduced to australia with its toad host. considering the high intensities and prevalence reached by this parasite in australian toad ...	2009	19523249
mechanical properties of the hindlimb bones of bullfrogs and cane toads in bending and torsion.	when compared with most vertebrates, frogs use a novel style of jumping locomotion powered by the hindlimbs. hindlimb bones of frogs must withstand the potentially erratic loads associated with such saltatory locomotion. to evaluate the load bearing capacity of anuran limb bones, we used three-point bending, torsion, and hardness tests to measure the mechanical properties of the femur and tibiofibula from adults of two species that use different jumping styles: explosively jumping bullfrogs (ran ...	2009	19548305
the evolution of growth rates on an expanding range edge.	individuals in the vanguard of a species invasion face altered selective conditions when compared with conspecifics behind the invasion front. assortment by dispersal ability on the expanding front, for example, drives the evolution of increased dispersal, which, in turn, leads to accelerated rates of invasion. here i propose an additional evolutionary mechanism to explain accelerating invasions: shifts in population growth rate (r). because individuals in the vanguard face lower population dens ...	2009	19605384
cloning and expression of candidate sexual development genes in the cane toad (bufo marinus).	the development of the reproductive system in bufonids (true toads) is unique in several respects: sexual differentiation occurs later than in other anurans, and toads develop a bidder's organ, a rudimentary ovary that can be manipulated in males to produce mature oocytes. to illuminate the genesis of this unusual reproductive system, we isolated from the cane toad (bufo marinus) the orthologues of several known vertebrate sex-determining genes, determined their primary structure, and studied th ...	2009	19653320
toxicity of formulated glyphosate (glyphos) and cosmo-flux to larval colombian frogs 1. laboratory acute toxicity.	the spraying of coca (erythroxylum coca) with glyphosate in colombia has raised concerns about possible impacts on amphibians. there are few toxicity data for species other than those from temperate regions, and these have not been generated with the combination of formulated glyphosate (glyphos) and the adjuvant, cosmo-flux (coca mix) as used in coca control in colombia. in order to characterize toxicity of the spray mixture to frogs from colombia, gosner stage-25 tadpoles of scinax ruber, dend ...	2009	19672764
anatomical organization of brainstem circuits mediating feeding motor programs in the marine toad, bufo marinus.	the goal of our research has been to investigate the neuronal integration that coordinates feeding movements in the marine toad (genus bufo). using injections of fluorescein dextran amines, combined with activity-dependent uptake of sulforhodamine 101, peripheral hypoglossal and trigeminal nerves involved with tongue and jaw movements were labeled. we identified the rostrocaudal distribution of hypoglossal and trigeminal motor nuclei, and their sensory projections. we also identified the extent ...	2009	19703424
locomotor performance in an invasive species: cane toads from the invasion front have greater endurance, but not speed, compared to conspecifics from a long-colonised area.	cane toads (bufo marinus) are now moving about 5 times faster through tropical australia than they did a half-century ago, during the early phases of toad invasion. radio-tracking has revealed higher daily rates of displacement by toads at the invasion front compared to those from long-colonised areas: toads from frontal populations follow straighter paths, move more often, and move further per displacement than do toads from older (long-established) populations. are these higher movement rates ...	2010	19841946
the role of potassium in active transport of sodium by the toad bladder.	studies were carried out on the isolated urinary bladder of the toad, bufo marinus, in order to explain the dependence of active sodium transport on the presence of potassium, in the serosal medium. attempts to obtain evidence for coupled sodium-potassium transport by the serosal pump were unsuccessful; no relation between sodium transport and uptake of k(42) from the serosal medium was demonstrable. rather, the predominant effect of serosal potassium appeared to be operative at the mucosal perm ...	1963	19873552
the role of vascular and interstitial compliance and vascular volume in the regulation of blood volume in two species of anuran.	the objectives of this study were (1) to measure plasma (v(p)), blood (v(b)), extracellular (v(e)), and interstitial fluid (v(ist)) volumes using the same techniques; (2) to measure the rate of plasma turnover; and (3) to characterize the three important variables required to interpret transvascular flux at an organismal level (vascular compliance [c(vas)], interstitial compliance [c(ist)], and the whole-body transvascular filtration coefficient [f(c)]) in two species of anurans that differ in t ...	2013	19929686
z and w sex chromosomes in the cane toad (bufo marinus).	the cane toad (bufo marinus) is one of the most notorious animal pests encountered in australia. members of the genus bufo historically have been regarded as having genotypic sex determination with male homogamety/female heterogamety. nevertheless, as with many toads, karyotypic analyses of the cane toad have so far failed to identify heteromorphics sex chromosomes. in this study, we used comparative genomic hybridization, reverse fluorescence staining, c-banding, and morphometric analyses of ch ...	2009	19936947
turgid female toads give males the slip: a new mechanism of female mate choice in the anura.	in many anuran species, males vocalize to attract females but will grasp any female that comes within reach and retain their hold unless displaced by a rival male. thus, female anurans may face strong selection to repel unwanted suitors, but no mechanism is known for doing so. we suggest that a defensive trait (the ability to inflate the body to ward off attack) has been co-opted for this role: by inflating their bodies, females are more difficult for males to grasp and hence, it is easier for a ...	2010	20053661
