Industrial Waste in the Frog Pond

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Will the Frogs Survive?

Are Vernal Pools in remote rural areas of Vermont being destroyed by industrial waste? Come on a walk in the early spring. Walk through the cold wet mud and try not to slip on the remaining spots of ice as we go on a hunt for frog eggs and discover some very scary substance.

Come on a search for frog eggs. Get caught up in the suspense. What is happening to the pond?

Photo Credit: Frog

Industrial Waste in the Frog Pond 

A Frog Pond Story

Frog Bubbles

One day we were out looking for frog eggs in the early Vermont spring. We took a long walk in the woods and came to vernal pool but found a very strange sight. At the far end of the pond, with deep mud all around it was a large mass of white foamy looking stuff.

All we could think of was some sort of industrial waste. What could it be? We discussed it for quite a while. There are no industrial plants or any other kind of building in the area so this was obviously wrong but what could it be?

It was difficult to get there but burning with curiosity we finally made it over to the stuff...

Look for the answer towards the bottom of this lens.
Frog Bubbles by Katie-O
Art - community of artists and those devoted to art. Digital art, skin art, themes, wallpaper art, traditional art, photography, poetry / prose. Art prints.

Industrial Waste in the Frog Pond Continued 

Looking for frogs

We were still puzzling about the strange foamy looking, slightly dirty, yellowish mound in the frog pond.

Could there be a large house or B&B just over the hill that is doing large loads of laundry. Is this why we don't see any frog eggs?

The mud was thick. Were the frogs still hibernating down in the bottom of the pond or had this pond been so polluted that they could no longer live there.

Keep reading to discover the mystery substance.

Industrial Waste in the Frog Pond Conclusion 

frog pond

Well it took determination to get there but we finally made it and you know what it was?

It was snow and ice that had started to melt. Leaves and other debris had leached their colors and given it an industrial waste look.

What a laugh we had that day and we never did find any frog eggs. Just too early in the spring I guess.

Frogs and Vernal Pools 

Learn more about frogs and vernal pools by reading these excellent reference books.

Vernal Pools: Natural History and Conservation

Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 11/11/2009) Buy Now

SciEd Ecology of Vernal Pools Poster

Poster, Ecology of Vernal Pools; Laminated; Images from Roger Tory Peterson Institute

Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 11/11/2009) Buy Now

Are Frogs Becoming Extinct? 

How is Polution effecting Frogs?

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Frog Unit Study 

All about frogs

Hundreds of frog related ideas, activities, games, songs and factual information about frogs:

What's a Vernal Pool? 

What's the relationship between frogs and vernal pools?

Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species. Certain tropical fish lineages (such as killifishes) have adapted to this habitat specifically, however.

Most pools are dry for at least part of the year and fill with the winter rains or snow melt. Some pools may remain at least partially filled with water over the course of a year or more, but all vernal pools dry up periodically. This ensures the absence of fish, a chief characteristic of all pools.

They are called vernal pools because they are often, but not necessarily, at their peak depth in the spring ("vernal" meaning of, relating to, or occurring in the spring).

Despite being dry at times, once filled they teem with life. The most obvious inhabitants are various species of frogs and toads. Some salamanders also utilize vernal pools for reproduction, but the adults may visit the pool only briefly. Other notable inhabitants are daphnia and fairy shrimp, the latter often used as an indicator species to decisively define a vernal pool. Other indicator species, at least in New England, are the wood frog, the spadefoot toad, and four species of mole salamanders.

In some northern areas, tadpole shrimp are also common.

How long did it take for you to realize what was in the frog pond? 

Joan4 wrote...

Delightful story with a happy ending!

ReplyPosted June 04, 2009

K_Linda wrote...

Another great informative lens. As a child, I loved to see the frog's eggs hatch into tadpoles and then develop into frogs. 5* and added to Vermont Lovers Group.

ReplyPosted June 01, 2009

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Welcome to The Nature and the Outdoors Group
Lizzy

ReplyPosted May 25, 2009

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Absolutely wonderful lens!
Thanks for sharing
Lizzy

ReplyPosted May 05, 2009

enslavedbyfaeries wrote...

That story is too cute! What a relief to know the frogs pond isn't polluted after all.

ReplyPosted May 04, 2009

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Meet the Author of Industrial Waste in the Frog Pond 

A Frog Pond Tale

Evelyn's Hands-on Learning Report 

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by Evelyn_Saenz

My passion is teaching and finding ways to teach children in fun, hands-on, creative ways. The unit studies I make on Squidoo reflect my view that lea... (more)

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