Keeping on the topic of invasive species, go back to the National Geographic article "Alien Invaders” from last week or linked below. Pick one of the species listed and write a 500 - 750 word description (click "add new discussion”) of your species. The description needs to include:
You will need to do outside research to fully answer these questions. Read your classmates' descriptions and respond to at least one. In your response, compare their species to the one you picked. If you picked the same, simply discuss similarities in your findings.
The Caribbean Tree Frog, also known to Hawiian natives as "quarter-size frog with the million-dollar voice,” was one of the many alien species that McGrath highlights in her National Geographic article. This species is native to Puerto Rico; however, it has invaded Florida, Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, New Zealand and a few other Caribbean islands since the 1970s. The state of Hawaii has even declared national emergency due to this animal and the threats it imposes. The frog, small insize, but loud in voice, has grown large populations throughout the areas it has invaded.
This species is successful in being invasive for many reasons. First, it is highly adaptable to different elevation and types of ecosystems, giving it the ability to survive in areas past its native range. Though it does thrive and reproduce best in higher elevations with more rain, it is able to live in most types of elevations. Even when reproducing, the species does not require the typical needed habitat; this species is a direct developer, so it doesn’t need bodies of water for its different life stages. Additionally, the species has a “voracious” appetite, giving it the ability to consume multitudes of other organisms, such as insects and spiders. Also, there are very few direct predators of this species in the areas in which it has invaded, giving it the ability to constantly expand.
In Hawaii specifically, there is great cause for alarm over this species. In one night alone, a group of Caribbean Tree Frogs can consume 350,000 in one square hectare per night. This rapid consumption can lead to the decline of the species in which they are eating, typically plant material decomposing invertebrates, or ants, amphipods and isopods. This decrease also causes problems with bird population in the area. The birds are now being forced to compete with this species for food in a much more competitive environment than what they were previously used to. However, not everything that this species is doing is bad. The consumption of invertebrates by this species has led to an increase in the nutrient cycling rate, helping plants within the habitat to grow.
There is much being done to try to eradicate this species from these habitats. Since 2005, Hawaii alone spends $2.8 million every year to try to track down and control this species. Since this species was originally introduced to these habitats on accident through horticultural trade, there have been strict guidelines put into place for plant trade. It is now mandatory for infested materials to be treated for these “pests” when coming into these areas. Physically catching the frogs has also become a helpful way to capture the species. By catching them, typically after modifying their habitats, people are able to capture the species. Additionally, the use of chemicals like citric acid, caffeine, and hydrated lime have been used to control the animals. Eradication is best completed when all of these methods are used together, as can be seen in the successful eradication of the species from the Hawiian island Oahu.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/12pubs/pitt123.pdf
I also did these tree frogs. One similarity I found in our findings on these frogs is the fact that they eat species the native species eat which in turn gives them the power to remain healthy and expand their population. Another similarity I found in our findings was the frogs being very loud. One article I read stated that the male frogs call to mates at around 90 decibals. Something I found out that was interesting is the fact that male coqui frogs stay with their frogs for a few days after birth to protect them from predators and to make sure they stay alive.