THE SILENCE OF THE FROGS Chapter 1.1

Omnivore Carnivore Herbivore Detritus Producer Consumer Decomposer Food chain

Amphibians have been around for more than 400 million years. Frogs and their relatives have adapted to the ice age and global warming. They can be found in most ecosystems that include water. ECOSYSTEM – relationships between living things and between living and non living things in a specific area. Examples: Wetlands, marshes, deserts, lakes, oceans, forests.

Why are Scientists Concerned Many believe that the health of amphibians indicates the health of the ecosystem they live in. Amphi ( “on both sides”) Bios ( “life” ) Meaning that Frogs have two lives – water and land

Frogs occupy two different ecosystems Tadpoles – water ecosystem Adult Frogs – Land and Forest Since they are in two ecosystems, they are also in two FOOD CHAINS. FOOD CHAIN – Is a step-by-step sequence linking organisms that feed on each other, starting with a food source such as a plants (producers), and continuing with animals and other living things that feed on plants and on each other (consumers)

Food Chains

All food Chains start with Sun as its source of energy! PRODUCER – an organism that can make their own food. EXAMPLE: Plants, algae CONSUMERS: an organism that must get its energy by eating another organism. ( cannot make their own food ) EXAMPLE: animals

FROGS IN THEIR ECOSYSTEMS What do adult frogs eat? Insects ( mostly ) Small fish ( limited ) What animals eat frogs? Large fish Predatory birds Reptiles Small mammals

The adult frog is part of a food chain that includes PRODUCERS, HERBIVORES , CARNIVORES , OMNIVORES. HERBIVORE – Organism that eat only plants EXAMPLE : Deer, Cow CARNIVORE – Organism that eats only animals EXAMPLE : Hawk, Tiger

OMNIVORE : Organism that eats both plants and animals. EXAMPLE: Bears, Humans What do tadpoles eat? Algae ( small plant-like organisms) Both living and dead

The Tadpole is a herbivore, where the adult frog is a carnivore The Tadpole is a herbivore, where the adult frog is a carnivore. Therefore the Tadpole is in a different food chain. The Tadpole has two food sources: 1. producers ( algae ) 2. Detritus DETRITUS – Waste from plants and animals, including their dead remains

Detritus food chains are critical in the recycling of matter in ecosystems. Decomposers are in a Detritus food chain which helps release nutrients to the soil and water. Plants and algae use those nutrients to grow. DECOMPOSERS – An organism that gets its energy by consuming and breaking down detritus. EXAMPLES: Bacteria, fungus

THE SILENCE OF THE FROGS (pg. 10-13 wksheet) Questions 1-11 Food chain Handout

WHY ARE FROGS DISAPPEARING?

What are the four major factors given in the text for frog decline?

1. LOSS OF HABITAT The main cause We are destroying the water with pollution We are cutting down forests We are building highways and cities between the two ecosystems.

2. AIR AND WATER QUALITY Frogs have thin skin and no protection from the sun. Frogs breathe through their skin and by lungs. Polluted water (eg. Acid rain) can go through their skin This affects their ability to reproduce

3. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION Frogs have adapted by developing a black skin and laying black eggs. The thin skin is also susceptible to increasing UV radiation.

4. CLIMATE CHANGES Climate changes affect the local ecosystems. Frogs and other organisms may not be able to adapt fast enough.

5. Disease Chytrid fungus has affected many populations around the world

PLEASE ANSWER QUESTIONS PAGE 13 - #2,3 Page 11 will help you with answers.