Quote: Einstein on Americans

Mants! starring Bruce Campbell.

The M is for Man-eating.

What could go wrong? Nothing. They are native. Unlike the toads, whose toxic (sic) are introduced.

Skinner: Well, I was wrong. The lizards are a godsend.
Lisa: But isn't that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we're
overrun by lizards?
Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese
needle snakes. They'll wipe out the lizards.
Lisa: But aren't the snakes even worse?
Skinner: Yes, but we're prepared for that. We've lined up a fabulous
type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat.
Lisa: But then we're stuck with gorillas!
Skinner: No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around,
the gorillas simply freeze to death.

That the ants are eating toads is not a matter of human intervention. It is not a gov't sponsored control effort. It is just nature.

When a new species is introduced to an area, it can often make an easy living. Organisms that are not a problem in the area in which they evolved can overrun the natives when they find themselves in new locations. They have an easy time of it, squeeze out native species, and breed like crazy.

Eventually however, the presence of these invaders who become so plentiful becomes an opportunity for another species, one that preys on the invader. The predator might itself be an introduced species, or it might be an existing organism that has adapted and stepped up to the task/free lunch offered by the invasive species.

Yes, over time, these things have a way of working themselves out. But the span of time required can be longer that is convenient for human activities. And certainly much diversity is lost along the way.

Humans have been responsible for the introduction of so many organisms into new locations. Sometimes it is intentional, like the cane toads. Sometimes introductions are a by-product of other activities such as Eurasian plants brought to the Americas as seed in animal fodder or larval stages of marine organisms in ballast tanks.

In most cases, we've lost diversity, a lot of diversity. The case of the cane toads is a rare one in that people pay attention to it. They don't so much notice the difference in the assemblage of weeds in roadside ditches, or the loss of native bee species.

It's a pity. Sadly it is rather inevitable.

Aren't humans made out of meat, too?

Yes. And Soylent Green is made of people.

That's a joke right? Where is the link to the article? I grew up in Australia & remember when I was a child that catching & freezing cane toads was all the rage.

Even if these ants are native to the area, won't this massive food supply upset some sort of ecological equilibrium?

So they ruled out sharks with lasers?

The sharks were replaced with crocodiles equipped with rocket propelled grenades.

i live in Australia and meat ants are native but till recently people have not noticed that they are eating the toads...oh and meat rule cause they are agressive lil buggas and attack the shit out of anything that comes near them