Cane toads

The video discusses the introduction of cane toads to Australia in 1935 as a biological control method for beetles damaging sugar cane crops. Initially brought from Hawaii, the toads failed to control the beetle population and instead caused significant ecological damage. They spread rapidly, consuming native insects and poisoning predators, leading to a decline in local wildlife. Today, the cane toad population in Australia is estimated at 1.5 billion, and efforts to manage the invasion continue with little success.

Why were cane toads initially introduced to Australia?

• To serve as a tourist attraction

• To increase biodiversity

• To manage beetle infestations in sugar cane crops

• To control the population of native amphibians

What was a major reason for the failure of cane toads to control beetle populations in Australia?

• The toads were not poisonous enough

• The climate was too cold for the toads

• The toads were eaten by native predators

• The sugar cane in Australia was too tall for the toads to reach the beetles

What effect did the cane toads have on Australia's native amphibians?

• They provided a new food source

• They had no impact

• They competed for food, leading to a decline in native amphibians

• They helped increase their population

What is a significant ecological consequence of the cane toad invasion?

• Stabilization of the ecosystem

• Increased biodiversity

• Decline in native predator populations due to poisoning

• Improved sugar cane crop yields

What is the current status of the cane toad population in Australia?

• The population is decreasing

• The population is stable

• The population is still growing with little sign of slowing down

• The population has been eradicated