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Home , Common frog, Common toad, Natterjack toad

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SSuurrvveeyy FFrrooggss aanndd BBeeccoommee aa CCiittiizzeenn SScciieennttiisstt Contents in The Common ( 2 What is an ? temporaria ) is Ireland’s only species Four species of frog. Citizen science is the collection of data from the natural The world by members of the public. 3 A closer look Beginning in 1997, the Hop To It Frog Survey, co-ordinated by the Irish The Frog Life-Cycle Peatland Conservation Council, is 5 Frog’s growth from Ireland’s longest running frog survey. through to frog This book explores the fascinating world of and encourages you to Frog Distribution in Ireland record frogs in your locality and 7 What does the Hop To It become a citizen scientist. Frog Survey tell us now?

What Threatens 8 Amphibians? There are many man-made threats to Amphibians

Frog-Friendly Gardens 10 Top tips to create a space for frogs in your garden

Image: E. Delaney Amphibian Facts 11 Random and fun facts

Frog Watch & Survey 13 Join the Hop To It Irish Frog Survey

Image: E. Delaney

Image: C. O’Connell Image: C. O’Connell Common Frog Amphibians in Ireland Image: E. Delaney

Natterjack Image: B. Dupont

Common Toad Amphibians were Smooth Newt Image: G. Chernilevsky the first group of Image: J. Early with a back bone to live on land. Most Amphibians Native Irish Amphibians spend the first part of their lives in * ( calamita ) water, swimming and breathing like * Smooth Newt ( vulgaris ) fish. As adults, they can move * Common Frog ( Rana temporaria ) between land and water. They are Non Native Amphibian cold blooded animals, which means * ( Bufo bufo ) that their body temperature changes as the temperature of their surroundings Common Frogs and Smooth Newts are changes. It is thought that Amphibians found nationwide. Natterjack arose over 350 million years ago from are found in Counties Kerry and a fish-like ancestor. They can, in Wexford (introduced by the National general, move, feed and breathe Parks and Wildlife Service to Raven equally well on land and in fresh water, Point, Co. Wexford in the 1990’s). In but nearly all Amphibians return to 2011 the Common Toad was first water to breed. Amphibians are recorded in the Republic of Ireland in divided into three groups: Long Lough, Rathmullan, Co. Donegal. This toad is believed to have been * Urodela (newts and salamanders) introduced and is the only Amphibian in * Apoda (-like caecilians) Ireland that is non native. It is a crime * Anura (frogs and toads). to introduce non native Amphibians to Found worldwide the Anura group Ireland under the Wildlife Act. If the (meaning tail-less) are the largest Common Toad was to become Amphibian group with over 3,500 established in Ireland there is concerns species. that it could result in displacement, reduction, or elimination of the native Four different species of Amphibian Natterjack Toad. have been recorded in Ireland: 2 The Common Frog

Image: T. Whyte

The Common Frog has smooth, moist around the edges of ponds, using their skin and powerful hind legs that make long, sticky tongues to capture flying it possible for them to jump great and , or to ensnare distances. Frogs begin their lives as and - their staple food. , known as frog spawn. In Spring after the eggs hatch emerge. Habitat of the Common Frog Tadpoles live in water and breathe Frogs like natural damp habitats in through gills. As they grow their bodies woodlands, bogs, fens and gardens. undergo many changes so that by the They need freshwater to breed and time (early Summer) they have prefer ponds which have good plant become adult frogs, they are able to cover and shallow water at the edge so live on land and breathe air through that they can easily climb out unseen. lungs. The great change that takes But they also use streams, bog pools, place during the development of a frog drains and ditches as breeding sites. is known as . The terrestrial habitat of frogs is important. The land around the Common Frog Food breeding site needs to be rough with Tadpoles begin their lives as long grass and some woodland scrub vegetarians but as they grow their to give cover for foraging. Frogs also feeding habits change and frogs require habitats for . Large are carnivores. Frog tadpoles eat stones, old logs, piles of autumn algae, helping regulate blooms in leaves and compost heaps are perfect. ponds. Frogs feed mainly at night 3 Sight Large eyes bulge out of the top of the head so the frog can Permanent markings keep a sharp lookout for food and danger. The eyes are Dark bars behind and in very sensitive to movement. When frogs leap they draw front of the eyes are the their eyes back into their sockets to protect them from only regular markings. damage. Each eye has special glands which produce moisture to stop it getting too dry in the air. Breathing Nostrils for Hearing breathing air Frogs have good hearing. when the frog is Just behind the eye is a on land. large eardrum which leads to the rest of the ear inside Sticky tongue the head. The frog's long sticky tongue is attached to the front part of the mouth, so that it can flick out to catch .

Vocal sac Each time the frog croaks, this loose skin on its throat expands. Frogs make lots of Strong muscles different sounds, The frog’s hind legs Webbed feet especially in the are used for These are like flippers and help the breeding season . swimming in the frog to swim away from danger water and leaping on very fast. land.

