The Hunger Games And Lord Of The Flies Literary Analysis

Isolation has a major impact on the brain at the molecular level (Underwood 1). Studies conducted at Harvard Medical School show that isolation stunts the communication of neurons throughout the body, leading to severe emotional instability (Underwood 2). At face value, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Lord of the Flies by William Golding are skillful depictions of what occurs when youths are isolated from the rest of society. Occurring in dystopian realities, groups of youths are left stranded in a designated, isolated area with dangerous and impenetrable boundaries. Without the presence of rules or authority, many characters in both novels must make changes to their moral compasses in order to survive. Immediately, characters from†¦show more content†¦Haymitch shrugs. ‘Peeta has asked to be coached separately.’† (Collins 113). Having left Katniss, Peeta joins the Career tributes once the Games begin, seeking to survive for as long as possible. Consequently, Peeta assists the Careers in tracking down and hunting Katniss. In Lord of the Flies, when the group of boys convene after the plane wreck, they elect Ralph as their chief. Possessing the conch, he represents democracy and reason. Conversely, Jack is relegated to that of leader of the choir boys, whom he designates to be hunters under his dictatorship (Golding 19). With the near opposite values held by Ralph and Jack, conflict continuously arises between the groups throughout the novel. Ralph seeks to build shelter, burn a signal fire, and maintain order. Jack, on the other hand, values hunting and having fun above all else. For example, these conflicting values are evident on the matter of â€Å"beastie,† as brought up by one of the younger children. Jack wants to lead his tribe to hunt the so-called â€Å"beast,† but Ralph’s group takes a more intellectual approach to the situation. Piggy believes the â€Å"beast† is simply the fear of the unknown, not a physical being; I know there isnt no beast—not with claws and all that, I mean—but I know there isnt no fear, either (Golding 99). Amongst the most important examples of conflict between Ralph’s group and Jack’s tribe in the novel is the instance in which Ralph leaves Jack and his tribe inShow MoreRelatedEnglish Proverbs3961 Words   |  16 Pagesa considerable role in distributing proverbs across Europe, although almost every culture has examples of its own. 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International Business Strategies Porter s Diamond Model

There are a variety of international business strategies that a company can put into practise in order to internationalise, in any given sector, big or small. This essay will discuss Porter’s diamond model and its four main determinates, as well as illustrating them with two case companies, which include one of the UK’s largest retailers, Marks and Spencer, as well as the USA’s, Walmart. The main objective is to discuss the model to determine if it is of any use in terms of explaining home and host location strategies. Porter quotes â€Å"A nation’s competitiveness depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate ad upgrade†¦ In a world of increasingly global competition, nations have become more, not less, important† (Porter, 73). Porters model, or sometimes to referred to as Diamond Model, is a strategy that companies are able to utilise for an analysis of their competitive advantage. 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These models also give an inRead MoreHow Can A Company Measure Its Competitive Advantage?1561 Words   |  7 Pagesmarket the same products compared to the competitors at a lower cost through â€Å"price, or providing a higher quality through differentiation that costs more than the competitors product. In fact, companies that compete in the same industry and core business, such as Sony, Samsung, and Philips in the audiovisual industry, or Nike, adidas, and Puma in the clothing manufac turing industry, should understand the nature of the market and analyze the key factors that differentiate each one from the othersRead MoreGerman Automobile Industry3051 Words   |  13 Pagesconcerns the German automobile industry. Combining with Porter’s diamond theory, the competitiveness of this sector is analyzed in detail. The essay is divided into two sections. 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Night World Spellbinder Chapter 12 Free Essays

