Data from: Methods for invasive species control are transferable across invaded areas

Cane Toads (Rhinella marina) are invasive pests in many parts of the world, including the Japanese island of Ishigaki. Extensive research in Australia has identified promising new methods for control, but also has shown that toads exhibit geographic variation in many traits (suggesting that methods developed in one location may not work in another). Can the approaches developed in Australia play a useful role for controlling this invasive species in Japan? Our experimental trials on Ishigaki Island suggest that these new methods can be successfully applied to Japan. First, Cane Toad embryos exposed to chemical cues of conspecific tadpoles exhibited a reduction in viability (subsequent growth and development). This response appears to be species-specific, with native frog embryos not being affected by exposure to cues from toad tadpoles, and Cane Toad embryos not being affected by exposure to cues from native frog tadpoles. Second, Cane Toad tadpoles were attracted to traps containing water from conspecific eggs, and toxin from adult conspecifics. Third, adult Cane Toads were attracted to acoustic cues of calling males, with sex differences in rates of attraction to specific versions of a synthetic call (males were attracted to choruses whereas females were attracted to low-frequency calls). Our results suggest that the methods developed by Australian researchers are applicable to controlling invasive Cane Toads in Japan.

海蟾蜍（Cane Toad，学名*Rhinella marina*）是全球诸多区域的入侵有害物种，日本石垣岛便是其入侵地之一。澳大利亚开展的大量研究不仅开发出颇具应用前景的新型防控手段，同时也揭示出海蟾蜍在诸多性状上存在地理变异——这意味着在单一区域研发的防控方法，未必能适配其他区域的管控需求。那么，澳大利亚开发的防控策略能否在日本有效管控这一入侵物种？我们在石垣岛开展的试验结果表明，这类新型防控方法可成功应用于日本的海蟾蜍防控工作。其一，暴露于同种蝌蚪化学信号的海蟾蜍胚胎，其存活率（后续生长发育状况）显著下降。该反应呈现物种特异性：本土蛙类胚胎不会受到海蟾蜍蝌蚪信号的影响，海蟾蜍胚胎也不会受本土蛙类蝌蚪信号的干扰。其二，海蟾蜍蝌蚪会被含有同种卵粒的水体以及成年海蟾蜍毒素的诱捕装置所吸引。其三，成年海蟾蜍会被雄性鸣唱的声学信号吸引，且对不同版本合成鸣唱的吸引速率存在性别差异：雄性偏好合唱式鸣唱，雌性则偏好低频鸣唱。本研究结果证实，澳大利亚研究者开发的防控手段可有效应用于日本入侵海蟾蜍的管控工作。