Coat of many colours The colourful patterns on the frog's skin help to disguise it from enemies such as rats, and hedgehogs. A frog can also make it's skin become darker to match it's surroundings. This colour change takes about two hours to effect. Frog in action Image: N. Madigan 4 Frog Life-Cycle When adult frogs emerge from forelimbs around her body and grips hibernation they migrate and using nuptial pads, on the fore congregate in large numbers at limbs - a position called . various breeding sites. They may Spawning can take place any time travel up to 1km to find the same pond during amplexus and lasts only a few year after year. The males always seconds. As the female lays up to arrive first and strike up a chorus of 4,000 black eggs the male releases loud croaking to attract females. Frogs sperm. The eggs are fertilised do not have any elegant courtship immediately before their gelatinous rituals; the eager male simply grabs capsules absorb water, swell and rise the nearest female as she arrives at to the surface. the spawning site. Jumping onto the female’s back, the male wraps his

Tadpole with Spawn feathery gills

Tadpole

Adult frog

Tadpole with back legs

Froglet

Growing up - from to adult, the life cycle of the Common frog (Rana temporaria ) takes over a year to complete. 5 Male frogs gather in a pond in spring and begin croaking to attract females. Image: E. Delaney

Adult frog with spawn. Image: A. Murphy A clump of frog spawn. Image: L. Tisjima

Eggs & Jelly Babies lungs are forming. It then has to swim Known as frog spawn, frog eggs are to the surface of the water to gulp air. 2-3mm in diameter and are surrounded The tadpole has fleshy lips with rows by jelly. When the eggs are deposited of teeth for rasping away at water in the water the jelly swells to a plants and by seven weeks it also eats diameter of 8-10mm insulating the egg insects and even other tadpoles. from the water. The egg develops into a tadpole in 10-21 days (the higher the Froglet temperature of the water, the shorter At 10 weeks the forelegs are growing. the development time). The hind legs are fully grown and the tail is reducing. At 14 weeks the tail is Tadpole Terrors nearly fully absorbed. At this stage the The tadpole digests the spawn jelly froglets are usually starting to spend using a special secretion and hatches. time on rocks or in nearby damp grass. Specific adhesive organs fasten the Many are eaten by predators before newly hatched tadpole to other spawn they are fully grown. In winter frogs or plants in the pool. At this early hibernate in frost-free refuges, under stage tadpoles have no mouth, and tree stumps, in compost heaps, in until it's mouth organs form it feeds on stacks of turf, in leaf piles or in rock an internal yolk sac attached to its piles where they enter torpor until the stomach. At approximately 2 days old following spring. the external gills, mouth and eyes are formed. At this stage the tadpole Young frogs usually double in size by moves like a fish and begins to eat the following autumn and they reach algae. At 12 days spiracles and sexual maturity in their third year. They internal gills are formed. At 5 weeks can live for 7-8 years. the hind legs are showing and the 6 Frog Distribution in Ireland

This map shows the distribution of the The Common Frog is a Common Frog in Ireland. Frogs are protected species in Ireland and is found in every county in Ireland. The listed in Annex V of the European frog records used to compile this map Union Natural Habitats Directive. cover the years from 1997 to 2018. Citizen scientists and other professional scientists contributed the information to the Irish Peatland Conservation Council frog database over these years. In total the IPCC hold 5250 frog records in the Hop To It Frog Survey database.

7 What Threatens Amphibians?

Amphibians are indicator species. This damage to the ozone layer for world means that they are very sensitive to wide Amphibian declines since changes in the environment around 1989. UV radiation damages DNA them such as pollution and global causing cell mutations and death. warming. They make good indicator species because they live in two During a few warm, damp nights in environments - land and water, and spring, thousands of Amphibians have thin skin that they can breathe follow traditional migration routes on through. Their skin can absorb toxic their way back to spawning ponds. chemicals and diseases. If Unfortunately, hundreds can be Amphibians disappear from an squashed and killed by traffic on ecosystem it may be a sign that it has intervening roads as they make for become polluted. Likewise, if their are the pond in which they were born. lots of Amphibians in an area it means the ecosystem is healthy. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis parasitises Amphibians are an important Amphibians and has caused frog source of food for predators and toad population declines including birds, fish, fox and . throughout the world since the They are not threatened by natural 1980’s. Several mass deaths of predators provided their populations frogs have been blamed on a remain in balance. disease known as “red leg”. A British study has uncovered a new Over 50% of Ireland's Amphibian virus - which is wetland habitats have been lost to responsible for killing frogs. drainage, industrial peat extraction, pollution and natural It takes 14 weeks for a tadpole to degradation in the past 100 years. develop and emerge onto land. Summer drought and extreme A danger to Amphibians is from weather events caused by climate accidental/deliberate burning of change reduces breeding success. their habitats such as bogland. Keeping exotic frogs as pets are a Exposure to chemical fertilisers, danger to native species if they pesticides, herbicides and heavy escape or are introduced to the metals can poison Amphibian wild. Report sightings to populations. www.biodiversityireland.ie.