string(74) " the point is that Hellewise’s people lived on, and they were free\." Fhea settled on the box springs, not the most comfortable seat. â€Å"Now, this all happened back in the days when there was still magic, okay? And Helle-wise could do magic, and so could most of the people in her tribe. She was the daughter of Hecate Witch-Queen-â€Å" â€Å"She was a witch?† Roz sounded intrigued. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 12 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Well-they didn’t call it that then. They called her a Hearth-Woman. And she didn’t look like a Halloween witch. She was beautiful: tall, with long yellow hair-â€Å" â€Å"Like you.† â€Å"Huh? Oh.† Thea grinned. â€Å"Thanks, but, no. Helle-wise was really beautiful-and she was smart and strong, too. And when Hecate died, Hellewise became co-leader of the tribe. The other leader was her sister, Maya.† Rosamund’s whole head was above the mattress now. She was listening with fierce, if skeptical, interest. â€Å"Now, Maya.† Thea chewed her lip. â€Å"Well, Maya was beautiful, too: tall, but with long black hair.† â€Å"Like that girl who came to the vet’s after you.† Thea was briefly startled. She’d forgotten Rosamund had seen Blaise. â€Å"Well-uh, maybe a little. Anyway, Maya was smart and strong, too-but she didn’t like having to share the leadership with Hellewise. She wanted to rule alone, and she wanted something else. To live forever.† â€Å"Sounds like a good idea to me,† Rosamund growled. â€Å"Well-yeah, there’s nothing wrong with being immortal, I agree. Except, see, that it all depends on how much you’re willing to pay to be it. Okay? Following me?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea floundered. Any Night Person would know immediately what she was talking about, even if by some outrageous chance they hadn’t already heard the story. But of course humans were different. â€Å"Well, you see, it was a matter of what she had to do. No ordinary spell would make her immortal. She tried all sorts of things, and Hellewise even helped her. And finally they figured out what kind of spell would do it-but then Hellewise refused.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because it was too awful. No, don’t ask me,† Thea added as Rosamund’s interest level immediately shot up. â€Å"I’m not going to tell you. It’s not a subject for kids.’ â€Å"What, what? If you don’t tell me, I’m just going to imagine even worse things.† Thea sighed. â€Å"It had to do with babies, okay? And blood. But that’s not the point of this story-† â€Å"They killed babies?† â€Å"Not Hellewise. Maya did. And Hellewise tried to stop her, but-† â€Å"I bet she drank the blood.† Thea stopped and looked hard at Rosamund. Human kids were ignorant, but not dumb. â€Å"Okay, yes, she drank the blood. Satisfied?† Roz grinned, nodded, and sat back, listening avidly. â€Å"Okay, so then Maya became immortal. But the thing was, she didn’t know until afterward the price she’d have to pay. She would live forever-but only if she drank the blood of a mortal creature every day. Otherwise, she’d die.† â€Å"Like a vampire,† Rosamund said with relish. Thea was shocked for an instant, then she laughed at herself. Of course humans knew about vampires- the same way they knew about witches. Silly legends filled with misinformation. But that meant Thea could tell her own story without fear of being believed. â€Å"Just like a vampire, actually,’ she said impressively, holding Rosamund’s eyes. â€Å"Maya was the first vampire of all. And all her children were cursed to be vampires, too.† Roz snorted. â€Å"Vampires can’t have children.† She looked doubtful. â€Å"Can they?† â€Å"The ones descended from Maya can,† Thea said. She wasn’t going to say the word â€Å"lamia† to a human. â€Å"It’s only the kind who get made into vampires by being bitten that can’t. Maya had a vampire son called Red Fern and she bit people. That’s the story, you see-Maya wanted to make everybody like her. So she started biting people in the tribe. And eventually Hellewise decided she had to stop it.† â€Å"How?† â€Å"Well, that was the problem. Hellewise’s tribe wanted to fight with Maya and the other vampires. But Hellewise knew if they did that, they’d probably all get killed. Both sides. So Hellewise challenged Maya alone to a duel. Single combat.† Rosamund pushed the mattress over with a thump. â€Å"I’d fight a duel with Mr. Hendries-he’s the boys’ trekleader.† She jumped on the mattress and attacked a pillow with hands and feet-and teeth. â€Å"I’d win, too. He’s out of shape.† â€Å"Well, Hellewise didn’t want to fight, but she had to. She was scared, because as a vampire Maya was a lot stronger now.† For a moment, Thea thought about it, visualizing the old story the way she had as a child. Seeing Hellewise in her white leather shift, standing in the dark forest and waiting for Maya to come. And knowing that even if she won the fight, she’d probably die-and being brave enough to keep standing there. Being willing to give up everything for the people she loved, and for peace. I don’t think I could ever be that brave. I mean, I’d certainly hope I would be, but I have a terrible feeling that I wouldn’t. And then a strange thing happened. At that instant, she seemed to hear a voice, not her usual mind-voice, but one that was urgent and almost accusatory. Asking a question as if Thea hadn’t just decided on the answer. Would you give up everything? Thea shifted. She didn’t usually hear voices. I suppose that’s what Hellewise must have been thinking, she told herself uneasily. â€Å"So what happened? Hey! Thea! What happened?† Rosamund was war-dancing on the mattress. â€Å"Oh. Well, it was a terrible fight, but Hellewise won. She drove Maya away. And the tribe was left in peace, and they all lived happily ever after†¦ um, except Hellewise. She died of her wounds.