Who Let the Ants Out?

The Red Imported Fire Ant remains a great threat towards Houston toads as it is a non-endemic, invasive species that sadly made its way to Houston in the 1930’s, likely through soil being imported from South America. They devastate and are harmful to the species by killing and feeding on young, innocent tadpoles that are usually only about 7-10 days old. This greatly decreases the chance of survival and bouncing back out of endangerment. Not only are the ants a danger towards the toads, but also towards the greater environment and community. They can leave a devastating impact on the food supply of the Houston toad, leading to a reduced amount of insect diversity and abundance (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2017).

The Houston toad’s range has declined by 25% from where it was historically found over the last 50 years.

(Brown, 2011)

Learn about "H.I.P.C.C.O!"

Watch out for how you contribute to these detrimental activities and learn to combat them!

Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation

This includes cutting down forests, construction of roads and urban areas, and much more. Geographic isolation an extreme problem for the Houston toad due to habitat fragmentation. Imagine all of the sudden having your home completely split in half, or into 100 different pieces. Forests are stripped down at rapid rates, and roads are constantly being built. Then, the poor scavenged toad is trapped, or it takes the huge risk of crossing freeways and roads.
- Lifestyle change: Try to only purchase products that were made through sustainable practices. Write letters or emails to your City Hall in order to promote the reduction of development.

Invasive species

The introduction of a non-native species, either plant or animal, can severely damage the ecosystem as it can take over and mess up the food chain when there are no predators to control the species. In the case of the Houston toad, its chance of survival was severely limited when humans accidentally introduced the red fire ants into the area. Exotic species, whether it is a plant or animal, are extremely detrimental because the ecosystem and food web is not accustomed to supporting that species, and instead all of the natives struggle to compete.
- Lifestyle change: Be careful when traveling to not bring in anything that does not belong!

Population growth / increased use of natural resources

This is the growth of a population at an exponential rate. The human population continues to grow especially in urban areas causing more development and a higher demand for the production of more products as there are more people and a need for more things. The demand for materials such as lumber quickly destroys the habitat of the toads, leading them further to extinction.
- Lifestyle change: Be cautious about your purchases and choices when buying or developing land.

Pollution

Pollution comes in many forms, whether it is littering, water waste, air pollution, etc. Harmful chemicals and synthetic materials that are entering our waters directly affect species such as the Houston toad, especially since they have permeable skin that easily harmed by pollutants.
- Lifestyle change: Try to drive less and bike more or carpool! Also make sure to check if your town has “Save the Air” days, which only allows residents to burn fires on certain days in order to limit air pollution. Always try to bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store instead of using plastic.

Climate change

Climate change is caused by the heating of the atmosphere through increased emission of greenhouse gases that come from fossil fuels and methane. As global temperatures rise, many animals begin to lose their habitats in a handful of different ways. Texas has been experiencing extreme drought conditions for decades, and in 2011 100% of the entire state was in a drought (National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center, 2011). This is a major threat to the toads as all of the small pools of water necessary for breeding are drying up due to the rising temperatures.
- Lifestyle change: Help to stop this destruction by being more energy efficient and using renewable energy. Walk or bike more often, and make sure to check that your food is grown locally and organically to leave a greener footprint!

Overexploitation

Mostly as the result of commercial business, many species can become overharvested to the point where individuals are disappearing faster than the species can reproduce, thus making the population drop. In the case of plant species, habitats such as trees can be cut down too quickly and the animals will suddenly be homeless, such as in Bastrop County, the only place where the Houston Toad population sadly remains.
- Lifestyle change: Once again, do your part by being aware and thoughtful of where you buy certain products and goods.

It's a Chemical Warfare

Almost subconsciously, humans use way too many chemicals. Have you ever considered that the pesticides and herbicides used in the farms that yield our produce leach from the soil into the nearby bodies of water? Believe it or not, they do! The chemicals that end up in the streams and creeks near the habitats of the Houston toad can majorly affect the innocent tadpoles. In general, amphibians are easily susceptible to pollutants due to their permeable skin (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2017), so they are much more vulnerable. On top of all of that saddening information, pollutants are extremely harmful to the environment. That’s why it’s important for you to be more cautious about the chemicals you are using and how often, if ever. Always check the labels of your products, or even better, opt out of using chemicals completely; it could save lives.

