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

甘蔗蟾蜍在70年前被引入澳大利亚，人们普遍认为它们对当地生态系统造成了重大问题。我的工作已经确定了甘蔗蟾蜍的另一个影响：它们从中美洲带来了一些本土寄生虫，至少有一种（一种肺虫）现在攻击澳大利亚本土的青蛙。该项目将探索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（但不是全部）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-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.