mechanisms of nitric oxide-mediated, neurogenic vasodilation in mesenteric resistance arteries of toad bufo marinus.	this study determined the role of nitric oxide (no) in neurogenic vasodilation in mesenteric resistance arteries of the toad bufo marinus. no synthase (nos) was anatomically demonstrated in perivascular nerves, but not in the endothelium. ach and nicotine caused ttx-sensitive neurogenic vasodilation of mesenteric arteries. the ach-induced vasodilation was endothelium-independent and was mediated by the no/soluble guanylyl cyclase signaling pathway, inasmuch as the vasodilation was blocked by the ...	2010	20071617
genotypic analysis of mucor from the platypus in australia.	mucor amphibiorum is the only pathogen known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the free-living platypus (ornithorhynchus anatinus) in tasmania. infection has also been reported in free-ranging cane toads (bufo marinus) and green tree frogs (litoria caerulea) from mainland australia but has not been confirmed in platypuses from the mainland. to date, there has been little genotyping specifically conducted on m. amphibiorum. a collection of 21 mucor isolates representing isolates fro ...	2010	20090018
pseudoacanthocephalus lutzi (hamann, 1891) comb. n. (acanthocephala: echinorhynchidae) for acanthocephalus lutzi (hamann, 1891), parasite of south american amphibians.	acanthocephalus lutzi (hamann, 1891) is proposed to be transferred to the genus pseudoacanthocephalus petrochenko, 1956 based on the type material from rhinella marina (l.) from brazil and recently collected material from r. arenarum (hensel) from argentina. pseudoacanthocephalus is characterised by the following features: a cylindrical trunk without spines, a cylindrical proboscis, testes in tandem, a compact cluster of cement glands, a nearly terminal male genital pore, a ventral and sub-termi ...	2009	20128242
do toads have a jump on how far they hop? pre-landing activity timing and intensity in forelimb muscles of hopping bufo marinus.	during jumping or falling in humans and various other mammals, limb muscles are activated before landing, and the intensity and timing of this pre-landing activity are scaled to the expected impact. in this study, we test whether similarly tuned anticipatory muscle activity is present in hopping cane toads. toads use their forelimbs for landing, and we analysed pre-landing electromyographic (emg) timing and intensity in relation to hop distance for the m. coracoradialis and m. anconeus, which ac ...	2010	20129952
gradual adaptation toward a range-expansion phenotype initiated the global radiation of toads.	recent studies have identified range expansion as a potential driver of speciation. yet it remains poorly understood how, under identical extrinsic settings, differential tendencies for geographic movement of taxa originate and subsequently affect diversification. we identified multiple traits that predict large distributional ranges in extant species of toads (bufonidae) and used statistical methods to define and phylogenetically reconstruct an optimal range-expansion phenotype. our results ind ...	2010	20133569
[occurrence of giardia species and genotypes in humans and animals in wielkopolska region, poland].	giardia is the most common intestinal protozoan parasite found in humans and animals worldwide. although it has been known for three hundred years, the nomenclature, taxonomy, host specificity, and pathogenicity of giardia still arouse numerous controversies and ambiguities. giardia is classified into six species, that are characterised by various ranges of hosts. the most dubious species is g. intestinalis, which includes a dozen or so genotypes, and only two of them (genotype a and b) have wid ...	2009	20209826
measuring energetics and behaviour using accelerometry in cane toads bufo marinus.	cane toads bufo marinus were introduced to australia as a control agent but now have a rapidly progressing invasion front and damage new habitats they enter. predictive models that can give expansion rates as functions of energy supply and feeding ground distribution could help to maximise control efficiency but to date no study has measured rates of field energy expenditure in an amphibian. in the present study we used the accelerometry technique to generate behavioural time budgets and, throug ...	2010	20422048
parasites and pathogens lag behind their host during periods of host range advance.	the process of rapid range expansion (as seen in many invasive species, and in taxa responding to climate change) may substantially disrupt host-parasite dynamics. parasites and pathogens can have strong regulatory effects on their host population and, in doing so, exert selection pressure on host life history. we construct a simple individual-based model of host-parasite dynamics during range expansion. this model shows that the parasites and pathogens of a range-expanding host are likely to be ...	2010	20426344
central angiotensin ii stimulates cutaneous water intake behavior via an angiotensin ii type-1 receptor pathway in the japanese tree frog hyla japonica.	angiotensin ii (ang ii) stimulates oral water intake by causing thirst in all terrestrial vertebrates except anurans. anuran amphibians do not drink orally but absorb water osmotically through ventral skin. in this study, we examined the role of ang ii on the regulation of water-absorption behavior in the japanese tree frog (hyla japonica). in fully hydrated frogs, intracerebroventricular (icv) and intralymphatic sac (ils) injection of ang ii significantly extended the residence time of water in ...	2010	20483358
museum material reveals a frog parasite emergence after the invasion of the cane toad in australia.	abstract:	2010	20537137
lueheia inscripta (westrumb, 1821) (acanthocephala: plagiorhynchidae) in anurans (leptodactylidae: bufonidae) from mexico.	juveniles of lueheia inscripta (westrumb, 1821 travassos, 1919 (acanthocephala: plagiorhynchidae), an acanthocephalan with six lemnisci, are reported and described from mesenteries of frogs leptodactylus fragilis brochi, 1877 and a toad bufo marinus (linnaeus, 1758) from morelos state, mexico. these are new host records extending the known geographical distribution of this species from brazil and puerto rico to mexico.	2010	20597444
comparison of toad venoms from different bufo species by hplc and lc-dad-ms/ms.	toad venom, called chansu in china, has been widely used for the treatment of heart failure, sores, pains, and various cancers for a long time in clinic.	2010	20637273