"Texas Parks and Wildlife Services allowed 35 acres of the toad’s habitat to be turned in a 9-hole golf course that caused an additional 200 acres of degradation from runoff and

edge effect (Lannoo, 2005)."

Constructing roads and highways creates habitat fragmentation, which is breaking up one habitat into many smaller parts. Fragmented areas pose threats to the colonies of Houston toads by making it difficult for the toads to reconnect with each other. High traffic acts as a barrier for the movement of the toad, resulting in mutilated or killed amphibians (TPWD, 2017). Possible habitat locations are reduced and reduced all for growing demand of agricultural land and a surplus of urbanization when really, Houston’s natural land is of much greater benefits than fields of dirt or concrete jungles. Agricultural production of cattle, poultry, hay, corn, wheat, and oats have a whopping market value of around $125.3 million from areas in Bastrop, Burleson, Lee and Milam Counties (Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2000). While the industries are getting big bucks, the Houston toad is facing bigger issues. As individuals who benefit from a steady economy, we have to recognize when our environment is unstable.

Also, damage to the natural wetlands puts the species at great risk. When ephemeral ponds are converted by humans to permanent ponds, it increases the chance of predatory species in the water, such as snakes and fish. The possibility of having the population die out is higher since these ponds increase competition and hybridization with other similar species (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2017).

Burn, baby, burn...or dry up

The state of Texas has been in drastic drought conditions for decades, which puts the Houston toad at great risk in many ways. In August 2011, 100% of the state of Texas was in a drought state – a serious threat to the toads. Severe drought leaves ponds and small pools with little to no water, reducing the number of possible breeding sites available, and the poor toads are unable to reproduce because baby tadpoles need to first live in water. These long-term droughts are so depressing because they do not only result is the defeat of the species, but also cause a huge of amount of vegetation to die, clearing out and depleting the toad’s natural environment, which is shared with a great number of other species.

Having such dry landscape can also lead to huge wildfires. More than 98% of Bastrop State Park was destroyed by the 2011 wildfires, which is the only remaining place with a Houston toad population large enough to survive. Of the original 2,400-hectare Bastrop State Park, only 48-hectares remain for Houston Toads (Platt, 2011). Even though this major fire occurred six years ago, drought conditions have still persisted over the years. As of 2014, 70% of the state of Texas was in drought conditions, while 21% was in either extreme or exceptional drought, the two worst stages (StateImpact Texas, 2011). That being said, the risk of fire is still present, which could completely wipe the entire population if a lot of forests are burned and impact the much-needed biodiversity present.

Years and years ago, this species was once thriving. Then, as the human population began to grow and develop, the poor little Houston toad became overlooked. Alterations to the natural environment and ecosystems remain the overall greatest threat to this species and many others. The planet's human population (even you!) continues to destruct nature, even at its great costs; now is the time to start creating change, in order to save all of the other organisms that we share Earth with. The Houston toad already lives within a very confined range, which is still being minimized due to the destruction and deforestation of many forests. A generalist species has the capability to survive in a great number of varying habitats, however, our friend the Houston toad is very particular about where it lives, making it a habitat specialist. Its range of tolerance becomes more and tighter as threatening factors make it even more challenging to live than it already is, and the number of tolerable environmental conditions for survival continues to decline.

Green Forest or Concrete Jungle?

"Nearly ⅓ of the world’s amphibian species are in danger of extinction."(Kriger, 2017)

Reasons for endangerment

Mooove Over!

Texas is known for its cattle. But what it’s not known for is the overgrazing of the cattle, which leads to a reduced amount of viable native grasses. The Houston toad depends on for those grasses for coverage and foraging. At the same time, overgrowth of shrubs can produce less diverse groundcover, which is another important habitat aspect for the toads (TPWD, 2017). It’s the rancher’s responsibility to make sure their cattle are eating enough grass, but not overeating and ruining it for the Houston toad.

As more and more people move to the state of Texas, the demand for water rises. The issue is that there is a limited amount of water supply, and humans aren’t the only ones who depend on that water. The Houston toads need permanent pools in their habitat to survive for reproduction. In 2000, the increased groundwater pumping didn’t seem to have much effect on the toads. Yet as researchers, environmentalists, and scientists discovered the importance and role of groundwater in the habitats to the different species, more precaution has been made (Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2000).

Water We Doing Wrong?

Amphibians naturally go extinct at a rate of about one species every 500 years, but 200 species have disappeared in the last 37 years (Kriger, 2017).

Toad in Trouble