Frog Population Study
Bainbridge College, Georgia USA

Page contents

Who cares about frogs?

Participants

Study method

Study method - tube description

The frogs are captured (unharmed) in 2in (5.08mm) diameter PVC pipes.
The frogs are able to climb in and out of the pipes at will, so they aren’t really trapped.
There are 2 types of tubes:

in the ground:
an about 3 meter open-ended length of pipe driven into the ground
tree-mounted:
an about 2/3 meter length of pipe attached to a tree trunk at about chest height
The bottom is closed. The pipe contains about 4in (10.16mm) of water (H2O).
The pipe is hung on a roofing nail made of aluminum (Al) driven into the tree trunk.
Aluminum is important because it will not harm somebody cutting the tree with a chain saw.
Another important thing is a piece of cord descending into the pipe.
This enables tree squirrels or other small creatures to climb out rather than drown.
The frogs can climb out without the cord.

Periodically the tubes are checked and any inhabitants recorded.

It is important to put the frogs in a clear plastic bag when handling them. Their skin is sensitive. It will absorb harmful chemicals such as hand cream, suntan lotion, or sweat.

Study method - tube placement

The tubes were placed in 6 locations on a dirt trail southeast of the swimming pool on the Bainbridge College campus. The locations are at approximately 30°N 53′ 49″ 84°W 31′ 59″ [need GPS] numbered 1 through 6. Each location has both a ground tube and a tree-mounted tube, except for location 2 which has only a ground tube. All of the tree-mounted tubes are on water oaks (Quercus nigra).

Expected frog species

From:
Key to Identification of Georgia Treefrogs
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

Hyla cinerea
green treefrog
Hyla squirella
squirrel treefrog
Hyla chrysoscellis
gray treefrog
Hyla femoralis
pine woods treefrog
Hyla gratiosa
barking treefrog
Hyla avivoca
bird-voiced treefrog

Results

Collecting

Putting out the tubes
Saturday September 26, 2009 - 10:00am

The weather was clear and about 90°F (30°C).

Collect - Thursday October 8, 2009 - 2:00pm

The weather was clear and about 92°F (31°C). The last rain was Monday morning - about 0.1″ (0.254mm).

Field trips

Saturday September 26, 2009 - late morning
Flora

Thursday October 8, 2009
Flora and evidence of fauna

The nature walk was in the power line cut and the woods on the other side.

Fungi

Flora

Fauna

In addition, we heard, but did not see, a woodpecker (family Picidae, order Piciformes). It was probably a red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus).
It was’t a pileated woodpecker (Dryocapus pileatus). Their calls are different.

History

Rattlesnake rodeos

AAS.ppt