Cane toad, an alien species native to South America, was introduced to Hawaii, Australia, the Ogasawara Islands, etc. to exterminate agricultural pests, but its predation and poisoning have a serious impact on the native ecosystem, causing problems. There is.In this study, we examined how artificial light affects the predation of this frog, and what kind of environment affects its effect.Specifically, we introduced frogs into cages installed outdoors and evaluated changes in predation volume with and without artificial light and their relationship with environmental factors.

　As a result, it was found that the predation amount of frogs increased dramatically by artificial light.It was also clarified that this increase in predation was affected by the phases of the moon and the degree of light pollution in the surroundings.In other words, artificial light provides a large amount of food resources for alien species, and this effect can be increased in dark times and in areas.

　This study suggests that artificial light may increase the damage to native species caused by alien species, but at the same time, it also shows that proper use of artificial light may contribute to the management of alien species. It can be said that there is.For example, reducing the use of artificial light when the moon is dark may reduce the supply of food to alien species and may reduce their impact on ecosystems.The effects of artificial light on ecosystems have just begun to be elucidated, and it is necessary to further clarify the relationship between the two for the proper use of artificial light and the efficient management of alien species.

Paper information:[Scientific Reports] Impacts of artificial light on food intake in invasive toads