Open AccessWildfires modify the parasite loads of invasive cane toads
Author(s) -
Shan W. Kaiser,
Matthew J. Greenlees,
Richard Shine
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
biology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.596
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1744-957X
pISSN - 1744-9561
DOI - 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0470
Subject(s) - lungworm , biology , ecology , parasite hosting , habitat , host (biology) , larva , predation , invasive species , toad , cane , introduced species , zoology , biochemistry , sugar , world wide web , computer science
The frequency and severity of wildfires are increasing due to anthropogenic modifications to habitats and to climate. Post-fire landscapes may advantage invasive species via multiple mechanisms, including changes to host–parasite interactions. We surveyed the incidence of endoparasitic lungworms (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala ) in invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina ) in near-coastal sites of eastern Australia, a year after extensive fires in this region. Both the prevalence of infection and number of worms in infected toads increased with toad body size in unburned areas. By contrast, parasite load decreased with toad body size in burned areas. By killing moisture-dependent free-living lungworm larvae, the intense fires may have liberated adult cane toads from a parasite that can substantially reduce the viability of its host. Smaller toads, which are restricted to moist environments, did not receive this benefit from fires.