Invasive Species Dynamics in Amphibian Ecology

Invasive amphibians constitute one of the most visible and ecologically consequential groups of non-native vertebrates. Their establishment in novel regions often disrupts indigenous communities through predation, competition for resources and transmission of pathogens. The dynamics of such invasions are shaped by a combination of behavioural, physiological and evolutionary processes. Rapid phenotypic shifts in dispersal ability and risk-taking behaviour can accelerate spread, while physiological tolerance to dehydration and temperature extremes enables colonisation of climatically challenging habitats. Interactions with native predators and parasites further complicate invasion outcomes, as invaders may either succumb to novel enemies or drive co-evolutionary responses. Management strategies have consequently evolved from simple eradication attempts towards more nuanced interventions, such as behavioural training of predators or exploitation of intraspecific vulnerabilities. The global scale of amphibian invasions, particularly of species like the cane toad and Asian common toad, underlines the pressing need for integrated ecological and evolutionary perspectives to inform both policy and on-the-ground control measures.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A comprehensive spatial ecology study of the invasive Asian common toad in Madagascar revealed that this species exhibits remarkable habitat generalism, exploiting both forest edges and agricultural mosaics. Radio-tracking data showed low average daily displacements of around four metres but occasional movements exceeding fifty metres, indicating capacity for both short- and long-distance dispersal. Toads preferred shelters near water and shifted more frequently during the wet season, suggesting that seasonal moisture pulses drive range expansion. Contrary to expectations of spatial sorting, no evidence was found for sex- or size-biased dispersal, implying that management should focus on habitat modification and targeted removal during key seasonal windows.

Invasive Species Dynamics in Amphibian Ecology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in invasive species dynamics in amphibian ecology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Invasion front: The leading edge of an expanding population where newly colonised habitats are occupied.

Spatial sorting: The process by which individuals with greater dispersal ability accumulate at the invasion front, potentially enhancing spread.

Philopatry: The tendency of an organism to remain in or habitually return to its birthplace or specified locality.

Behavioural conditioning (taste aversion): A learned response by which predators avoid consuming toxic prey after a non-lethal exposure.

Host–parasite arms race: Reciprocal evolutionary adaptations between a host’s defence mechanisms and a parasite’s infectivity or virulence.

References

1. Trading heat and hops for water: Dehydration effects on locomotor performance, thermal limits, and thermoregulatory behavior of a terrestrial toad. Ecology and Evolution (2017).
2. Constructing an Invasion Machine: The Rapid Evolution of a Dispersal-Enhancing Phenotype During the Cane Toad Invasion of Australia. PLOS ONE (2016).
3. Exploiting intraspecific competitive mechanisms to control invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina). Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2012).
4. Spatial ecology of the invasive Asian common toad in Madagascar and its implications for invasion dynamics. Scientific Reports (2023).
5. Teacher toads: Buffering apex predators from toxic invaders in a remote tropical landscape. Conservation Letters (2024).
6. A biological invasion modifies the dynamics of a host–parasite arms race. Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2024).
7. Is the behavioural divergence between range-core and range-edge populations of cane toads (Rhinella marina) due to evolutionary change or developmental plasticity?. Royal Society Open Science (2017).