Day 2 Monday 5th April
The Microhylid Froggy Research
The Froggy Team (Marion (Ms Mortimer), Jodi, Andres, Janet)
Altitude: 1000 metres – highest point on the mountain
What we did? Wandered around the rainforest, turning up logs/rocks searching for microhylid frogs for Andres to perform some experiments. Andres also used data logger equipment to measure these abiotic factors – temperature, humidity, soil temperature. How was it? It was like playing “Where’s Wally?” except it was Where’s Froggy? Loads of concentration was required – the frogs - about the size of your thumb - are adapted to the leaf litter by camouflaging themselves in the mud - this is code for – you can’t see them!!! . If you spot a frog – it is equivalent to “winning a prize” in tattslotto!!! Loads of perseverance and determination are required for this job!!!
Meet the scientist
Ecologist: Andres Merino Country of Birth: Ecuador
Degree: Biology (4 years – in Ecuador) Amphibians (2 years)
Currently: Doctorate in Microhylid Frogs - James Cook University Townsville (4 years)
Research: Physiology of microhylid frogs in the Wet Tropics
What does Andres like about being a rainforest ecologist?
Amphibians are very sensitive to environment. By studying them you learn about health of the rainforest and how much climate change can the froggies tolerate.
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What is unusual about Cophixalus' (the small froggy)?
It does not have to lay its eggs in water!!! The eggs are laid under a log in the mud and live froggies emerge!!!
Wow, no tadpole stage!!!
How is Andres going to study Cophixalus' physiology?
Experiment (photo on right) – Looking at the frogs preferred temperature – set up a gradient 6 – 40 degrees Celsius. – The frogs are placed in long container for two hours with a gradient temperature to observe where they “hang out”. Andres will use this data – to see whether climate change will affect the froggies survival? Or as they live at higher altitudes – whether they might become extinct.