Hamline University Graduate School St. Paul, Minnesota The Frog Malformities Issue: How Can My Students Help?

Hamline University Graduate School St. Paul, Minnesota

Scientists in MN and elsewhere had found malformed frogs in the early 1990s. Then the issue hit the national media in Why? Students in Henderson, MN, found hundreds of malformed frogs at a site. A Thousand Friends of Frogs was formed in the wake of this media coverage

What are we being told by: Amphibian (frog and toad) malformities Amphibian populations locally and globally But first……

cold blood smooth or slimy skin warty and dry skin strong, long legs and stubby bodies with short webbed hind feet hind legs two bulging eyes parotid glands behind eyes lay eggs in clusters lay eggs in long chains a group of frogs is called a group of toads is called an ARMY of frogs a KNOT of toads Vs. Frogs have:Toads have:

Anuran Diversity

14 species in MN Frogs and Toads 92 species in USA 3,300 species in the world

MN Frogs and Toads

Amphibian Habitats rivers and streams lakes, ponds, marshes grasslands forests

Why We Care 1.Amphibians are a part of the planet’s bio-diversity. 2. Amphibians interact in interesting ways with each other and the environment, i.e. both prey and predators

Why We Care 3. Amphibians provide benefits to humans i.e. Gastric Brooding Frog of Australia might have provided answers for people suffering from gastric ulcers (Case of the Vanishing Frogs, T. Halliday and W. R. Heyer).

4. Frogs As Bio-indicators 1) double life--amphibious 2) permeable skin 3) absorb and concentrate toxins-- biomagnification

4. Frogs As Bio-indicators Biomagnification: a process in which retained substances become more concentrated with each link in the food chain

Malformed Amphibians

External Malformations extra or missing limbs branching limbs spikes or protuberances missing eyes abnormal webbing

Internal Malformations reproductive digestive urinary

Malformed Frog Pictures

Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris

Causes of Malformations genetic origins parasite disruption of limb formation chemical contamination viruses ultraviolet radiation physical trauma (predation, people)

Trematode (flatworm) cysts have been demonstrated to cause problems in limb bud development in tadpoles Dr. Stanley K. Sessions, Hartwick College

Possible Chemical Contaminants agrochemicals heavy metals acid rain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Types of Agrochemicals herbicides Maneb-fungicide pesticides propylthiourea fertilizers Dr. Stanley K. Sessions, Hartwick College

Types of Agrochemicals applications of the herbicide atrazine have led to egg mortality and tadpole deformities (Hazelwood 1970) Dr. Stanley K. Sessions, Hartwick College

Correlations to Human Health Concerns high nitrate levels (from fertilizers) in human drinking water and frog breeding ponds are hazardous human birth defects result from pesticide application UV radiation results in blindness and skin cancer in humans and other animals; DNA damage in developing frog eggs

Joan Chadde Amphibian Malformation Survey of the Western Upper Peninsula Using Middle/High School Classes

Where have all the frogs gone? Global Amphibian Decline a concern during the past decade frog declines widespread and well- documented possible causes include habitat destruction, increased UV radiation, and chemical contamination

Global Population Declines Loss of habitat from filling in wetlands to create more farmland for crops, and to build more houses and roads (Case of the Vanishing Frogs, T. Halliday and W. R. Heyer).

Global Population Declines Increasing ultraviolet radiation Pollution by chemicals Acid rain Pathogens Parasites Introduction of non-native species

Global Population Declines Amphibian declines occurring in locations where habitats relatively undisturbed. Australia: Gastric Brooding Frog last seen in wild in 1980s

Global Population Declines Monteverde, Costa Rica: Golden Toad last seen 1988

Global Population Declines Other places experiencing declines include: Puerto Rico Ecuador Venezuela Brazil U.S. Rocky Mountains Cascade Mountain Range in Washington, Oregon, and California

Stakeholders/Interest Groups Scientists: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Environmental Protection Agency Individual scientists promoting different hypotheses Industry and Agriculture Policy-Makers Citizens (Adults and students)

What You and Your Students Can Do to Help!

C are A dopt L ook L isten Answer the

Malformity and Calling Surveys Various types of surveys depending on your objectives Malformity surveys: deal specifically with malformities in amphibians Calling surveys: need to know the calls of anurans terrestrial salamander monitoring aquatic surveys

Malformity and Calling Surveys A Thousand Friends of Frogs has two surveys— Malformity and Calling involved.html involved.html

Malformity and Calling Surveys Malformity survey Protocols for collecting and reporting data. Data collected and transferred to scientists Results on web site Calling survey: Minnesota Frog Watch Over 100 volunteers surveying in the state Working with MN Dept. Natural Resources

Malformity and Calling Surveys North American Reporting Center for Amphibian Malformities (NARCAM) Report data on the web

Malformity and Calling Surveys North American Amphibian Monitoring Project (NAAMP) Protocols for reporting data State coordinators

Malformity and Calling Surveys What you need to know to survey? Depends on type of survey conducted ID of frogs, toads and salamanders—color, shape, etc. Calls of frogs and toads Let’s learn a few calls!! Bullfrog Spring Peepers

Malformity and Calling Surveys Kristin Schuster Science Teacher Houghton Middle School Michigan

Student Activities Other student activities Student Reports on Project Web Site Student Poetry Student Writing Student Art

Celebrating amphibians Australia Finland Minnesota Scotland

Helping Our Planet Earth (H.O.P.E.) Frogs

Resources A Thousand Friends of Frogs FrogWeb Audiotapes and Book