† Rosamund stopped dancing and stared in disbelief. â€Å"And you’re telling me this to make me feel better? I never heard such a lousy story.† Her chin began to tremble. Thea forgot she was dealing with a human child. She held out her arms the way she had to Bud the puppy, the way she would have to any creature in pain-and Rosamund threw herself into them. â€Å"No, no,† Thea said, anxiously cuddling. â€Å"You see, the point is that Hellewise’s people lived on, and they were free. You read "Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 12" in category "Essay examples" And that may seem like a little thing, because they were just a little tribe, but that little tribe got bigger and bigger, and they stayed free. And all the witches in the world are descended from them, and they all remember Hellewise and honor her. It’s a story every mother tells her daughters.† Rosamund breathed irregularly for a moment. â€Å"What about her sons?† â€Å"Well, her sons, too. When I say ‘daughters’ I mean ‘sons and daughters.’ It’s just shorter.† One green eye looked up from a mop of shaggy hair. â€Å"like ‘he’ and ‘him’ are supposed to mean ‘she’ and ‘her,’ too?† â€Å"Yeah.† Thea thought. â€Å"I guess maybe neither is the best system.† She shrugged. â€Å"The important thing is that one woman’s courage kept us-them- all free.† â€Å"Look.† Rosamund straightened up, staring through the hair. â€Å"Are you just jerking my chain or is that a true story? Because frankly you seem like a witch to me.† â€Å"That’s what I was going to say,† an amused voice behind Thea said. Thea’s head snapped around. The door was open a few inches and a woman was standing there. She was tall and lanky, with little glasses and long silky brown hair. Her expression reminded Thea of a look Eric got sometimes, a look of very sweet puzzlement, as if he’d suddenly been struck by one of life’s overwhelming mysteries. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that she was a stranger. An Outsider. A human. Thea had been blurting out the secrets of the Night World, the history of the witches, and a human adult had been listening. Suddenly her hands and feet went numb. The golden haze disappeared, leaving her in a cold, gray reality. â€Å"I’m sorry,† the human was saying, but to Thea the voice seemed to come from a distance. â€Å"I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just kidding. I really was enjoying the story-sort of a modern legend for kids, right?† Thea’s eyes focused on another human behind the adult. Eric. He’d been listening, too. â€Å"Mom’s such a kidder,† he said nervously. His green eyes were apologetic-and intense. As if he were trying to make a connection with Thea. But Thea didn’t want to be connected. Couldn’t be, to these people. She was surrounded by humans, trapped in one of their houses. She felt like the rattlesnake in a circle of big creatures with sticks. Sheer, raw panic overtook her. â€Å"You should be a writer, you know?† the human woman was saying. â€Å"All that creativity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She took a step inside the room. Thea stood up, dumping Rosamund on the floor. They were coming at her-by now, the very walls seemed to be closing in. They were alien, cruel, sadistic, terrorizing, evil, not-her-kind. They were Cotton Mather and the Inquisition and they knew about her. They were going to point at her in the street and cry â€Å"Witch!† Thea ran. She slipped between Eric and his mother like a frightened cat, not touching either of them. She ran down the hall, through the living room, out the door. Outside, the sky was clouded over and it was getting dark. Thea only stopped long enough to get her bearings, then headed west, walking as fast as she could. Her heart was pounding and telling her to go faster. Get away, get away. Go to earth. Find home. She turned corners and zigzagged, like a fox being chased by the hounds. She was ten minutes from the house when she heard an engine pacing her. She looked. It was Eric’s jeep. Eric was driving and his mother and Rosamund were passengers. â€Å"Thea, stop. Please wait.† Eric stopped the jeep and jumped out. He was on the sidewalk in front of her. Thea froze. â€Å"Listen to me,† he said in a low voice, turning away from the jeep. â€Å"I’m sorry they came, too-I couldn’t stop them. Mom feels awful. She’s crying, Roz is crying†¦ please, won’t you come back?† He looked close to crying himself. Thea just felt numb. â€Å"It’s okay. I’m fine,† she said at random. â€Å"I didn’t mean to upset anybody.† Please let me go away. â€Å"Look, we shouldn’t have eavesdropped. I know that. It was just†¦ you’re so good with Rosamund. I never saw anybody she liked so much. And†¦ and†¦ I know you’re sensitive about your grandma. That’s why you’re upset, isn’t it? That story is something she told you, isn’t it?† Dimly, somewhere in the pit of Thea’s mind, a light shone. At least he thought it was a story. â€Å"We have family stories too,† Eric was saying, an edge of desperation in his voice. â€Å"My grandpa used to tell us he was a Martian-I swear to God this is true. And then he went to my kindergarten Back to School and I’d told all the kids he was a Martian, and they made these beep-beep noises at him and laughed, and I felt so bad. He was really embarrassed†¦.