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"Toads blamed for croc plague
By Tara Ravens
September 20, 2006 12:28pm
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THE march of the cane toad has claimed its latest victim - and researchers
now warn it may lead to an infestation of crocodiles in Top End rivers.
About eight times the normal number of crocodile eggs are incubating at the
McKinlay River, south-east of Darwin, because cane toads have wiped out
their main threat.
With the crocodile egg-loving goanna all but extinct in the region,
researchers from Wildlife Management International say there will be an
explosion in the number of crocs born this wet season.
"The goannas eat the cane toads and die from the toxins almost immediately.
It's really rare to see a goanna in this area now," chief scientist Charlie
Manolis said.
Goannas normally eat between 85 and 95 per cent of the area's crocodile
eggs, he said. This year the figure dropped to less than 20 per cent.
"It's a small part of a bigger story," he said.
"With the reduction in the predation of the eggs there will be a lot more
hatchlings."
Asked if he thought the same pattern was being repeated in rivers across the
Territory, Prof Manolis replied: "100 per cent sure."
The researchers, who have been studying freshwater crocodiles in the area
since 1987, monitored the impact of cane toads on local crocs since the
pests invaded the Top End two years ago.
Prof Manolis said the scientists would get an accurate reading of the impact
of cane toads on crocodile populations after next year's nesting season in
October.
"We won't really know until then exactly what kind of an impact the toads
are having on the number of crocodiles," he said.
"They have upset a system."
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20444941-17001,00.html"
Die hier geschilderte Situation steht in völligem Gegensatz zu Informationen, die ich vor 2 Jahren von Adam Britton erhielt und die auch im Buch "Krokodile" publiziert sind.Demnach ist die Zahl der Süsswasser-Krokodile an manchen Stellen um 40 % geschrumpft, eben wegen jener Aga-Kröten.
BTW, eine hochinteressante Information...
By Tara Ravens
September 20, 2006 12:28pm
Article from:
Send this article: Print Email
THE march of the cane toad has claimed its latest victim - and researchers
now warn it may lead to an infestation of crocodiles in Top End rivers.
About eight times the normal number of crocodile eggs are incubating at the
McKinlay River, south-east of Darwin, because cane toads have wiped out
their main threat.
With the crocodile egg-loving goanna all but extinct in the region,
researchers from Wildlife Management International say there will be an
explosion in the number of crocs born this wet season.
"The goannas eat the cane toads and die from the toxins almost immediately.
It's really rare to see a goanna in this area now," chief scientist Charlie
Manolis said.
Goannas normally eat between 85 and 95 per cent of the area's crocodile
eggs, he said. This year the figure dropped to less than 20 per cent.
"It's a small part of a bigger story," he said.
"With the reduction in the predation of the eggs there will be a lot more
hatchlings."
Asked if he thought the same pattern was being repeated in rivers across the
Territory, Prof Manolis replied: "100 per cent sure."
The researchers, who have been studying freshwater crocodiles in the area
since 1987, monitored the impact of cane toads on local crocs since the
pests invaded the Top End two years ago.
Prof Manolis said the scientists would get an accurate reading of the impact
of cane toads on crocodile populations after next year's nesting season in
October.
"We won't really know until then exactly what kind of an impact the toads
are having on the number of crocodiles," he said.
"They have upset a system."
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20444941-17001,00.html"
Die hier geschilderte Situation steht in völligem Gegensatz zu Informationen, die ich vor 2 Jahren von Adam Britton erhielt und die auch im Buch "Krokodile" publiziert sind.Demnach ist die Zahl der Süsswasser-Krokodile an manchen Stellen um 40 % geschrumpft, eben wegen jener Aga-Kröten.
BTW, eine hochinteressante Information...
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