Transcript THE SILENCE OF THE FROGS

THE SILENCE OF
THE FROGS
Chapter 1.1
 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.
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)
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 )
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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 _________, 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
 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
Frog/Tadpole Food Chains
 Copy both Food Chains into your
notebooks
 Be sure to clearly label each component
WHY ARE FROGS
DISAPPEARING?
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?
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 don’t 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