† He was babbling. Thea’s numbness had receded enough that she felt sorry for him. But then a shape loomed up and she tensed again. It was his mother, silky hair flying. â€Å"Look, Thea,† Eric’s mother said. Her expression was wretched and earnest. â€Å"Everybody knows your grandma, knows how old she is, how she’s a little†¦ quirky. But if she’s scaring you-if she’s telling you any kind of weird stuff-† â€Å"Mom!† Eric shouted through his teeth. She waved a hand at him. Her little glasses were steamed up. â€Å"You don’t need to deal with that, okay? No kid needs to deal with that. If you want a place to stay; if you need anything-if we need to call social services-â€Å" â€Å"Mom, please, I’m begging you. Shut up.† Social services, Thea was thinking. Dear Isis, there’ll be some sort of investigation. The Harmans in court. Gran accused of being senile-or being part of some cult. And then the Night World coming in to enforce the law†¦. Her terror peaked and left her deadly calm. â€Å"It’s okay,† she said, turning her gaze toward Eric. Not looking at him, but going through the motions exactly. â€Å"Your mom’s just trying to be helpful. But really†-she turned the same face toward his mother-â€Å"everything’s okay. Gran isn’t strange or anything. She does tell stories-but she doesn’t scare anybody.† Is that good enough? Close enough to whatever you believe? Will it make you leave me alone? Apparently so. â€Å"I just don’t want to be responsible for you and Eric-well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Eric’s mom exhaled nervously, almost a laugh. â€Å"Breaking up?† Thea made a sound that was also almost a laugh. â€Å"Don’t worry. I’d never want that.† She turned a smile on Eric, looking down because she couldn’t meet his eyes. â€Å"I’m sorry if I got- touchy. I was just-embarrassed, I guess. Like you said about your grandpa.† â€Å"Will you come back with us? Or let us take you home?† Eric’s voice was soft. He wanted her to go back to his house. â€Å"Just home, if you don’t mind. I’ve got homework.† She lifted her eyes, making herself smile again. Eric nodded. He didn’t look happy, but he wasn’t as upset as he had been. In the backseat of the jeep, Rosamund pushed up against Thea and squeezed her hand. â€Å"Don’t be mad,† she hissed, fierce as ever. â€Å"Are you mad? I’m sorry. Want me to kill somebody for you?† â€Å"I’m not mad,† Thea whispered, looking over the top of Rosamund’s shaggy head. â€Å"Don’t worry about it.† She had reverted to the strategy of any trapped animal. Wait and watch for your chance. Don’t fight until you see a real opportunity to get away. â€Å"See you tomorrow,† Eric said as she got out of the jeep. His voice was almost a plea. â€Å"See you tomorrow,† Thea said. It wasn’t time to get away yet. She waved until the jeep was gone. Then it was time. She dashed inside, up the stairs, and straight to Blaise. â€Å"Wait a minute,† Blaise said. â€Å"Go back. So you’re saying they didn’t believe any of it.† â€Å"Right. At worst Eric’s mom thinks Gran’s bonkers. But it was a close call. For a while there I thought she might want to get Gran declared unfit or something.† The two of them were sitting on the floor by Blaise’s bed where Thea had collapsed. Blaise was eating candy corn with one hand and scribbling on a yellow legal pad with the other, all the while listening attentively. Because that was the thing about Blaise. She might be vain and self-centered, quarrelsome, hot-tempered, lazy, unkind to humans, and generally hard to live with, but she came through for family. She was a witch. I’m sorry I said you might be a little like Maya, Thea thought. â€Å"It’s my fault,† she said out loud. â€Å"Yes, it is,† Blaise said, scribbling. â€Å"I should have just found some way to keep him at a distance in the beginning.† But of course, it was because of Blaise that she hadn’t. She’d thought Eric was safer with her than he would have been with Blaise. She’d thought that somehow†¦ somehow†¦ Things would work out. That was it. There had always been some secret underlying hope that there could be a future with Eric. Some little hiding place where she’d kept the hope that things could be all right. But now she had to face reality. There was no future. The only thing she could give Eric was death. And that was all he could give her. She’d realized that, all in one terrible explosion of insight when she’d seen Eric’s mother in the room. There was no way for them to be together without being discovered. Even if they ran away, someday, somewhere, the Night People would find them. They’d be brought before the joint Night World Council, the vampire and witch elders. And then the law would be fulfilled†¦. Thea had never seen an execution, but she’d heard of them. And if the Harmans tried to stop the Council from killing her, it would start a war. Witches against vampires. Maybe even witches against witches. It could mean the end of everything. â€Å"So it doesn’t look like we have to kill the mother,† Blaise said, frowning at her scribbles. â€Å"On the other hand, if we kill the kids, the mother’s bound to be unhappy, and might make a connection. So to be safe-â€Å" â€Å"We can’t kill any of them,† Thea said. Her voice was muted but final. â€Å"I don’t mean ourselves. I’m going to call one of our friendly vampire cousins. Ash-he’s supposed to be out on the West Coast somewhere, isn’t he? Or Quinn, he likes that kind of thing. One quick bite, let the blood run out-â€Å" â€Å"Blaise, I am not going to let vampires kill Eric. Or anybody,† she added as Blaise opened her mouth. â€Å"It’s not necessary. Nobody needs to die.