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Indian bullfrogs take to invasive behavior early in Andaman
Why in news?
- Indian bullfrogs introduced in the Andaman Islands are invasive, and eat native wildlife including fish and lizards.
- Experiments reveal that the frogs take to this invasive behaviour early in their lives.
- Even in the developmental stages, the large bullfrog tadpoles eat other native frog tadpoles.
More in news
- Indian Bullfrog:(1) It has rapidly invaded the Andaman Islands after it was introduced there in the early 2000s.(2) The Indian bullfrog is native to the Indian subcontinent.(3) The bullfrogs are prolific breeders: they have short breeding seasons, and each egg clutch can contain up to 5,750 eggs.(4) Its tadpoles are carnivorous and eat other tadpoles.
- Impacts that bullfrog tadpoles on native frog tadpoles:(1) Indian bullfrog tadpoles which grew to be the largest (around 20 mm) also grew the fastest.(2) Even in the developmental stages, the large bullfrog tadpoles eat other native frog tadpoles.(3) The survival of both endemic frog tadpoles reduced to zero when bullfrog tadpoles were present.(4) The proportion of bullfrog tadpoles surviving was greater in the presence of both endemic frog tadpoles.(5) This is worrying because other native frog species many of which are only being described could also be affected.
Source
The hindu