Host-parasite interactions during a biological invasion: toads, frogs and nematodes in tropical Australia

70年前，甘蔗蛙被引入澳大利亚，人们普遍认为甘蔗蛙会给当地生态系统带来重大问题。我的工作发现了甘蔗蛙的另一个影响：它们从中美洲带来了一些原生寄生虫，现在至少有一种物种(肺虫)攻击澳大利亚原生青蛙。这个项目将探索这种寄生虫对本地青蛙和蟾蜍本身的影响，并确定为什么澳大利亚的一些(但不是所有)蟾蜍种群逃脱了这些降低生存能力的寄生虫。我的工作将阐明宿主和寄生虫的共同进化，入侵生物的生态影响，以及利用寄生虫帮助控制澳大利亚境内蟾蜍的可行性。

Cane toads were introduced to Australia 70 years ago, and are widely believed to cause major problems for native ecosystems. My work has identified another impact of cane toads: they have brought some of their native-range parasites with them from Central America, and at least one species (a lungworm) now attacks native Australian frogs. This project will explore the impact of the parasite on native frogs as well as on the toads themselves, and determine why some (but not all) toad populations in Australia have escaped from these viability-reducing parasites. My work will clarify host-parasite coevolution, the ecological impact of invasive organisms, and the feasibility of using parasites to help control toads within Australia.