† â€Å"So you have a better idea?† Thea looked at a statue of Isis, the Queen of Egyptian Goddesses, on the desk. â€Å"I†¦ don’t know. I thought of the Cup of Lethe. Make them forget everything about me. But it might look suspicious-this entire family with a gap in their memory. And kids at school would wonder why Eric doesn’t remember my name anymore.† â€Å"True.† Thea stared at the moon held between Isis’s golden horns. Her brain, which had been working so coldly and logically, helping her to survive, was stalling now. There had to be a way to save Eric and his family-or what was the point of living herself? Then she saw it. â€Å"What I really think would be best,† she said slowly, because it hurt like a physical pain, â€Å"would be for Eric to stop caring about me. To fall in love with someone else.† Blaise sat back. She stirred the candy corn with long, elegant nails. She ate a piece. â€Å"I admire you,† she said. â€Å"Very sensible.† â€Å"Not yon,† Thea said through clenched teeth. â€Å"You understand that, right? A human. If he falls in love with another girl he’ll forget about me without any Lethe. Nobody will disappear or have amnesia; nobody will get suspicious.† â€Å"Okay. Although I would’ve liked to try him. He’s got a strong will-I think he’d have held out for a while. Been a challenge.† Thea ignored this. â€Å"I still have some of his blood. The question is, do you have something you’ve been holding back, some love spell that will completely blow him out of the water?† Blaise ate another piece of candy corn. â€Å"Of course I do.† She narrowed her gray eyes. â€Å"Also, of course, it’s a forbidden spell.† â€Å"I figured. Blaise, I’m now the princess of forbidden spells. One more doesn’t matter. But I’ll do the actual working, I don’t want you to get in trouble.† â€Å"You won’t like it. It involves the bezoar stone from the stomach of an ibex-which I just happened to pick up while we were living with Aunt Gerdeth.† Ibex were an endangered species. But this one was already dead. â€Å"I’ll do the working,† Thea said stubbornly. â€Å"You really care about him, don’t you?† â€Å"Yes,† Thea whispered. â€Å"I still think we’re soul-mates. But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Would you give up everything? â€Å"I don’t want to be the reason he dies. Or the reason a war starts between the Harmans and the rest of the Night World. And if I have to give him up, I’d rather do it myself, make sure he’s safe with somebody else who loves him.† â€Å"Have you got somebody picked out?† â€Å"Her name is Pilar.† Thea looked at her cousin suddenly. â€Å"Blaise? When Luke asked you what you wanted, and you said nothing you could have†¦ what did you mean?† Blaise tilted her head back and examined the ceiling. Then she looked down. â€Å"Does anybody ever want anything they can have? Really?† â€Å"I†¦ don’t know.† Blaise clasped her knees and rested her chin on them. â€Å"If we can have things, we don’t really want them anymore. So there’s always something out there that we’re wanting and not able to get†¦ and maybe that’s good.† It didn’t sound good to Thea. It sounded like one of those terrible lessons in Life 101 that were supposed to make you more mature. â€Å"Let’s do the spell,† she said. How to cite Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 12, Essay examples

The Australian Cane Toad Essay Example For Students

The Australian Cane Toad Essay THE AUSTRALIAN CANE TOADIntroductionThe cane toad, Bufo marinus, or giant toad, was introduced to Australia by the sugar cane industry with government sanction, in order to control two specific pests of sugar cane. The grey backed cane beetle and the frenchie beetle. Native to Central and South America, the cane toad has been introduced to several Pacific islands as well. One hundred and one toads arrived at Edmonton in North Queensland in June 1935. About 11 sugar growing locations in northern and central coastal Queensland received authorized shipments. People at Normanton and Burketown, and in northern New South Wales deliberately released the cane toad into the wild. Scientists warned the farmers not to bring the cane toad to Australia but the farmers did not listen and brought them in anyway. Did the cane toad have any impact on the two cane beetles it was introduced to control? Apparently not. The cane toad ate beetles when they were available, but as a control agent, it had no impact at all. Instead of controlling certain insect populations, the