identification of muscle spindles in the submentalis muscle of the marine toad, bufo marinus and its potential proprioceptive capacity in jaw-tongue coordination.	the muscle spindle has been well studied in mammals, birds, and some reptiles, but little is known about its structure and function in amphibians. several physiological and behavioral studies in frogs and toads suggest that the submentalis muscle has an important role in jaw-tongue coordination during feeding through sensory feedback mechanisms. evidence suggests this mechanism is generated through muscle spindles, or spindle-like structures. however, the presence of these has not been investiga ...	2010	20652945
molecular characterization of the bidder's organ in the cane toad (bufo marinus).	in toads, both males and females develop a unique gonadal structure called the bidder's organ (bo), which resembles ovarian tissue and is attached to the anterior part of the gonad. it is not clear whether the bo is a vestigial organ, or has an endocrine function. in this study, we investigated the expression of the gonadal development genes dmrt1, sox9, sf1, dax1, and p450arom in the developing bo as compared with the gonads of male and female cane toads. we demonstrate that sf1, dax1, and p450 ...	2010	20700894
pheromone-induced life-history shifts a novel approach to controlling invasive toads.	in a recent paper,1 we showed that recurrent exposure to alarm pheromones reduced development time and size at metamorphosis in larval cane toads (bufo marinus). subsequent measurements of post-metamorphic toads revealed larger parotoid glands relative to body size and increased amounts of bufalin (a toxic bufodienalide) in animals from the experimental treatment, suggesting increased investment in chemical defenses. these findings are of interest for evolutionary theory. but the study was also ...	2010	20714402
lymph flux rates from various lymph sacs in the cane toad rhinella marina: an experimental evaluation of the roles of compliance, skeletal muscles and the lungs in the movement of lymph.	a new method for quantitatively determining lymph flux from various lymphatic sacs of an anuran, the cane toad, was developed. this method used the dye dilution principle of c(i)v(i)=c(f)v(f) following injection of evans blue into specific lymph sacs and measuring its appearance in the venous circulation. the apparent lymph volume was 57 ml kg(-1). the greatest rate of lymph return (0.5-0.8 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and best linear fit of evans blue appearance in the circulation with time followed inje ...	2010	20802118
the water-absorption region of ventral skin of several semiterrestrial and aquatic anuran amphibians identified by aquaporins.	regions of specialization for water absorption across the skin of bufonid and ranid anurans were identified by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, using antibodies raised against arginine vasotocin (avt)-stimulated aquaporins (aqps) that are specific to absorbing regions of hyla japonica. in bufo marinus, labeling for hyla urinary bladder-type aqp (aqp-h2), which is also localized in the urinary bladder, occurred in the ventral surface of the hindlimb, pelvic, and pectoral regions. a ...	2010	20811008
late miocene diversification and phylogenetic relationships of the huge toads in the rhinella marina (linnaeus, 1758) species group (anura: bufonidae).	we investigated the phylogeny and biogeography of the rhinella marina group, using molecular, morphological, and skin-secretion data, contributing to an understanding of neotropical faunal diversification. the maximum-parsimony and bayesian analyzes of the combined data recovered a monophyletic r. marina group. molecular dating based on bayesian inferences and fossil calibration placed the earliest phylogenetic split within the r. marina group at ∼ 10.47 mya, in the late miocene. two rapid major ...	2010	20813190
hopping isn't always about the legs: forelimb muscle activity patterns during toad locomotion.	although toads are not known for their jumping ability, they are excellent at landing, using their forelimbs to stabilize and decelerate the body as they transition between hops. forelimb muscles must play important roles during this landing behavior, but to date our understanding of forelimb muscle function during jumping in anurans, particularly after takeoff, is quite limited. here, we use simultaneous high-speed video and electromyography to characterize the timing and intensity of electrica ...	2011	20872875
the ecological impact of invasive cane toads (bufo marinus) in australia.	although invasive species are viewed as major threats to ecosystems worldwide, few such species have been studied in enough detail to identify the pathways, magnitudes, and timescales of their impact on native fauna. one of the most intensively studied invasive taxa in this respect is the cane toad (bufo marinus), which was introduced to australia in 1935. a review of these studies suggests that a single pathway-lethal toxic ingestion of toads by frog-eating predators-is the major mechanism of i ...	2010	20919631
evolutionarily accelerated invasions: the rate of dispersal evolves upwards during the range advance of cane toads.	human activities are changing habitats and climates and causing species' ranges to shift. range expansion brings into play a set of powerful evolutionary forces at the expanding range edge that act to increase dispersal rates. one likely consequence of these forces is accelerating rates of range advance because of evolved increases in dispersal on the range edge. in northern australia, cane toads have increased their rate of spread fivefold in the last 70 years. our breeding trials with toads fr ...	2010	20939838
posterior lymph heart function in two species of anurans: analysis based on both in vivo pressure-volume relationships by conductance manometry and ultrasound.	rhinella marina and lithobates catesbeianus have known differences in the capacity to mobilize lymph to stabilize blood volume following dehydration and hemorrhage. the purpose of these experiments was to assess whether there are interspecific differences in basic lymph heart functions. the end diastolic volumes of posterior lymph hearts averaged 10.8 μl kg⁻¹ in r. marina and 7.9-10.8 μl kg⁻¹ in l. catesbeianus by conductance manometry, and 9-32 μl kg⁻¹ in r. marina by ultrasound techniques, whi ...	2010	20952620
nematode larvae (order spirurida) in gastric tissues of australian anurans: a comparison between the introduced cane toad and sympatric native frogs.	the outcomes of host-parasite interactions depend heavily on the host's immune response, which, in turn, is governed by previous interactions between the host and parasite, both over the host's life time and over evolutionary time. in the case of species introductions, such as the cane toad (bufo marinus) to australia, parasites that are benign to native species of the introduced range may present a major challenge to the introduced species. stomachs of introduced cane toads and seven species of ...	2010	20966264
