Golden Coqui Extinction Activity

Why are we doing this activity?  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.  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

What do we do first? I. Answer the following question in your journal. (Write the question AND the answer.) #1. What are some environmental changes that could affect an organisms’ population?

What do we do first? #2. Create a T-Chart and categorize the possible changes from #1 as either:  A long-term change that affects traits in subsequent populations OR  A short term changes that affect immediate populations.

What do we do first? #3. Create a T-Chart and categorize the possible changes from #1 as either:  caused by humans OR  by natural causes.

Then, what? Years → Trial 115 Trial 215 Trial 315 II. Copy Data Table 1 into your journal. DATA Table 1

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.

If you roll a…,then you… 2reproduce. (+1) 3 continue living. (no change in population) 4 die from habitat destruction by environmental pollution/natural disaster. (-1) 5 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 continue living. (no change in population) 11 continue living. (no change in population) 12reproduce. (+1) Let’s Look at Trial 1… If you rolled a 1 and your partner rolled a 4, your total would be 5. Trial Key

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.

If you roll a…,then you… 2reproduce. (+1) 3 continue living. (no change in population) 4 die from habitat destruction by environmental pollution/natural disaster. (-1) 5 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 continue living. (no change in population) 11 continue living. (no change in population) 12reproduce. (+1) 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. Trial Key

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.

Don’t forget, you will need to record information from this activity in your data table.

Then, what?  When you are done, graph your results to show how the population changed over 10 years.  Use the correct map pencil for each trial.  Answer the CONCLUSION questions.