cane toad ate large numbers of bees and other beneficial insects. Within 5 years, an effective insecticide became available and the sugar industry lost interest in the cane toad. Although not native to Australia, the cane toad has one of the widest ranges of any living toad. The species lives in a wide variety of habitats, but is restricted mainly by the availability of water, since water is a vital element in the breeding cycle. However, toads can survive near very small pools, or steams in arid regions. During the dry or cold seasons, they remain inactive in shallow ground excavations beneath ground cover. Description Cane toads are very large and heavily built amphibians (up to 15 cm long) with warty skin. The skin is strong, tough, and durable. Females tend to be larger and smoother-skinned than males. Cane toads are olive-brown to reddish-brown on top, with a paler white or yellowish belly. The underside is usually spotted with brown. The toad is characterized by a stout body, which is heavier than that of frogs. The most distinctive features of the cane toads are bony ridges over each eye and a pair of enlarged glands, one on each shoulder. These glands are able to ooze venom. A pronounced angular ridge runs between the eyes and snout. Giant toads can tolerate temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius to 41 degrees Celsius and are able to survive high levels of dehydration. They can also adapt to different temperatures. Their temperature and moisture tolerances may limit their distribution. However, they do occur in warm temperate to semi-arid climates and are abundant in the wet and dry tropics. A prediction, based on their ability to tolerate a variety of climates, is that they will become established in Darwin early next century and eventually spread over much of the coastal seaboard of Australia. The call of the male cane toad is a high-pitched brrrr which sounds like a telephone dial tone. The cane toad also has a distinctive stance and hop. It sits upright in an almost vertical position and moves in a series of fast, short hops rather than long frog like hops. Also cane toads do not have webs between their toes. DietCane toads will eat almost any small creature they can catch. They eat whatever is available. They often eat bees and dung beetles, small amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. In fact, they eat any animal they can swallow. Unlike other amphibians, giant toads eat things which do not move. They have also been known to steal food from dog and cat bowls. They have few predators native to Australia. The common Fresh Water Snake, (Tropidonophis mairii), is the only Australian snake known to be able to feed on small cane toads without dying as a result. Other native animals such as the estuarine crocodile, the water rat and species of ibis are believed to feed on toads or on their internal organs. Behavior and BreedingCane toads are highly adaptable, both in terms of survival and reproduction. They are much more tolerant than other Australian frogs and can survive and breed in somewhat salty water. In Australia, giant toads normally breed from June to January, but they have been found in breeding condition throughout the year. Cane toads usually begin breeding in their second summer, when they are about 75 mm long. The cane toad needs only a small pool of water for breeding. The males fertilize the eggs as they are laid. Male toads will attempt to mate with anything resembling a female toad living or dead. As many as 35,000 eggs may be produced by each female, thus giving the species a high breeding potential. Cane toad eggs are blackish in color and are deposited in long jelly like strings onto plants, rocks or debris near water. The spawn consists of long double chains of black eggs about 1 mm in diameter enclosed in a transparent cover. Embryos begin hatching within 48 hours; after several days, the tadpoles begin feeding, and the tail grows proportionately larger and hind limbs develop. In three days, the eggs hatch into small (3 cm) jet black tadpoles unlike those of any native frog. These tadpoles become toadlets unusually early, so they are out of the water and hopping around faster than most other frogs. Cane toad tadpoles differ further from most species in that they occur in massive numbers and frequently form dense aggregations in shallow water. B. marinus adapted well to the Australian environment. So well that they are moving closer to the wetlands of Kakadu National Park, which includes the Katherine Gorge. District park manager John De Koning says wildlife like crocodiles, goannas, and snakes will be threatened by the arrival of the non-native pest, even though they have only found a few so far. We came across one large female, this was right on the very southern eastern edge of the Nitmiluk National Pa rk. We came across one female and we could hear several males in the distance. The natural rate of spread of the cane toad is now 30-50 km/year in the Northern Territory and about 5 km/year in northern New South Wales. Finally, because their diet is so variable, they do not need