Saturday, May 24, 2008

Ugly American invader detected with DNA testing

How to find and eradicate the boorish, bullying ugly American invader in sensitive French environs? French scientists used DNA tests to find bullfrogs that threaten more refined French frogs. The DNA testing works where it's hard to find the actual culprit.

Why go to such great lengths to find and hopefully get rid of this ugly American invader? The bullfrog is
"one of the world’s most harmful invasive species, since it is responsible for the decline of natives by direct predation, competition, diffusion of diseases and complex biotic interactions."
This approach is useful since finding invasive species can be difficult, especially when invasions are new and perhaps capable of being reversed. Early detection is important in mounting an early response.

Image: bullfrog (below) green frog (above)

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