infection dynamics of the lungworm rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala in its natural host, the cane toad (bufo marinus), and in novel hosts (native australian frogs).	host-parasite systems have often evolved over time, such that infection dynamics may become greatly modified from the time of initial contact of the host with the parasite. biological invasions may be useful to clarify processes in the initial contact of hosts with parasites, and allow us to compare parasite uptake between the ancestral (coevolved) host and novel (noncoevolved) hosts. cane toads (bufo marinus) are spreading rapidly through tropical australia, carrying with them a nematode lungwo ...	2010	20966266
influence of lung parasites on the growth rates of free-ranging and captive adult cane toads.	many parasites affect the viability of their hosts, but detailed studies combining empirical data from both the field and the laboratory are limited. consequently, the nature and magnitude of such effects are poorly known for many important host-parasite systems, including macroparasites of amphibians. we examined the effects of lungworm (rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) infections in cane toads (bufo marinus) within their invasive australian range. the host-specificity of this parasite suggests t ...	2010	21076965
de novo sequencing of peptides from the parotid secretion of the cane toad, bufo marinus (rhinella marina).	amphibian skin secretions are well known as a rich source of bioactive peptides. however, little is known about the presence or role of peptides in the highly toxic, parotid secretion of the cane toad or giant toad, bufo marinus (rhinella marina), though small molecule bufadienolides, which act as potent cardiotoxins, have been described. in the current study we used rp-hplc, maldi-tof mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry to analyze and determine the first sequences of peptides from th ...	2011	21115026
behavioral responses to immune-system activation in an anuran (the cane toad, bufo marinus): field and laboratory studies.	the challenges posed by parasites and pathogens evoke behavioral as well as physiological responses. such behavioral responses are poorly understood for most ectothermic species, including anuran amphibians. we quantified effects of simulated infection (via injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide [lps]) on feeding, activity, and thermoregulation of cane toads bufo marinus within their invasive range in tropical australia. lps injection reduced feeding rates in laboratory trials. for toads in o ...	2011	21128787
removing the rubbish: frogs eliminate foreign objects from the body cavity through the bladder.	during the course of a telemetry study on three species of australian frogs (litoria caerulea, litoria dahlii and cyclorana australis), we found that many of the surgically implanted transmitters had migrated into the bladder. we subsequently implanted small beads into l. caerulea and they were expelled from the body in 10-23 days. beads implanted into cane toads (rhinella marina) to document the process were either expelled or were enveloped into the bladder. this appears to be a unique pathway ...	2011	21147830
modeling the consequences of thermal trait variation for the cane toad invasion of australia.	mechanistic species distribution models (sdms) are ideally suited for predicting the nonnative distributions of invasive species, but require accurate parameterization of key functional traits. importantly, any ability of the invader to acclimate or adapt rapidly to local conditions must be incorporated. our field and laboratory studies measured phenotypic variation and tested for plasticity in the thermal sensitivity of locomotor performance and low-temperature tolerance of adult cane toads buf ...	2010	21265457
assessment of virally vectored autoimmunity as a biocontrol strategy for cane toads.	the cane toad, bufo (chaunus) marinus, is one of the most notorious vertebrate pests introduced into australia over the last 200 years and, so far, efforts to identify a naturally occurring b. marinus-specific pathogen for use as a biological control agent have been unsuccessful. we explored an alternative approach that entailed genetically modifying a pathogen with broad host specificity so that it no longer caused disease, but carried a gene to disrupt the cane toad life cycle in a species spe ...	2011	21283623
excluding access to invasion hubs can contain the spread of an invasive vertebrate.	many biological invasions do not occur as a gradual expansion along a continuous front, but result from the expansion of satellite populations that become established at 'invasion hubs'. although theoretical studies indicate that targeting control efforts at invasion hubs can effectively contain the spread of invasions, few studies have demonstrated this in practice. in arid landscapes worldwide, humans have increased the availability of surface water by creating artificial water points (awps) s ...	2011	21345870
chronic hypoxia and chronic hypercapnia differentially regulate an nmda-sensitive component of the acute hypercapnic ventilatory response in the cane toad (rhinella marina).	this study addressed the hypotheses that exposure to chronic hypoxia (ch) and chronic hypercapnia (chc) would modify the acute hypercapnic ventilatory response in the cane toad (rhinella marina; formerly bufo marinus or chaunus marinus) and its regulation by nmda-mediated processes. cane toads were exposed to 10 days of ch (10% o(2)) or chc (3.5% co(2)) followed by acute in vivo hypercapnic breathing trials, conducted before and after an injection of the nmda-receptor channel blocker, mk801 into ...	2011	21359567
physiology of invasion: cane toads are constrained by thermal effects on physiological mechanisms that support locomotor performance.	understanding the mechanisms that constrain the invasiveness of introduced animals is essential for managing invasions and for predicting their limits. in most vertebrate species, the capacity for invasion relies upon the physiological systems that support locomotion, and oxygen transport and metabolism may become limiting as environmental temperatures increase as predicted by the oxygen limitation hypothesis. here we test the oxygen limitation hypothesis and propose the alternative hypothesis t ...	2011	21490252