to expend much energy searching for food. They can just sit in a convenient spot, and gobble up anything that wanders by. In urban areas, they are often seen gathered around street lamps eating insects attracted by the lightDefense One of the most important factors in the success of the cane toad is that they are highly poisonous to eat, at every stage of their life cycle. All frogs and toads may have enlarged chemical-secreting glands at particular points on their bodies, or small glands spread over the whole skin. The cane toad is one such amphibian. These secrete white venom when the animal is handled or threatened. The eggs and tadpoles are also poisonous and can cause cardiac arrest and death. A cane to ads reaction to a threat is to turn side-on to its attacker so that the venom glands face them. The glands on the cane toads shoulders are also capable of oozing venom or even squirting it over a distance of up to 2m. Animals picking up a cane toad and receiving a dose of venom may die within fifteen minutes. This venom is composed mainly of cardioactive (affecting the heart) substances. The biggest danger to humans is that the venom could come in contact with the eyes, where it causes intense pain and temporary blindness. Under pressure cane toads can shoot their venom a short distance. This substance may be splashed into a persons mouth or eyes as they attempt to kill the toad. Since the poison can be absorbed into the system through mucus membranes, without ever being swallowed. Therefore, the mouth, eyes, and nose should always be rinsed thoroughly if contact with venom occurs. Experiments and observations indicate that a variety of native animal life are extremely susceptible t o the many poisons in the cane toads venom. These include avid frog eaters such as the Tiger and Red bellied Black Snakes and the quolls. In areas where toads appear, there has been a subsequent decline in populations of these types of native animals, although more research is needed in this field. Research and ControlThe CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) at Geelong is a high security microbiological facility, purpose designed and operated to undertake research into viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites which are exotic and do not occur in Australian domestic or wild animals. It is the only laboratory of its kind in Australia where studies on these exotic micro-organisms can be undertaken. Recently, the laboratory has been commissioned and funded to begin research into the control of the cane toad, using viruses or other microbial agents found overseas. The major concerns about the toad involve its prodigious appetite, and the toxicity of all its life stages to nativ e animals. There are firmly held beliefs that these characteristics of the cane toad are responsible for the deaths of Australian wildlife including herpetofauna, mammals, and fish. The toad will almost certainly establish itself throughout the sensitive wetlands of northern Australia. The Australian Government has provided significant funds to gather data to determine whether the toad has an impact on the Australian environment and whether a biological control agent is required. The funding also encompasses the search for and assessment of possible control agents. Funding of the project is distributed through the CSIRO Division of Wildlife Ecology, Canberra, upon the advice of the Cane Toad Research Advisory Committee. Current work to investigate the control of the cane toad by biological means has evolved from extensive studies over the past decade which have gathered basic ecological and disease data for the species. Such studies have been conducted in Australia, Venezuela, and B razil. A search for microbial agents with potential for control of toads has recently been concluded in Venezuela. Research into the potential of viruses to control cane toads involved isolating and purifying viruses from cane toads in their native habitats of Venezuela, in South America. The effects of the viruses on cane toads and native frog species were then tested in the secure biocontainment facilities at the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Dr Alex Hyatt from CSIRO Animal Health says viruses isolated from Venezuelan cane toads were compared with other viruses of the same family from around the world, and are believed to fall within a new species of virus. While the viruses proved effective in killing cane toad tadpoles, they also killed one species of Australian frog in the trial. The team also found a small percentage of Australian cane toads in the wild had been exposed to a virus similar to the Venezuelan viruses, which are known to cause disease and death in fis h and amphibian populations in Australia and overseas. This adds another dimension to the potential impact of cane toads on the Australian environment, Dr Hyatt says. As part of the work, the researchers also identified two fungal pathogens that are lethal to cane toads and other amphibians. One fungus is thought to be responsible for frog fatalities in Australia and Panama. Research also shows