Golden Coqui Frog Activity

Why is the Coqui important? The Golden Coqui (Eleutheroactylus jasperi) is one of the most important symbols of Puerto Rico. The Coqui (co-key) frog is very small, measuring only one-quarter to one inch long and can jump many feet in a single leap. The color ranges from cream to deep brown, an adaptation to help the Coqui blend into its environment to avoid predation. It eats many insects and is important to the ecosystem. In this activity, you will investigate the environmental pressures that can lead to the extinction of a species such as the Golden Coqui frog. Some of these pressures include: Habitat destruction due to environmental pollution or natural causes Predation from man, natural and introduced species Lack of food or water Illegal poaching

The Sounds of the Coqui http://www.hear.org/alienspeciesinhawaii/species/frogs/coqui_at_lava_tree_20001003_long.mpg http://www.hear.org/alienspeciesinhawaii/species/frogs/1frog.wav

Make a hypothesis How will environmental pressures affect the Coqui frog?

Copy Data Table 1 into your journal. See next slide for example.  Years → 1yr 2yr 3yr 4yr 5yr 6yr 7yr 8yr 9yr 10yr Trial 1 15   Trial 2 Trial 3

What are we going to do? You will begin each trial with 15 Coqui frogs living in the rainforest.

What are we going to do? You will begin each trial with 15 Coqui frogs living in the rainforest.

What are we going to do? You will begin each trial with 15 Coqui frogs living in the rainforest. Each partner will roll one die. Based on the results of both dice, the Coqui frog population will either increase, decrease, or stay the same.

What are we going to do? You will begin each trial with 15 Coqui frogs living in the rainforest. Each partner will roll one die. Based on the results of both dice, the Coqui frog population will either increase, decrease, or stay the same. Use the information in the Trial Key to determine what each roll of the dice will represent.

Let’s Look at Trial 1… Trial Key If you roll a… ,then you… 2 reproduce. (+1)   3 continue living. (no change in population) 4 die from habitat destruction by environmental pollution/natural disaster. (-1) 5 die from habitat destruction by environmental pollution/natural disaster. (-1) 6 die from a natural predator. (-1) 7 die from an exotic or introduced animal species. (-1) 8 die from starvation from a competition and/or lack of food or water. (-1) 9 die in a poacher’s home aquarium. (-1) 10 11 12 Let’s Look at Trial 1… If you rolled a 1 and your partner rolled a 4, your total would be 5.

What are we going to do? You will begin each trial with 15 Coqui frogs living in the rainforest. Each partner will roll one die. Based on the results of both dice, the Coqui frog population will either increase, decrease, or stay the same. Use the information in the Trial Key to determine what each roll of the dice will represent. After each roll, add or subtract frogs according to the information in the Trial Key.

Let’s Look at Trial 1… Trial Key If you roll a… ,then you… 2 reproduce. (+1)   3 continue living. (no change in population) 4 die from habitat destruction by environmental pollution/natural disaster. (-1) 5 die from habitat destruction by environmental pollution/natural disaster. (-1) 6 die from a natural predator. (-1) 7 die from an exotic or introduced animal species. (-1) 8 die from starvation from a competition and/or lack of food or water. (-1) 9 die in a poacher’s home aquarium. (-1) 10 11 12 Let’s Look at Trial 1… If you rolled a 1 and your partner rolled a 4, your total would be 5. Looking at the Key, you would lose one animal from your population.

What are we going to do? You will begin each trial with 15 Coqui frogs living in the rainforest. Each partner will roll one die. Based on the results of both dice, the Coqui frog population will either increase, decrease, or stay the same. Use the information in the Trial Key to determine what each roll of the dice will represent. After each roll, add or subtract frogs according to the information in the Trial Key. Count the number of Coqui frogs at the end of each year and record the information in your journal.

Then, what? Complete the Analysis and Conclusion sections as instructed.