THE SILENCE OF THE FROGS

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THE SILENCE OF THE FROGS

• Chapter 1.1

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• 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 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.
• Abiotic (non-living) and Biotic (living)
  component
• Examples Wetlands, marshes, deserts, lakes,
  oceans, forests.

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Why are Scientists Concerned

• Indicator Species
• Many believe that the health of amphibians
  indicates the health of the ecosystem they live
  in.
• Breathe through their skin and.
• Essentially live two different lives on water
  and land
• Hence the name Amphibian
• Amphi (on both sides) Bios (life)

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• 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)

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FOOD CHAINS
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Parts of a Food Chain All Food Chains start with
the sun as its 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

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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

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• 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

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

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• The Tadpole is a _________, where the adult frog
  is a __________.
• 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

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• 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

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Frog/Tadpole Food Chains

• Copy both Food Chains into your notebooks
• Be sure to clearly label each component

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WHY ARE FROGS DISAPPEARING?

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The Last Frog Video

• After viewing the video, respond to the
  following
• 1. List 3 reasons cited in the video that helps
  explain the disappearance of the frogs.
• 2. What are some things that WE can do as a
  society to help prevent further declination of
  the frog species?

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

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1. LOSS OF HABITAT

• This is mention as 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.

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2. AIR AND WATER QUALITY

• Frogs have thin skin and no protection from the
  sun.
• Frogs breathe through their skin and by lungs.
• Acid rain therefore can go through their skin
• This affects the ability to reproduce

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3. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

• The thin skin is also susceptible to UV
  radiation.
• Frogs have adapted by developing a black skin and
  laying black eggs.
• Scientists dont believe that frogs will adapt as
  fast as global warming.
• Why not that beat the ice age!!!

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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.

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Section 1.1 Silence of the Frogs (Pg. 10-13
Wksheet)

• Questions 1-11