Invasive Bullfrogs vs. Native Tree Frogs

Scientists, such as Victor Luja, have been investigating the native tree frogs and also invasive bullfrogs at small mountain oases located at Baja California. This study first began in 2006 and ended in 2009. Through this study, Victor Luja found out that during hurricanes invasive bullfrogs are swept away by floods. Meanwhile the native frog species of the mountain are naturally adapted to avoid this situation. To avoid being swept away, native frogs would find some place away from the flood. Bullfrogs, however, do not. Also another trait that makes the native frogs more favorable to their environment is that they breed and are more active in the winter then in the warmer months when floods happen, while the invasive bullfrogs do the exact opposite. It is reported that this same situation also happens to invasive fish species.

This relates to science and biology because it involves adaptation. The native tree frogs are more favorable to the mountain oases at Baja California because they have adapted to its environment. The bullfrogs have not. Also this relates to science because it involves invasive species or species that are not native to an environment.

We should care about this because learning about this can further help us understand the relationships between an environment and their native species. And also this will help us understand adaptations and how it works. Not only that, but this article is also important because it introduces to us a little about invasive species. And we, ourselves, are considered an invasive species because we change the environments of other species dramatically and even lead to the extinction of some species.

Source:http://news.discovery.com/animals/invasive-bullfrogs-floods.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1