the weak link: do muscle properties determine locomotor performance in frogs?	muscles power movement, yet the conceptual link between muscle performance and locomotor performance is poorly developed. frog jumping provides an ideal system to probe the relationship between muscle capacity and locomotor performance, because a jump is a single discrete event and mechanical power output is a critical determinant of jump distance. we tested the hypothesis that interspecific variation in jump performance could be explained by variability in available muscle power. we used force ...	2011	21502120
interspecific comparisons of lymph volume and lymphatic fluxes: do lymph reserves and lymph mobilization capacities vary in anurans from different environments?	abstract the femoral lymph sac volumes and lymph mobilization capacity were compared in three anuran species that span a range of environments, dehydration tolerance, ability to maintain blood volume with dehydration, and degrees of development of skeletal muscles putatively involved in moving lymph vertically to the posterior lymph hearts. the femoral lymph sac volume determined by evans blue injection and dilution in the femoral lymph sac varied interspecifically. the semiaquatic species, lith ...	2011	21527817
a suspected parasite spill-back of two novel myxidium spp. (myxosporea) causing disease in australian endemic frogs found in the invasive cane toad.	infectious diseases are contributing to the decline of endangered amphibians. we identified myxosporean parasites, myxidium spp. (myxosporea: myxozoa), in the brain and liver of declining native frogs, the green and golden bell frog (litoria aurea) and the southern bell frog (litoria raniformis). we unequivocally identified two myxidium spp. (both generalist) affecting australian native frogs and the invasive cane toad (bufo marinus, syn. rhinella marina) and demonstrated their association with ...	2011	21541340
combining genetic, historical and geographical data to reconstruct the dynamics of bioinvasions: application to the cane toad bufo marinus.	we developed a spatially explicit model of a bioinvasion and used an approximate bayesian computation (abc) framework to make various inferences from a combination of genetic (microsatellite genotypes), historical (first observation dates) and geographical (spatial coordinates of introduction and sampled sites) information. our method aims to discriminate between alternative introduction scenarios and to estimate posterior densities of demographically relevant parameters of the invasive process. ...	2010	21565099
the ecological impact of invasive cane toads on tropical snakes: field data do not support laboratory-based predictions.	predicting which species will be affected by an invasive taxon is critical to developing conservation priorities, but this is a difficult task. a previous study on the impact of invasive cane toads (bufo marinus) on australian snakes attempted to predict vulnerability a priori based on the assumptions that any snake species that eats frogs, and is vulnerable to toad toxins, may be at risk from the toad invasion. we used time-series analyses to evaluate the accuracy of that prediction, based on > ...	2011	21618921
the effects of experimentally infecting australian tree frogs with lungworms (rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) from invasive cane toads.	invasive species may transmit novel pathogens to native taxa, and lacking a history of coevolutionary interactions with the pathogen, the new hosts may be severely affected. cane toads (bufo marinus) were introduced to australia in 1935, bringing with them a lungworm (rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) not found in australian frogs. previous studies suggest that most frog species are unaffected by this parasite, but one tree-frog (litoria caerulea) can harbour high numbers of lungworm. more detailed ...	2011	21624371
rhabdias paraensis sp. nov.: a parasite of the lungs of rhinella marina (amphibia: bufonidae) from brazilian amazonia.	the nematode parasites of rhinella marina include species of the genus rhabdias (rhabdiasidae: rhabditoidea). the present study describes rhabdias paraensis sp. nov., which parasitizes the lungs of r. marina in brazilian amazonia. of the more than 70 known species of this genus, 18 are parasites of bufonids, of which, eight are neotropical. the new species described here is similar to rhabdias alabialis in the absence of lips is different by the presence of conspicuous cephalic papillae. we desc ...	2011	21739030
urinary corticosterone metabolite responses to capture and captivity in the cane toad (rhinella marina).	urinary corticosterone metabolite responses to capture have recently been shown for the first time in amphibians, and in the present study urinary corticosterone metabolite responses to capture and to confinement in captivity were measured in adult cane toads (rhinella marina) in queensland, australia. an adrenocorticotropic hormone (acth) challenge was used to provide a biological validation for urinary corticosterone metabolite concentrations measured by radioimmunoassay (ria). urinary cortico ...	2011	21756910
percutaneous malathion absorption by anuran skin in flow-through diffusion cells.	there is increased concern about the sublethal effects of organophosphorous (op) compounds on human and animal health, including the potential role of op compounds in the global decline of amphibian populations. malathion is one of the most widely used op pesticides with numerous agricultural and therapeutic applications, and exposure to environmentally applied malathion can lead to adverse systemic effects in anurans. cutaneous absorption is considered a potentially important route of environme ...	2006	21783718
embryonic exposure to conspecific chemicals suppresses cane toad growth and survival.	adaptations to suppress the viability of conspecifics may provide novel ways to control invasive taxa. the spread of cane toads (rhinella marina) through tropical australia has had severe ecological impacts, stimulating a search for biocontrol. our experiments show that cane toad tadpoles produce waterborne chemical cues that suppress the viability of conspecifics encountering those cues during embryonic development. brief (72 h) exposure to these cues in the egg and post-hatching phases massive ...	2012	21880623
