> I read a reference some time ago (maybe in Gordon Cheers' book, maybe - I
> can't remember) that one (or some) Australian Utrics are partial to cane
> toad (Bufo marinus) tadpoles and that there is some thought that they might
> be of use in cane toad control.
> Does anyone know anything about this? Like which Utrics? Does anyone in
> the group know if anyone in Australia is pursuing this seriously?
>
> Victor Gentle
Cane toads occur in the northern parts of the continent in such high
densities that consumption of a few tadpoles by Utricularia spp. would
be very unlikely to impact significantly on the population. I would
think that after a few days of life the tadpoles are too large too be
trapped in the small traps of Utrics. Therefore I thnk it is extremely
unlikely that anyone is pursuing Utricularias as a potential
biological control.
Some native vertebrates have been shown to do a good job in
controlling toads. Water rats have been found to be voracious
predators on toads and ravens have been observed carrying toads high
above the ground, dropping them and eating the internal organs. Thus
they avoid the poisonous skin. A solution to the toad problem however
seems a long way off.
Martin Henery
School of Biological Sciences
Macquarie University, North Ryde.
Australia