Biological Invasions (2022) 24, 1189-1198

Fulvio Licata, Rodino Fetraharijaona Harison, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Karen Freeman, Benjamin J. Muller, Virginia Rodriguez Ponga, Franco Andreone and Angelica Crottini (2022)
Toad invasion of Malagasy forests triggers severe mortality of a predatory snake
Biological Invasions 24 (4), 1189-1198
Abstract: The Asian common toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus has been introduced to the eastern province of Toamasina in Madagascar, where it is feared to be having devastating effects on native communities by poisoning frog-eating predators. So far it is unclear whether the toad can invade forest habitats, and empirical evidence of its impact on native predators is lacking. We used radio tracking to investigate the spatial behaviour of adult toads in a small parcel of lowland humid forest and we quantify the disruptive effects of toad poisoning on a native frog-eating snake, the Malagasy cat-eyed snake (Madagascarophis colubrinus). We used N-mixture models to estimate the population size of cat-eyed snakes, and used the mortality events recorded in the same area to obtain an estimate of monthly mortality rate of snakes due to toad poisoning. Our results point to a drastic mortality rate of snakes that, if constant through the year, could halve the predator population, with the potential risk of local extirpation. We expect cat-eyed snake populations across rural and suburban areas of Toamasina to be severely affected by the toad invasion, and suggest that future research should investigate the effects of indirect facilitation of human-commensal rodents and the potential repercussions on human health and well-being.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Duttaphrynus melanostictus		Madagascar