Project Reflection
During the Species Management Plan Project Reflection we learned all about Bull frogs and Leopard frogs. We also learned about how to create a species management plan. We first started off in the class learning about invasive species and the effects they had. Then we talked about the Leopard frog and bull frogs for a real life example. We then proceeded with researching the Durango Nature Studiesproperty. After this we went and did field work at the property. We analyzed the data we found, this included sorting Macro invertebrates, conducting a Shannon-wiener index for the information, assessing the water quality. We also created charts and graphs to communicate the data we found. Then after all of this information was gained we created a species management plan for the DNS property.
The article had a very interesting perspective on invasive species. When I think of invasive species I picture the American bull frog or the zebra mussels. However not all invasive species do not negatively impact their surrounding environment. The main point of this article is that invasive species aren’t a bad thing in all cases. Examples such as the main killer of trees in America is actually a natural inhabitant he Mountain Pine Beetle. Also the more species the better the biodiversity is. This article suggests to think of where a species belongs rather than where it is from when you here biodiversity. What I think they mean by this is that when you hear invasive species don’t think of it negatively and think about what this means for the species in question.
In my opinion bullfrogs shouldn’t be a huge concern in Colorado. I understand they are an invasive species and out competition natural inhabitants; however in cases that I have seen where bullfrogs are present they seem to outnumber or hinder the living of the other indigenous species. Invasive species are a whole different issue. Invasive species in most cases are a problem because they out compete the natural inhabitants. This creates a greater competition for resources as well as habitat space. Although sometimes invasive species add diversity to an ecosystem which is good thing. After all diversity in an ecosystem leads to stability in an ecosystem. The work I have done in the first eight weeks of the school year was very memorable and informational for me. I never realized how big of an effect a couple of frogs could have. I feel like the project was worthwhile and I will take a lot of things away from that project forever. This includes the processes of making a species management plan.
The species management plan project taught me many things. I learned how to write a management plan as well as how to understand invasive species and habitat diversity. I learned a new writing skill during the project and that is technical writing. Writing about ecology takes a lot of practice with technical writing. I think that ecology the relationship between organisms and their environment is a subject that requires knowledge deeper than the definition. You need to know how every little thing works in an ecosystem to understand ecology. Understanding ecology is one thing I think we did accomplish with the amount of information we gathered from the DNS property. Well the management plan we made for the DNS property was presented to one of the representatives from Durango Nature Studies so it’s possible my plan could be utilized by them. Scientific literature was the only thing I read for eight weeks during the species management plan unit. So I learned how to read scientific literature quite well. Using guides and key to identify species I think takes years of practice so I would say I have some experience at it but I haven’t learned to be spot on yet. Invasive species is only a term I had heard before this unit. Invasive species should be taken very seriously in some cases. However invasive species aren’t always a bad thing. The awareness level I have for invasive species has definitely gone up, while doing this project. The presentation skills I gained weren’t really any different than what I would have gained from presenting any other project to people. So I would have to say this presentation didn’t increase my presentation skills other than just getting me practice. Analyzing scientific data with charts is something that I feel I did but I didn’t gain any further knowledge about it. Yes I did learn how to create charts and graphs in excel. This skill I predict will be very useful in the future.
My Management Plan for DNS
Plan implementation: Isaac Korce
The most reasonable type of management plan for the budget and the work force would include tagging and counting both Rana pipiens and Rana catesbeiana annually. This would measure growth of the frog population as well as their life spans at the DNS pond (figure 5). The time of recapture would occur every September when the AHS sophomores do their work at DNS. So the plan would include capturing all frogs, counting, tagging, and inspecting them. This would be a great and accurate way of finding the population of Leopard frogs. The bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) in the DNS pond is also an issue who prey on young leopard frogs. (Smith, Brian E., and Doug Keinath jan 2004) The removal of the Bluegill through the process of seine netting would be the best way of getting rid of the fish. It has minimal effects on the surrounding habitat and amphibians.
The AHS students would find an accurate estimation of the population of leopard frogs at DNS, through the process of mark recapture. Then when the management plan is needed we would begin seine netting for Lepomis macrochirus this would reduce the blue gills population. The buy seine netting would be put into effect when the bull frog Rana catesbeiana population reaches half of the leopard frog Rana pipiens population. This would reduce the amount of Northern Leopard frogs that are eaten at a vulnerable age. Therefore, theoretically increasing the leopard frog population.
Bull Frogs will be removed through the process of direct removal. This would be the most effective way to take care of the Bull Frogs because of how few there are (figure4). Direct removal with nets might be difficult seeing how AHS couldn’t catch a single bull frog it 4 hours. The bull frogs will be caught with amphibian traps that will allow the frog in but not out. The traps will be checked daily to minimize causalities to indigenous Amphibians. The captured Rana catesbeiana will be put to sleep humanly using c02 gas. However with only 2 bullfrogs currently on the DNS property I don’t see them as a threat to the natural inhabitants. The plan would not be put into place until the Rana catesbeiana population increases or the leopard frog’s population decreases.( Spitzen – van der Sluijs, A. M. & R. Zollinger 2010)
Animas high school does a field trip to the DNS pond every year during September, next year’s sophomores would be able to do the counting of the frogs to see what the population stands. If the bullfrogs do pose a threat they will be removed by the sophomores. They would catch the frogs with Cages and check them daily that way leopard frogs can be let go and bull frogs removed. This method is much easier and more efficient. However, for the two cages that I would use it would be around 80 dollars. This seems to be the most cost effective and efficient way to manage the frogs.
http://isaacsbossbiology.blogspot.com/
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