Post by Patrick Kubeja on Sept 25, 2004 8:16:43 GMT -5
Tadpole Explosion Prequel To Invasion Of The Frogs Caused by
Hurricanes.
Hurricanes.
By Christine Girardin, Staff Writer, Daytona .News-jJurnalonline.com
Deland, Fl-- Sprouting partly formed appendages and roiling in
spring-like boils anywhere there's standing water, they look like tiny escapees
from a B-grade horror flick.
But the boom in tadpoles is only a prequel to the invasion of the
frogs, a live-action spectacle coming soon to back yards throughout Florida,
including Volusia and Flagler counties.
"Herpetologists live for these events," said John Fauth, an associate
professor in biology who specializes in frogs at the University of
Central Florida in Orlando.
Low-lying areas filled with rains from recent hurricanes make the
perfect breeding ground for frogs in search of predator-free zones where
they can lay eggs, Fauth said. Temporary ponds and flooded streets drive
humans crazy, but frogs seem to know those waters don't contain fish
looking for tasty tadpole snacks.
For some people, like Teresa Mattson of Ormond Beach, tadpoles and
frogs are creatures to be nurtured and encouraged year-round. They're
always welcome to breed in her manmade ponds and water lily basin.
"I have millions of tadpoles and I have about 15 types of tree frogs. I
have two types of toads," said Mattson, who volunteers for Frogwatch
USA, keeping track of area frog species and their numbers. "It's a blast
to listen to them. It's a blast to watch them. I have just always loved
frogs."
Plus, the little critters don't have a downside, said Glenn Lowe,
environmental resource management director at the St. Johns River Water
Management District.
Tadpoles eat detritus and algae in water, frogs eat all kinds of bugs
-- including mosquitoes -- and the frogs in turn become food for
raccoons, snakes and birds.
There are about 30 kinds of frogs in Florida. Among the varieties
commonly found in Volusia and Flagler counties are squirrel tree frogs,
green tree frogs, spring peepers, chorus frogs, narrow mouth frogs and
southern toads, Lowe said.
Where invasion of the frogs is already playing, people are most likely
hearing the soundtrack created by the tree frog varieties. Those frogs
prefer breeding in temporary pools and ponds. Others include the
Florida gopher frog, barking tree frog and oak toad, according to the
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Folks who want to know what types of frogs are sprouting from tadpoles
in their front yards will probably have to wait until they're ready to
hop away, unless they're fortunate enough to spot the egg sacks.
Frogs lay eggs in a gelatinous ball. Toads lay eggs in strings or
spirals, said Mark Hostetler, an assistant professor in UF's Department of
Wildlife and Conservation. In the tadpole stage, it's difficult to tell
the difference, he added.
Generally, toads have warty, dry skin and prefer drier territories,
while frogs are smooth-skinned and depend on fresh water, but they're all
members of the same family.
Whatever is due to crawl out of Mattson's ponds in the coming weeks,
she'll be glad to welcome the multitude.
"Nothing could ever give us this kind of pleasure and joy and
entertainment for our guests and ourselves," she said.