pulmonary compliance and lung volume varies with ecomorphology in anuran amphibians: implications for ventilatory-assisted lymph flux.	vertical movement of lymph from ventral regions to the dorsally located lymph hearts in anurans is accomplished by specialized skeletal muscles working in concert with lung ventilation. we hypothesize that more terrestrial species with greater lymph mobilization capacities and higher lymph flux rates will have larger lung volumes and higher pulmonary compliance than more semi-aquatic or aquatic species. we measured in situ mean and maximal compliance (δvolume/δpressure), distensibility (%δvolume ...	2011	21900475
hybridization and massive mtdna unidirectional introgression between the closely related neotropical toads rhinella marina and r. schneideri inferred from mtdna and nuclear markers.	the classical perspective that interspecific hybridization in animals is rare has been changing due to a growing list of empirical examples showing the occurrence of gene flow between closely related species. using sequence data from cyt b mitochondrial gene and three intron nuclear genes (rpl9, c-myc, and rpl3) we investigated patterns of nucleotide polymorphism and divergence between two closely related toad species r. marina and r. schneideri. by comparing levels of differentiation at nuclear ...	2011	21939538
urinary corticosterone responses to capture and toe-clipping in the cane toad (rhinella marina) indicate that toe-clipping is a stressor for amphibians.	toe-clipping, the removal of one or more toes, is a common method used to individually mark free-living animals. whilst this method is widely used in studies of amphibians, the appropriateness of the method, and its potential detrimental effects have been the subject of debate. here, we provide for the first time, evidence that toe-clipping is a stressor in a wild amphibian. we measured urinary corticosterone responses of male cane toads (rhinella marina) to capture and handling only, and to toe ...	2011	21945118
using combined morphological, allometric and molecular approaches to identify species of the genus raillietiella (pentastomida).	taxonomic studies of parasites can be severely compromised if the host species affects parasite morphology; an uncritical analysis might recognize multiple taxa simply because of phenotypically plastic responses of parasite morphology to host physiology. pentastomids of the genus raillietiella are endoparasitic crustaceans primarily infecting the respiratory system of carnivorous reptiles, but also recorded from bufonid anurans. the delineation of pentastomids at the generic level is clear, but ...	2011	21949796
lanfrediella amphicirrus gen. nov. sp. nov. nematotaeniidae (cestoda: cyclophyllidea), a tapeworm parasite of rhinella marina (linnaeus, 1758) (amphibia: bufonidae).	the family nematotaeniidae, tapeworms commonly found in the small intestines of amphibians and reptiles, includes 27 recognised species distributed among four genera: bitegmen jones, cylindrotaenia jewell, distoichometra dickey and nematotaenia lühe. the taxonomy of these cestodes is poorly defined, due in part to the difficulties of observing many anatomical traits. this study presents and describes a new genus and species of nematotaeniid parasite found in cane toads (rhinella marina) from eas ...	2011	22012220
desiccation risk drives the spatial ecology of an invasive anuran (rhinella marina) in the australian semi-desert.	some invasive species flourish in places that impose challenges very different from those faced in their native geographic ranges. cane toads (rhinella marina) are native to tropical and subtropical habitats of south and central america, but have colonised extremely arid regions over the course of their australian invasion. we radio-tracked 44 adult cane toads at a semi-arid invasion front to investigate how this invasive anuran has managed to expand its geographic range into arid areas that lie ...	2011	22043300
individual variation and repeatability in urinary corticosterone metabolite responses to capture in the cane toad (rhinella marina).	urinary corticosterone metabolite enzyme-immunoassay (eia) can be used for the non-invasive assessment of baseline levels and corticosterone responses in amphibians. in this study, urinary corticosterone responses of wild male cane toads (rhinella marina) to confinement and repeated handling were measured to quantify individual variation in corticosterone responses for the first time in an amphibian species. urine samples were collected at 0 h in the wild, hourly from 2 to 8 h after transfer int ...	2012	22137908
Prevalence and multilocus genotyping of Giardia from animals at the zoo of Poznan, Poland.	In this study total of 266 fecal samples from 242 animals belonging to 113 species kept in the Poznan Zoological Garden were examined for Giardia. The cysts of Giardia were found only in five samples of feces collected from a giant toad (Bufo marinus), tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) and three individuals of cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus). Fragments of beta-giardin (bg), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes were successfully amplified only from the Giardi ...	2011	22165739
new species of myxosporea from frogs and resurrection of the genus cystodiscus lutz, 1889 for species with myxospores in gallbladders of amphibians.	two new myxosporean species in the gallbladders of frogs have recently spread across eastern australia and cause disease. cystodiscus axonis sp. n. and cystodiscus australis sp. n. are species of myxosporea (myxozoa) identified from a range of australian frogs and tadpoles including the introduced cane toad (rhinella marina). the new species are defined by their distinct genetic lineage, myxospore morphology and ultrastructure of the pre-sporogonic development. spores of both species are produce ...	2012	22260881
ontogenetic shifts in a prey's chemical defences influence feeding responses of a snake predator.	foraging theory suggests that predator responses to potential prey should be influenced by prey chemical defences, but the effects of ontogenetic variation in such defences on prey vulnerability to predators remain unclear. cane toads (rhinella marina) are toxic to anurophagous snakes, including the keelback (tropidonophis mairii, a natricine colubrid that occurs within the toads' invasive range in australia). toxin levels and diversity change through toad ontogeny, decreasing from the egg stage ...	2012	22302513
