Hamline University Graduate

School
St. Paul, Minnesota

Frogs as Bio-indicators

Joan Chadde, MI Technological University

Tony P. Murphy, Hamline University
Kristin Schuster, Houghton Middle School
Hamline University Graduate
School
St. Paul, Minnesota

What are we being told by:

Amphibian (frog and toad) malformities
Amphibian populations locally and globally
But first……
 Vs.

Frogs have: Toads have:

cold blood cold blood
smooth or slimy skin warty and dry skin
strong, long legs and stubby bodies with short
webbed hind feet hind legs
two bulging eyes parotid glands behind eyes
lay eggs in clusters lay eggs in long chains
a group of frogs is called a group of toads is called
an ARMY of frogs a KNOT of toads
Anuran
Diversity
 Frogs and Toads

14 species in
MN,
13 species in 92 species
MI in USA

3,300 species
in the world
MN Frogs and Toads
 Why We Care
1. Anurans are a part of the planet’s
bio-diversity.

2. Anurans interact in
interesting ways
with each other and
the environment,
i.e. both prey and
predators
 Why We Care
3. Anurans provide benefits to
humans
i.e. Gastric Brooding Frog of Australia
might have provided answers for people
suffering from gastric ulcers

(Case of the Vanishing Frogs, T. Halliday and W. R. Heyer).

4. Frogs As Bio-indicators

1) double life--amphibious
2) permeable skin
3) absorb and concentrate toxins--
biomagnification
4. Frogs As Bio-indicators

Biomagnification: a process in which retained

substances become more concentrated
with each link in the food chain
Malformed Amphibians
External Malformations
• extra or missing limbs
• branching limbs
• spikes or protuberances
• missing eyes
• abnormal webbing
Internal Malformations

• reproductive
• digestive
• urinary
Malformed Frog Pictures
Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris
Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris
Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris
Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris
 Causes of Malformations

• genetic origins
• parasite disruption of limb formation
• chemical contamination
• viruses
• ultraviolet radiation
• physical trauma (predation,
people)
Trematode (flatworm) cysts have been
demonstrated to cause problems in limb bud
development in tadpoles

Dr. Stanley K. Sessions, Hartwick College

Dr. Stanley K. Sessions, Hartwick College
Possible Chemical Contaminants

• agrochemicals
• heavy metals
• acid rain
• chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
 Types of Agrochemicals

• herbicides
Maneb-fungicide

• pesticides
propylthiourea

• fertilizers
Dr. Stanley K. Sessions,
Hartwick College
Types of Agrochemicals

applications of the
herbicide atrazine
have led to egg
mortality and
tadpole deformities
(Hazelwood 1970)

Dr. Stanley K. Sessions,

Hartwick College
Where have all the frogs gone?
Global Anuran Decline
• a concern during the past decade
• frog declines widespread and well-
documented
• possible causes include habitat
destruction, increased UV radiation,
and chemical contamination
 Global Population Declines

• Loss of habitat
from filling in wetlands to create
more farmland for crops, and to
build more houses and roads

(Case of the Vanishing Frogs, T. Halliday and W. R. Heyer).

 Global Population Declines
• Increasing ultraviolet radiation
• Pollution by chemicals
• Acid rain
• Pathogens
• Parasites
• Introduction of non-native species