Wikipedia:Peer review/Cane Toad/archive1

Cane Toad

I have been expanding this article for the last couple weeks. I cannot think of anything more which needs to be added content wise (except for what is on the todo list, I am working on that). The main things that need work are the citations, and the lead. I am terrible at lead, so if someone could please smooth out the current one, and even expand it, that would be great! I can do the citations, so don't go out of your way to do them. Also, if anything that is missing from the article; I would be happy to add it, and, of course, any flow/grammatical problems. Thanks --liquidGhoul 06:37, 19 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting. See new lede.Kaisershatner 19:00, 19 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• Per WP:MOSNUM, underneath the Units of measurement section, numbers need conversions into the United States customary units (inches, pounds, etc.). These conversions should use standard abbreviations (in, lb, etc.), and should use the   (no-break space) between the number and the unit of measurement. As is done in WP:GTL, I suggest that "Web Links" be changed to "External links" (with a decapitalized l) and "Cited references" be changed to "Footnotes". Thanks, AndyZ _t 19:21, 19 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• Measurements all have US conversions in brackets (in format as you stated). I removed the "Web links" section completely, it was added by someone else very recently, and I hadn't reverted it. Cited references was changed to "Notes", which is what it says in WP:GTL. Thanks --liquidGhoul 14:25, 21 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• It's a nice looking article, I can think of two things that could be worked on

1. The distribution section, I think a clear division between indigenious and invasive distribution needs to be made, in particular the detail on it's natural distribution is weak (I think I remember reading that it is quite rare in some of it native range). A map made from one of the commons blank maps might be a good addition - green for native, red for invasive? Is there another situation where it is invasive that could be expanded on to balance the Australian details? The Australian situation is well summarised in this editorial - Nature 432:796-798 (16 December 2004), the article should probably mention why it's important that they keep out of Kakadu. And another interesting aspect of the Australian story, is evolutionary changes in the toads [1] and other fauna [2]. Should methods of control be discussed?
2. The popular culture section should be spun off into a stand alone section - they have a large presence in Australian culture, sporting teams, horrible games etc. Cultural use of the toxins and a hallucinogen also rates a mention.

--Peta 23:28, 21 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

You certainly make things hard Peta :).

• I am finding it very difficult finding any information on the Cane Toad's native range. The only thing that was relevant, was that they are presumed stable, however there is not enough data to back this up.

• I have found some info on its density (for Aus and SA), and added it. --liquidGhoul 12:57, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• I tried to create a map, but the free maps on Wikipedia are not adequate. The Cane Toad is on many Pacific islands, which are just not shown on those maps. Hawaii isn't even shown!! If someone can find a good detail, free blank map, I will create it.
• Evolutionary changes in the Cane Toad and our native wildlife are already mentioned in the article, in the Australian introduction area.
• I was going to create a section on the Hawaiian introduction, but I don't think it is such a big deal as it is in Australia. Most of the other introductions were small islands, where there isn't as much native wildlife which is threatened by the Cane Toad .The other introductions, like New Guinea, are places where there is a lot of rainforest. Cane Toads like open land, and cannot get to such large populations in those habitats.

• Introductions has been expanded, how is it now? --liquidGhoul 12:57, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• I will work on Popular culture, but if you have anything in mind, please add it. I can't really think of that much, and when it comes to those sections of an article, it is more experience than research that helps. I could research Cane Toads forever, and not find the reference in The Simpsons until I actually watch the show, and then research the influences of it. Thanks--liquidGhoul 07:49, 22 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

LiquidGhoul, you say that the cain toad doesnt have an impact on the small islands, I belive it needs looking into as a great deal of fauna and flora on these islands have dissapeared, some are known why others are a mystery. I hope to help in this department. Enlil Ninlil 04:03, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• Actually, I read an article today, which went through some of the introductions, and most of them said that after the initial population explosion, the populations decreased and stabalised. This still has not occured (and hopefully never will) in Australia. With respect to New Guinea, it says that the only research on the effects resulted in it being beneficial, but I think there is bias in that research and will look further into it. I photocopied the article, as it was very good, and went through with some detail about introductions in other regions, so I will be expanding that section. Thanks --liquidGhoul 10:49, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Actually in the Northern territory Invasion of the killer toads threatens Outback heritage, it seems there is a concern over the impact on vertebrate and invertebrate species. Enlil Ninlil 05:55, 6 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• That article has a lot of misinformation in it, I am not very willing to believe it. If there is a scientific paper which states the affect on invertebrate populations, I would be very interested. Thanks. --liquidGhoul 06:14, 6 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

• The biological effects, including lethal toxic ingestion, caused by Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) This is all I can do at short notice. Enlil Ninlil 06:35, 6 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

On the Cane Toad as a hallucinogen, this paper (although I have only read the abstract thus far) says that the Cane Toad is too poisonous to be a hallucinogen, and the only frog possible of doing this is Bufo alvarius. Should we mention that this is a common misconception? Also, does anyone know where this misconception arose in Australia? --liquidGhoul 13:26, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Nice article. How about adding a map of its distribution in Australia, like this one? And a very minor point: footnote markers mostly precede punctuation in the article, but should follow it; see WP:FN#How to use. -- Avenue 01:57, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I have changed the citations to after the punctuation. I would ultimately like to have the world map, and don't think having the Australian one is worth the trouble as it will eventually be phased out. I am still looking into getting a suitable map. Thanks --liquidGhoul 12:07, 24 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]