If you ever visit Puerto Rico you would hear the sounds of my fauna. Among those there is a little slimy cold amphibian called coquí. It is onomatopoeically named, and coquí is commonly used to describe seventeen species of Eleutherodactylus. The little guy fill our ears with its song and children sing to them thinking the coquís respond. The song serves as a warning and a mating call. It is a warning to other males not to enter their territory and an open invitation to females.  

Globalization is not a solely a human phenomenon of communication, trade and travel. The world fauna and flora have been trans-located from endemic lands for centuries. The framboyan traveled from Madagascar, and who would ever imagine the island without the beautiful spectacle this tree provides. Breadfruit it also another plant species that traveled far, it was introduced from Polynesia to the Caribbean colonies.

Framboyan 

The seventeen species of coquís  live in diverse habitats through the island. Some live in the drier climate, while others in more humid areas and then some in the elevated mountains. Of the known species of coquís  in Puerto Rico three are already thought to be extinct coquí dorado, coquí de eneida, and coquí palmeado. The coquís  suffer ant the hands of human development, climate change, and invasive species.

There is not a clear path for each invasive species that settle in a new territory. But once they arrive they affect the natural ecosystem. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis arrived in Puerto Rico around 40 years ago; the estimate is given relating the appearance of the chytridiomycosis illness. This illness causes skin infection and the fungus proliferates in humid areas.

Coquís  are an important national symbol and entertainers during the night. They boast more than just esthetic importance. They are important predators of small insects, responsible of controlling mosquito’s population and other pests.

Climate change aggravates the situation. The winter season is characterized by lessen rainfall, years back rain was seen around every three days while now it can go nine straight days without raining. This is not an arbitrary occurrence rather the new average. One of the consequences is the migration of coquís  to more humid areas where they are exposed to the fungus and develop the skin infection that causes their premature death.

We can observe the travel patterns of other invasive species. The easiest ones to track are product of human pompous behavior. The selfish need to own exotic animals. The problem is that these species are abducted from their land and introduce into new habitats. Sometimes they cannot survive in the strange lands and sometimes they thrive due to the lack of predators.

Iguana iguana native of Central and South America was introduced to Puerto Rico as an exotic pet. It was introduce into the wild because people tired of them and they escaped captivity. It was considered harmless to animal species because iguanas are commonly herbivores. They are also thought to eat bird eggs, small insects, and coquís . There is some debate upon the matter. Some investigators suggest that they only do so if there is no edible plant option in their diet, if they are in captivity. Iguanas only have three know predators in Puerto Rico, and they have multiplied their numbers, becoming a threat to plant species they eat. If their number rise and the plants they feast on diminish they would become prone to eat small animals.

Juancho II eating a hibiscus flower. Captured in Fajardo, PR.

El coquí himself is an invasive species. It was introduce in Hawaii in the 90’ where it song its considered a cacophony, it threatens the Hawaiian insect population and competes for food with other native predators. The Hawaiian government has tried various techniques to eliminate coquís such as citric acid, concentrated caffeine, water vapor and traps. The problem is that the use of insecticides to control the species is harmful to the environment.