rapid evolution of parasite life history traits on an expanding range-edge.	parasites of invading species undergoing range advance may be exposed to powerful new selective forces. low host density in range-edge populations hampers parasite transmission, requiring the parasite to survive longer periods in the external environment before encountering a potential host. these conditions should favour evolutionary shifts in offspring size to maximise parasite transmission. we conducted a common-garden experiment to compare life history traits among seven populations of the n ...	2012	22313589
interacting impacts of invasive plants and invasive toads on native lizards.	the ecological impacts of an invasive species may be reduced by prior invasions if selective pressures imposed by earlier events preadapt the native biota to deal with the newer arrival. in northwestern australia, invasion of the cane toad (rhinella marina) kills many native predators if they ingest the highly toxic toads. remarkably, the toads' defensive toxins (bufadienolides) are chemically similar to those of another invasive species: an ornamental plant from madagascar, bryophyllum spp. (cr ...	2012	22322228
urinary corticosterone metabolite responses to capture and handling in two closely related species of free-living fijian frogs.	studies of baseline (unstressed) and short-term corticosterone stress responses in free-living amphibians can provide crucial information on the physiological responses of different populations to environmental change. in this study, we compared baseline and urinary corticosterone metabolite responses of free-living adult males and females of two closely related fijian frogs of the platymantis genus (family: ceratobatrachidae). fijian ground frogs (platymantis vitiana) live on the ground while f ...	2012	22387322
blood lead levels, δ-alad inhibition, and hemoglobin content in blood of giant toad (rhinella marina) to assess lead exposure in three areas surrounding an industrial complex in coatzacoalcos, veracruz, mexico.	the coatzacoalcos region in veracruz, mexico houses one of the most important industrial complexes in mexico and latin america. lead is an ubiquitous environmental pollutant which represents a great risk to human health and ecosystems. amphibian populations have been recognized as biomonitors of changes in environmental conditions. the purpose of this research is to measure exposure to lead and evaluate hematological and biochemical effects in specimens of giant toads (rhinella marina) taken fro ...	2013	22580791
exploiting intraspecific competitive mechanisms to control invasive cane toads (rhinella marina).	if invasive species use chemical weapons to suppress the viability of conspecifics, we may be able to exploit those species-specific chemical cues for selective control of the invader. cane toads (rhinella marina) are spreading through tropical australia, with negative effects on native species. the tadpoles of cane toads eliminate intraspecific competitors by locating and consuming newly laid eggs. our laboratory trials show that tadpoles find those eggs by searching for the powerful bufadienol ...	2012	22696528
corticosterone-immune interactions during captive stress in invading australian cane toads (rhinella marina).	vertebrates cope with physiological challenges using two major mechanisms: the immune system and the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis (e.g., the glucocorticoid stress response). because the two systems are tightly integrated, we need simultaneous studies of both systems, in a range of species, to understand how vertebrates respond to novel challenges. to clarify how glucocorticoids modulate the amphibian immune system, we measured three immune parameters and plasma corticosterone (cort), befo ...	2012	22713726
effects of temperature on urinary corticosterone metabolite responses to short-term capture and handling stress in the cane toad (rhinella marina).	extreme temperature can cause metabolic, immune and behavioural changes in amphibians. short-term stress hormonal response via increased secretion of corticosterone enables amphibians to make necessary physiological and behavioural adjustments for coping with stressors. the effect of temperature on short-term corticosterone responses has not been studied in amphibians. in this study, this relationship was evaluated in adult male cane toads (rhinella marina). we acclimated male toads (n=24 toads ...	2012	22728158
the effect of three anaesthetic protocols on the stress response in cane toads (rhinella marina).	three anaesthetics (ms222, clove oil and a mixture of ketamine/diazepam) were administered to cane toads to determine their effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (hpa) axis. time to induction and recovery and any adverse events were also evaluated.	2012	22765650
aerobic scope and cardiovascular oxygen transport is not compromised at high temperatures in the toad rhinella marina.	numerous recent studies convincingly correlate the upper thermal tolerance limit of aquatic ectothermic animals to reduced aerobic scope, and ascribe the decline in aerobic scope to failure of the cardiovascular system at high temperatures. in the present study we investigate whether this 'aerobic scope model' applies to an air-breathing and semi-terrestrial vertebrate rhinella marina (formerly bufo marinus). to quantify aerobic scope, we measured resting and maximal rate of oxygen consumption a ...	2012	22771750
size and sex matter: infection dynamics of an invading parasite (the pentastome raillietiella frenatus) in an invading host (the cane toad rhinella marina).	correlations between host phenotype and vulnerability to parasites can clarify the processes that enhance rates of parasitism, and the effects of parasites on their hosts. we studied an invasive parasite (the pentastome raillietiella frenatus, subclass pentastomida, order cephalobaenida) infecting a new host (the invasive cane toad rhinella marina), in tropical australia. we dissected toads over a 27-month period to investigate seasonal changes in pentastome population dynamics and establish whi ...	2012	22814124
optimisation of an oviposition protocol employing human chorionic and pregnant mare serum gonadotropins in the barred frog mixophyes fasciolatus (myobatrachidae).	protocols for the hormonal induction of ovulation and oviposition are essential tools for managing threatened amphibians with assisted reproduction, but responses vary greatly between species and even broad taxon groups. consequently, it is necessary to assess effectiveness of such protocols in representative species when new taxa become targets for induction. the threatened genus mixophyes (family myobatrachidae) has amongst the highest proportion of endangered species of all the australian amp ...	2012	22909256
