研究指出,，遍布美國佛羅里達州的兩種外來青蛙之所以能漂洋過海，從古巴來到佛州,，它們搭乘的交通工具可能是漂流物,。
據(jù)悉，兩棲動物專家長久以來一直在爭辯溫室蟾及古巴樹蛙到底從哪里來,。這兩種青蛙在加勒比海地區(qū)分布很廣,，但直到19世紀(jì)中葉，科學(xué)家才首度在佛羅里達島礁發(fā)現(xiàn)它們的蹤跡,。100年后,，這兩種青蛙開始在美國本土站穩(wěn)腳跟，并無止盡地繁衍到美國各地,。直至今日,，溫室蟾的棲地北至亞拉巴馬州，古巴樹蛙則廣布于佛羅里達南部沿岸地區(qū),。
賓州州立大學(xué)赫吉茲的科學(xué)團隊相信,，這兩種青蛙數(shù)千年前就已來到佛州。可能的方法是攀附在植物上,，漂流渡過狹窄的佛州海峽,。
“搭乘漂流物飄洋過海的例子很多，甚至可跨越海洋,。這些青蛙,、特別是古巴樹蛙，棲息于加勒比海許多無人島上,，它們很顯然能四處遷移,。除搭乘漂流物外，沒其它辦法抵達這些島嶼,。”（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Biol. Lett. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2010.1131
Origin of invasive Florida frogs traced to Cuba
Matthew P. Heinicke1,?, Luis M. Diaz2 and S. Blair Hedges1,*
Abstract
Two of the earliest examples of successful invasive amphibians are the greenhouse frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) and the Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in Florida. Although both are generally assumed to be recent introductions, they are widespread on Caribbean islands and also have been proposed as natural colonizers. We obtained nucleotide sequence data for both species and their closest relatives in their native and introduced ranges. Phylogenetic analyses trace the origin of E. planirostris to a small area in western Cuba, while O. septentrionalis is derived from at least two Cuban sources, one probably a remote peninsula in western Cuba. The tropical-to-temperate invasion began with colonization of the Florida Keys followed by human-mediated dispersal within peninsular Florida. The subtropical Keys may have served as an adaptive stepping stone for the successful invasion of the North American continent.
