Abstract
Parasites that are carried by invasive species can infect native taxa, with devastating consequences. In Australia, invading cane toads (Rhinella marina) carry lungworm parasites (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) that (based on previous laboratory studies) can infect native treefrogs (Litoria caerulea and L. splendida). To assess the potential of parasite transmission from the invader to the native species (and from one infected native frog to another), we used surveys and radiotelemetry to quantify anuran microhabitat use, and proximity to other anurans, in two sites in tropical Australia. Unsurprisingly, treefrogs spent much of their time off the ground (especially by day, and in undisturbed forests) but terrestrial activity was common at night (especially in anthropogenically modified habitats). Microhabitat overlap between cane toads and frogs was generally low, except at night in disturbed areas, whereas overlap between the two frog species was high. The situations of highest overlap, and hence with the greatest danger of parasite transmission, involve aggregations of frogs within crevices by day, and use of open ground by all three anuran species at night. Overall, microhabitat divergence between toads and frogs should reduce, but not eliminate, the transmission of lungworms from invasive toads to vulnerable native frogs.
Highlights
Invasive species can affect native biota by several pathways, such as predation [1], changing habitat structure [2], or the provision of a novel food source [3]
Litoria caerulea is broadly distributed in the north and east of Australia whereas L. splendida is restricted to the Kimberley region and adjacent Keep River National Park in the Northern Territory [20]
Microhabitat Use and Overlap At both of our study sites, cane toads were generally found sheltering under vegetation by day (Figure 2, Table S1 in File S1), and on open ground or on grass and leaf litter by night (Figure 3, Tables S1 and S2 in File S1)
Summary
Invasive species can affect native biota by several pathways, such as predation [1], changing habitat structure [2], or the provision of a novel food source [3]. An important but poorlyunderstood mechanism involves the transmission of parasites and diseases from an invader to native taxa [4]. Whether or not a native species is infected and impacted by an invader’s parasite depends upon a suite of physiological, behavioral, and ecological parameters that influence host-parasite compatibility [9,10]. The immune system of the novel host may destroy any propagules from the newlyencountered parasite. The native taxa may resist parasite uptake (e.g., pigeon lice are successfully removed by preening, and do not colonize novel hosts that are smaller than original hosts [11]). Differences in microhabitat use by invaders versus native species may restrict parasite transmission, especially if the infective stages of the parasite are short-lived, or require specific abiotic conditions
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