a small number of Australian cane toads may be carrying a virus similar to the Venezuelan viruses, which could affect Australian wildlife. CSIRO scientists have ruled out the use of viruses from Venezuela to control cane toads in Australia because laboratory trials show that the viruses can also kill native Australian frogs as well as the toads. At AAHL, a specialized group has been formed bringing together expertise in virology, aquatic animal pathology, electron microscopy, and molecular biology. Expertise in the group has resulted in the isolation of previously unknown disease causing agen ts in Queensland. The objective of the current project is to find exotic, infectious microbial agents which may spread throughout cane toad populations in Australia and decrease their numbers. The project is also assessing the effects of these agents on adult, metamorphic, and juvenile life stages of the toad, since it is likely that different life stages have differing weaknesses. Paul Gauguin's Art Work EssayFurther research is being undertaken by CSIRO. Giant toads are often transported in shipments of fruit and other commodities. Until effective control methods are available, quarantine checks and the destruction of any accidental releases of toads are essential to reduce their rate of spread. Challenge experiments have commenced to evaluate the effects of viruses on toads. These experiments are conducted under maximum microbiological security to ensure that escape of the viruses cannot occur. Toads are maintained in laminar flow cabinets, within sealed rooms. The air pressure of the rooms is lower than atmospheric pressure; thus ensuring all air movement is into the room. Air leaving the room is double filtered to eliminate the smallest viral particle from escaping. Water from the room is heated to kill any infectious agents. Entrance to the room is through an air-lock and exit of personnel from the room requires a full three minute shower. In association with the challenge experiments is a spectrum of microbiological, serological, and molecular studies to characterize and compare the agents under investigation, to establish information on the hosts resistance to infection, and to gather information related to similar agents in toads and other amphibian populations. Shoul d an agent be found which offers the potential for control of the toad, an extensive series of subsequent studies is planned. To achieve the objectives of the project, amphibian populations from around the world are being studied for possible infectious agents. An international network of scientists, scientific institutions, interest groups and interested individuals is being developed for information exchange relating to diseases and population declines of amphibians. Potential for biological control of the toad is considered good, as the toad is the only representative of the bufonid family in Australia and is distinct from other Australian amphibian species. In addition, many species of the genus Bufo exist overseas, offering exciting prospects that an infectious or parasitic agent from these may cause disease in Australian Bufo marinus, without affecting native species. It is hoped that these studies will provide valuable information on the causes of, and initiating factors behind, the recent declines in frog populations in Australia, Britain and elsewhere. Also, to contribute to the possibility that an infectious agent might be found that would control cane toads in Australia. They are constantly looking for possible pathogens for consideration for the biological control of cane toads. Finally, Chinese medicine manufacturers have been using the toads for centuries in the treatment of Cardio Vascular Diseases and Cancer treatment. It is highly likely that the cane toad will one day be farmed in Queensland for production of therapeutic medicines. ConclusionThere is still much work to be done to fully understand what effects cane toads have on native wildlife, and just how far they can spread. There are some reasons for optimism. In the areas where cane toads have been around for the longest time, their populations have declined after the initial population explosion. It is also possible that some native animals are learning to avoid eating them. Other animals have shown they can eat the toad. The Keelback Snake can detoxify the venom and Water Rats, Ibis, Crows and other birds turn the toads over and eat only the non-poisonous internal organs. Opinion is divided concerning their current status, some think the native wildlife is starting to recognize them as a threat and they stay away. Australia is still a long way from controlling cane toad numbers or putting a stop to their expansion. Scientific evidence suggests that this imported animal represents a nuisance to man and an ecological threat to the Australian environment. The rapid growth of the species may have consequences in areas considered irrelevant at the time of its introduction. The cane toad has provided a painful lesson in what can happen to native species when an exotic species is introduced to a new habitat. Science