REPORT ON THE PROJECT

SAVE FROGS: THE BIOINDICATORS

The project Save Frogs : The Bioindicators was started on Wednesday, First July
2009. One to two hours per day were devoted for the project. The project entered into the
District level on October 31 2009 and the State level on November 21. The project was
reinforced and redirected at times on getting feedback from expert at these levels.
India supports about 5 % of the worlds biodiversity. Animal diversity in India includes
200 amphibians out of which 110 amphibians are endemic. The selected project area
(longitude- 21.5 W, Latitude 83.5 N) is an irrigated area, within 15 km radius around the
school situated at Barahaguda village near Bargarh district head quarter of the state of
Orissa, well suited for frog like amphibian to survive. Frogs can survive, grow and reproduce
properly in the pH range of 6.5 to 7.5. Their breeding places like ponds, ditches, pools and
paddy fields, in nearby villages namely Tilapali, Barahaguda, Nagenpali, Laderpali,
Panichhatar, were visited and the species diversity were observed by catching them in a net
and recording their movement on camera. The water samples were collected and their pH
was recorded. The percentage of algae growth was obtained by measuring their growth area
in their photos and then using proportion method to obtain the actual growth in the sources.
The data were then tabulated and the respective averages were taken. Interview with the
farmers, local people and junior scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Gambharipali provided
information about the use of fertilizer and pesticides in the fields, which are as under.
Species Diversity (Table-1)
place
ditch
pond
canal
paddy
field

species
Bufo melanostictus
rana tigrina
hyla
Bufo melanostictus
rana tigrina
hyla
Bufo melanostictus
rana tigrina
hyla
Bufo melanostictus
rana tigrina
hyla

pH of Water (Table-2)
Sources
pH of Water
pond
Pool
ditch
paddy field
canal

6.4
6.5
6.5
5
7

Average
Number
0
60
0
1
25
0
0
30
0
10
20
2

Algae growth% (Table-3)

Place

Algae growth%

ditch

98

pond

80

canal

20

paddy
field

80

Amount of fertilizer used per Ha (Kg) (Table-4)

Fertiliser

Amount of
fertilizer used per
Ha (Kg)

Nitrogen
Phosphorou
s

54.6

Kalium

82.5

18.6

The name of the insects, that damage paddy crop,

collected from Krishi vigyan Kendra include Yellow Stem Borer, Gall Midge,Brown Plant
Hopper,Swarming Catterpillar, Gundhi Bug, Leaf Folder,Hispa, Case Worm, Green Leaf
Hopper , Climbing Cut Worm, White Backed Plant Hopper, Whorl Maggot etc. To control
pests

farmers

are

using

pesticides

like

Phorate,

Phipronyl,

Endosulfan,

Organophosphates and Carbamate. Some other commonly used insecticides and

pesticides are Chlothianidine, Ethophenprox, Sevin, Carbaryl, Cartap Hydrochloride,
Furadon, Triazophos, Monocrotophos. It was also found that 55% of banned pesticides
(in other countries) are still in use in our country. The effect of the fertilizers and chemicals
on the decline of frog population is seems to be more because the project area is cent
percent irrigated with water from the canal of Hirakud Dam and in this area the fertilizer
and pesticides are used extensively. Also high acidity of water in the paddy fields, as
indicated in Table-2, is hindering the early growth of frogs. Algal growth which is resulting
in Eutrophication is depleting the Oxygen level of water and affecting the nutrient supply
during early development period of the frogs thereby affecting the frog population.
To create awareness in the society, a local press meet was called on first
December 2009 and the project findings were briefed there and the possible impact on
the ecosystem of the frog decline was explained.
Project Team: Itisha Bhoi, Garima Yadav, Piyush Sahu, Manash Ranjan Behera and Manisha Nayak
Guide Teachers: Mr Murari Prasad Sahu and Mr. Pradeep Kumar Sahu
VIKASH RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL, BARGARH-768028 (ORISSA), Web: www.orissavikash.com