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cane toad invasion

cane toad invasion

7.6
A quick spread of cane toads into new areas that harms native animals and plants
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : invasión de sapos de caña
  • Biologists are monitoring the cane toad invasion across northern Australia to assess its impact on native species.

Examples

  • The government launched a campaign to control the cane toad invasion and protect vulnerable habitats.

  • Since the cane toad invasion began, several local predators have declined dramatically.

  • The cane toad invasion is threatening local wildlife.

  • Many experts are concerned about the cane toad invasion in Australia.

  • Biologists are monitoring the cane toad invasion across northern Australia to assess its impact on native species.

  • The government launched a campaign to control the cane toad invasion and protect vulnerable habitats.

  • Since the cane toad invasion began, several local predators have declined dramatically.

Surface Forms

Morphology

cane + toad + invasion

The phrase is compositionally built from 'cane toad' (a type of toad) plus 'invasion' (large-scale spread), so the meaning 'the spread of cane toads into new areas' is directly derivable from the constituents. This is a literal ecological description following standard noun-compound + noun patterns, making it immediately understandable to a learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

Cane toad invasion comes from a real story: people brought cane toads to farms to eat pests, but the toads had many babies and spread into new areas. That's why the word invasion is used: they moved in large numbers and caused 'damage' to native animals and habitats.