Highly read on rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org in June.

Credit: P. NASKRECKI/MINDEN PICTURES/FLPA

The invasive cane toad is wreaking havoc in Australian tropical ecosystems. But the toxin that this animal produces could be used to control its populations.

Cane toad (Rhinella marina; pictured) tadpoles seek out and consume newly laid eggs of their own species, to reduce competition for resources. To identify the chemical cues that drive this behaviour, Richard Shine of the University of Sydney in Australia and his colleagues analysed secretions from cane toad eggs and adults, and found that bufadienolide toxins dominate both. Using toxin samples as bait, the researchers set funnel traps in two floodplain ponds. Cane tadpoles made up more than 98% of the trapped animals. Laboratory trials with native species and cane tadpoles showed that the toxin repels native tadpoles.

Proc. R. Soc. B http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0821 (2012)