Ecology: The Silence of the Frogs Lesson 1

Frogs live two lives, they live on land in the water Hence the name Amphibian Amphi (on both sides) Bios (life)

Frogs and their relatives have adapted to the ice age and global warming and can be found just about every ecosystem. They can live in Swamps, mountains and even cities. Almost any ecosystem that has water.

ECOSYSTEM – is a term used to describe the relationships among the many species living in an environment and the relationship among those organisms and the non-living components of the environment. Examples: Wetlands, marshes, deserts, lakes, oceans, forests. Abiotic (non-living) Biotic (living) component

Why are Scientists Concerned Scientists are concerned about the health of amphibians because they indicate the health of the ecosystem that they live in. they are considered to be excellent BIOINDICATORS due to the following reasons:

Why are Scientists Concerned Frogs and toads have survived during times on earth when many other living things did not They are extremely adaptable Found in many ecosystems that include water They have two life-cycles which means they are part of 2 ecosystems and 2 food chains Breathe through their skin

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

Parts of a Food Chain: All Food Chains start with the sun as it’s source of energy! PRODUCER – an organism that can make their own food to give themselves energy. 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. 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

WHY ARE FROGS DISAPPEARING?

There are 4 reasons why frogs are disappearing

1. LOSS OF HABITAT Wetlands, ponds, and lakes with clean water are disappearing or being polluted Forests are being cut down Growth with cities and farming takes this away as we build roads between woodlots and ponds and cut down trees used for camouflage

2. AIR AND WATER QUALITY (pollution) Frog skin is thin and has no protection from the sun Frogs breath through their skin (acid rain can affect this) and through their lungs Acidity affects frog’s ability to reproduce

3. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION Thin skin makes the frogs susceptible to UV radiation causing cell damage (ozone layer breaking down)

4. CLIMATE CHANGES Human activities are causing changes in the climate. Increase use of fossil fuels ( coal, oil, gas) Climate changes affect the local ecosystems.