morphological and molecular characterization of ortleppascaris sp. larvae, parasites of the cane toad rhinella marina from eastern amazonia.	this study presents a new record for the occurrence of larval ortleppascaris sp.(sprent, 1978). the nematodes were collected from inside fibrous cysts found in the livers of cane toads, rhinella marina (linnaeus, 1758), captured in eastern brazilian amazonia. this is the first record of ortleppascaris sp. larvae in both brazil and this amphibian host, increasing its distribution in south america as well as expanding the number of helminths known to infect this toad. the detailed description of o ...	2013	22924910
liver histopathology in the cane toad, rhinella marina (amphibia: bufonidae), induced by ortleppascaris sp. larvae (nematoda: ascarididae).	exposure to parasites is considered to be an important factor in the development of many diseases and histopathologies which are the result of the parasite-host interaction. the present study evaluated the impact of natural infection by larvae of ortleppascaris sp. (nematoda: ascaridida) in the liver of the cane toad rhinella marina (linnaeus, 1758). larvae were encysted in nodules delimited by collagenous fibers and fibroblasts or freely within the hepatic parenchyma, provoking a clear response ...	2013	22989059
prevalence of salmonella spp. in cane toads (bufo marinus) from grenada, west indies, and their antimicrobial susceptibility.	cloacal swabs and caecal contents sampled from 58 cane toads (bufo marinus) in st george's parish, grenada, during a 7-month period in 2011 were examined by an enrichment and selective culture method for presence of salmonella spp. twenty-four (41%) toads were positive for salmonella spp. of which eight were salmonella enterica serovar javiana, and eight were s. enterica serovar rubislaw. the other serovars were as follows: montevideo, 6; arechavaleta, 1; and serovar: iv:43:-:-, 1. the high freq ...	2013	23035820
inverse urinary corticosterone and testosterone metabolite responses to different durations of restraint in the cane toad (rhinella marina).	non-invasive measurement of urinary corticosterone and testosterone metabolites in amphibians provides opportunities for endocrine studies of responses to physiological and psychological stressors. typically, corticosterone metabolite concentrations increase in frog urine within 1-2h of a mild capture and handling stress protocol. however, no study has investigated the effect of duration of manual restraint on the changes in corticosterone and reproductive hormones in amphibians. we quantified u ...	2012	23036735
are baseline and short-term corticosterone stress responses in free-living amphibians repeatable?	amphibians respond to environmental stressors by secreting corticosterone, a stress hormone which promotes physiological and behavioral responses. capture handling can be used to stimulate physiological stress response in amphibians. the use of single blood sampling and presentation of mean data often limits the quantification of within and between individual variation in baseline and short-term corticosterone stress responses in amphibians. it is important for studies of amphibian physiological ...	2013	23047053
comparative pathology and ecological implications of two myxosporean parasites in native australian frogs and the invasive cane toad.	myxosporean parasites cystodiscus axonis and c. australis are pathogens of native and exotic australian frog species. the pathology and ecological outcomes of infection with these parasites were investigated in this study. gliosis was correlated to cystodiscus axonis plasmodia in the brains of (9/60) tadpoles and (3/9) adult endangered green and golden bell frogs using ordinal regression. severe host reactions to c. axonis (haemorrhage, necrosis, and vasulitis) were observed in the brains of thr ...	2012	23056175
host-parasite relationships during a biologic invasion: 75 years postinvasion, cane toads and sympatric australian frogs retain separate lungworm faunas.	invasive species may carry with them parasites from their native range, differing from parasite taxa found in the invaded range. host switching by parasites (either from the invader to native fauna or from native fauna to the invader) may have important consequences for the viability of either type of host (e.g., their survivorship, fecundity, dispersal ability, or geographic distribution). rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala (nematoda) is a common parasite of cane toads (rhinella marina) in the toad' ...	2012	23060496
a new species of nematode (molineidae) from rhinella marina (amphibia: bufonidae) in guerrero, méxico.	oswaldocruzia lamotheargumedoi n. sp., inhabiting the intestine of the cane toad, rhinella marina (l.), in laguna de coyuca, guerrero, méxico, is described here. the new species differs from 10 congeners infecting bufonid hosts because it has a type i bursa. in contrast, 7 of these species have type ii bursa and 3 more a type iii bursa. the species most similar to the species described herein is oswaldocruzia pipiens walton, 1929 . these 2 species share traits such as body size, bursa type, pres ...	2013	23098079
new species of parapharyngodon (nematoda: pharyngodonidae) in rhinella marina (anura: bufonidae) from grenada, west indies.	parapharyngodon grenadaensis n. sp. (nematoda: pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of the cane toad, rhinella marina, is described and illustrated. parapharyngodon grenadaensis n. sp. is the 48th species assigned to the genus and the 16th species from the neotropical region. it differs from other species in the genus by possessing 4 pairs of caudal papillae, an echinate anterior cloacal lip, and a blunt spicule of 67-104 μm. this is only the second report of r. marina harboring a species o ...	2013	23106786
cane toads on cowpats: commercial livestock production facilitates toad invasion in tropical australia.	habitat disturbance and the spread of invasive organisms are major threats to biodiversity, but the interactions between these two factors remain poorly understood in many systems. grazing activities may facilitate the spread of invasive cane toads (rhinella marina) through tropical australia by providing year-round access to otherwise-seasonal resources. we quantified the cane toad's use of cowpats (feces piles) in the field, and conducted experimental trials to assess the potential role of cow ...	2012	23145158