Cane toads (Rhinella marina) in south-western Queensland: invasion front, spread and how Cooper Creek geomorphology could enable invasion into north-eastern South Australia
David Peacock A D , Gresley A. Wakelin-King B and Ben Shepherd C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Biosecurity SA, GPO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
B Wakelin Associates, PO Box 271, Clifton Hill, Vic. 3068, Australia.
C Rural Solutions SA, Level 8, 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: david.peacock@sa.gov.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 62(5) 366-373 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO14025
Submitted: 10 April 2014 Accepted: 7 October 2014 Published: 13 November 2014
Abstract
The invasion of northern Australia by the poisonous cane toad is well recognised, as is its devastating impacts on numerous local native species. However, there is little recognition that the toads are spreading into south-western Queensland. Utilising local knowledge, a limited survey was undertaken within the Cooper Creek catchment to locate the invasion front. Dispersal during 2010–11 floods has established cane toads as far south as Jundah. Integrating this information with landform mapping indicates that cane toad invasion can continue south-west down the Cooper Creek. Though arid, Cooper Creek’s geomorphology renders it partially independent of local climate, and permanent and semipermanent waterholes (including RAMSAR-listed wetlands) are found downstream from Windorah and into the Strzelecki Desert. Natural landforms provide potential daytime shelter and breeding sites, and additional suitable habitat created by human activity is also widespread. Even unsuccessful attempts at breeding may be detrimental to regional ecology, especially fish populations, at critical stages of their boom/bust cycle. We conclude that there is no reason why cane toads cannot penetrate further down the Cooper Creek, threatening wetlands in north-eastern South Australia. Published models of cane toad expansion, which conclude that north-eastern South Australia is too dry for cane toad populations to establish, are based on climatic parameters that significantly under-represent true habitat availability.
Additional keywords: Bufo marinus, Chaunus marinus, dispersal, semiarid, survey, wetlands.
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