So, have you thought about the downside of eliminating standing water?
There was a very interesting piece on KUAZ’s Arizona Spotlight last week. It was an interview with Dr. Phil Rosen of the UA School of Natural Resources.
He has conducted extensive research on the ecology and conservation of amphibians in the Tucson urban area. There are numerous species living in the city with us.
Arizona Daily Star file photoSpadefoot toads
This radio piece dealt mostly with three types of toads that are well-known in the area: the spadefoot, narrow-mouthed and true toads. And, of course, a vital part of their lifecycle is the need for standing water, generally requiring 5-10 days for the little guys to develop.
The Mexican spadefoot toad is especially fond of mosquitos.
There’s the rub. This does not in anyway lessen the threat of West Nile and the need to control mosquitos, but by solving one problem, aha, we create another.
You can listen to Dr. Rosen’s interview and hear his hope for maintaining biodiversity.
