RESEARCH QUESTION:
This experiment will analyse the changes in performance of a cane toad in abiotic factors, such as temperature. HYPOTHESIS:
Cane Toads exposed to a warmer temperature will more times per minute compared to cane toads exposed to a cooler temperature.
METHODS:
16 cane toads were kept at a constant temperature in an insulated container (two treatments: 8 in 25 degree Celsius and 8 in 15 degree Celsius temperate environments). Toads were then taken out, one by one, and placed in a grassy area where their body temperature was recorded using an infrared thermometer. While being timed, with a stopwatch, for one minute the number of jumps the toad made was recorded. A standard stimulus (tapping a stationary toad on the posterior …show more content…
The hypothesis stated that the warmer the body temperature of the cane toad, the more the number of jumps the toad would have. From the results obtained, it can be said that the data supports the hypothesis. The results of this experiment exhibited that cane toads with warmer body temperatures had higher number of hops compared to cooler toads. This results can e explained by understanding the role of performance in temperature. Cane toads, as many vertebrates, increase their population and expand to new habitats by movement and locomotion (Kearney et al. 2008). The importance of temperature in movement and locomotion relies in the consumption of oxygen, either used in metabolic process when resting (resting oxygen) or used in respiration (maximal oxygen) and blood flow (Seebacher & Franklin 2011). According to Seebacher & Franklin (2011) when temperature increases the use of resting oxygen increases, however it is counteract by increasing the use of maximal oxygen, enabling the animal to move, which can lead to succeed in warmer environments. Moreover, it demonstrates that temperature can be considered a limiting factor when studying dispersal of …show more content…
The more knowledge about the species biological and environmental interactions and its niche can provide insights on how to manage and control invasive species correctly. Furthermore, having in mind those wrongful actions will not only affect the specie of interest but would also affect other species co-existing in the same environment. Therefore, the importance of these results should guide authorities and the scientific community to new action plans, development of laws, in order to prevent further problems. Further studies should be developed to determine the effects this invasive specie has in endemic species and how cane toads affect to the environment. Finally, it is also important to raise awareness on the implications of introducing species in environments in which they do not
This experiment will analyse the changes in performance of a cane toad in abiotic factors, such as temperature. HYPOTHESIS:
Cane Toads exposed to a warmer temperature will more times per minute compared to cane toads exposed to a cooler temperature.
METHODS:
16 cane toads were kept at a constant temperature in an insulated container (two treatments: 8 in 25 degree Celsius and 8 in 15 degree Celsius temperate environments). Toads were then taken out, one by one, and placed in a grassy area where their body temperature was recorded using an infrared thermometer. While being timed, with a stopwatch, for one minute the number of jumps the toad made was recorded. A standard stimulus (tapping a stationary toad on the posterior …show more content…
The hypothesis stated that the warmer the body temperature of the cane toad, the more the number of jumps the toad would have. From the results obtained, it can be said that the data supports the hypothesis. The results of this experiment exhibited that cane toads with warmer body temperatures had higher number of hops compared to cooler toads. This results can e explained by understanding the role of performance in temperature. Cane toads, as many vertebrates, increase their population and expand to new habitats by movement and locomotion (Kearney et al. 2008). The importance of temperature in movement and locomotion relies in the consumption of oxygen, either used in metabolic process when resting (resting oxygen) or used in respiration (maximal oxygen) and blood flow (Seebacher & Franklin 2011). According to Seebacher & Franklin (2011) when temperature increases the use of resting oxygen increases, however it is counteract by increasing the use of maximal oxygen, enabling the animal to move, which can lead to succeed in warmer environments. Moreover, it demonstrates that temperature can be considered a limiting factor when studying dispersal of …show more content…
The more knowledge about the species biological and environmental interactions and its niche can provide insights on how to manage and control invasive species correctly. Furthermore, having in mind those wrongful actions will not only affect the specie of interest but would also affect other species co-existing in the same environment. Therefore, the importance of these results should guide authorities and the scientific community to new action plans, development of laws, in order to prevent further problems. Further studies should be developed to determine the effects this invasive specie has in endemic species and how cane toads affect to the environment. Finally, it is also important to raise awareness on the implications of introducing species in environments in which they do not