Transcript Picky Tongues

Picky Tongues
A study of the eating habits of
anuran species by Zach Moning,
Leo Sack, and Willis Okech
Background Information
• The Order Anura includes frogs and toads
• Frogs spend their entire lives in or around
bodies of water, while toads return to
water only to lay eggs
• The species we study are all frogs
Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs
(Acris crepitans blanchardi)
Northern Green Frogs
(Rana clamitans melanota)
Leopard Frogs
(Rana pipiens)
Research Question and
Hypotheses
• How does species size affect the eating
habits of anurans?
• We believe that larger frogs will have more
diverse diets
• We also believe that larger frogs will grow
in biomass more rapidly than smaller ones
Methods
• Every other day, we offer each of the 15
frogs the following: crickets, guppies, meal
worms, and worms
• During each feeding time, we note which
items have been consumed
• Every week, we weigh the frogs
What’s New, Pussycat…er, Frog?
• Several Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs, on an
apparent hunger strike, have perished
(May they rest eternally in peace). Our
specimen number has dwindled to 14
• One of the aquaria has sprung a leak,
leaving us resorting to desperate
measures
• Our data collection has finally begun!
w00t!
Relevance of Research
• Amphibians are the perfect bio-indicator
• Anurans can become hella invasive, yo
– American Bullfrogs in the American Midwest
– Cane Toads in Australia
• Several species of frogs and toads are
disappearing, such as Blanchard’s Cricket
Frogs
• Your mom probably likes frogs
What to do Today!
• Aquarium cleaning (YAY!!!)
• Taking data/Feeding frogs (YAY!!!)
• Attempting to fix the broken aquarium
(YAY!!!)
• Weighing frogs (YAY!!!)
“Frogs are Neat!”
- Charles Darwin (probably)
The end.