Herpetologists blame increasing UV radiation levels and Frogs are dying from the effects of the resulting pollution, climate change and habitat loss. 8 Frog Friendly Gardens

Ragged Robin Image: C. O’Connell

Flag Iris Image: A. Butler l l e n n o n a C ’ Frog-friendly Pond. e O B

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Image: C. O’Connell g C

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The best way to make your garden 5 The pond should be dug in frog friendly is to provide a garden October/November in a sunny, pond. Immature and female frogs open place away from trees, hibernate under logs, piles of stones because tadpoles need warm and amongst leaves under hedges, water to develop into frogs. Don’t so don’t be too tidy in the garden and have the pond too near your the frogs will thank you for it. Here house as the constant movement are some tips to help you keep your of people will disturb frogs and garden pond frog friendly. wildlife. 1 The pond should have an 6 If there are young children irregular perimeter and the sides around, incorporate protective should be very shallow so frogs grilling just under the water can get in and out easily. surface of the pond. 2 There needs to be plenty of algae 7 Let the grass grow long around for tadpoles to eat. Don’t include the edge of the pond because fish because they eat tadpoles. froglets need long grass to hide in 3 There must be plants near the when they first emerge from the edge of the pond for spawn to be pond. laid in and for tadpoles to hide 8 Plant the pond from mid Spring to and feed in. Summer with -loving plants 4 One part of the pond should be at to attract insects for feeding frogs least 60cm deep so that and other animals. hibernating frogs won’t freeze to death. 9 9 Introduce wildlife two weeks after Frog Friendly Plants planting e.g. water snails, pond Submerged: grow under water e.g. skaters, , flatworms. water starwort, hornwort, willow moss 10 Collect a bucket of water and Floating: drift on pond surface e.g. associated wildlife from an frogbit, duckweed, water soldier established pond, canal or stream Deep Water: roots on pond floor with to start you off. leaves floating on pond surface e.g. 11 If the pond freezes for a long time water violet, yellow pond lily, white in winter, frogs may suffocate. This water lily, pond weed. can be rectified by using a pan of Marginal: grow in the shallows e.g. water to melt the ice - smashing marsh marigold, yellow flag iris, bog the ice can cause shock waves bean, water mint, water plantain. and harm the pond’s inhabitants. Marsh: grow in waterlogged ground 12 Top up the pond regularly with e.g. bugle, ragged robin, lady’s smock, small volumes of rain water from a meadow sweet, valeriana, purple water butt in dry weather. loosestrife. 13 Provide hibernating sites for frogs and other pond animals in the garden surrounding the pond such as a log pile, compost heap,pile of

stones or autumn leaves. n a k g i 14 Avoid using chemicals and c d o a

non-organic fertilisers in and m M

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Yellow Water Lily Image: C. O’Connell Water Mint Image: C. O’Connell

Marsh Marigold Image: C.O’Connell

10 Amphibian Facts People who study Amphibians are Under the water, a frog’s eyes are called Herpetologists. Herpetology protected by an extra transparent is the study of Amphibians and eye lid called a nictitating Reptiles. membrane.

Amphibians must shed their skin as Frogs cannot live in the sea or any they enlarge in size. The old skin is salt water. discarded like a piece of clothing that has become too tight. Usually the Frogs are found in every continent of shed skin is eaten. the world except Antarctica. Tropical regions have the greatest variety of Amphibians eyes come in all shapes species. and sizes. Some even have square or heart shaped pupils. But There are 4,000 types of Amphibian Amphibians only see in black or in the world, but only has 45 white. species.

Frogs can live equally well in water or on land.

Some frogs can survive in conditions well below freezing. The Grey Tree Frog can survive even though its Frog bones form a growth ring every heart stops. It does this by making year when the frog is hibernating. its own antifreeze which stops its Scientists can count these rings to body from freezing completely. discover the age of the frog. Frogs absorb water through their IPCC’s species adoption scheme lets skin so they don't need to drink. you symbolically adopt a frog. This Frogs lay up to 4,000 eggs at one helps IPCC time. The jelly around the eggs protect peatland helps to keep them warm. The habitat for frogs temperature inside a clump of eggs is and carry out the Image: T. Whyte often much higher than the tempera - Hop To It Frog ture of the pond water around them. Survey each year. Frog adoption costs €20. You receive The eyes and nose of a frog are on a thank you card, an adoption top of its head so it can breathe and certificate with your name plus some see when most of its body is under frog postcards to send to family and the water. friends. Visit www.ipcc.ie, call 045-860133 or email [email protected].

11 Spot The Difference

Common Frog Here are some helpful tips to help you Image: N. Madigan identify between Amphibians found in Ireland: * Common Frog (Loscán) * Smooth Newt (Earc Sléibhe) * Natterjack Toad (Cnádan) * Common Toad (Buaf coitianta)

Movement The Common Toad and Smooth Newt move by crawling. Common Frogs can jump and crawl while Natterjack Toads run and crawl.

Body Size Common Frog and Natterjack Toad bodies are 60-80mm long, A Smooth Newt’s body length can be up to 100mm long while the body of a Smooth Newt Image: N. Madigan Common Toad is 110-170mm.

Natterjack Toad Courtship Rituals Image: M. Mahony Male Common Frogs croak to attract females from late January. Male Smooth Newts perform a courtship dance underwater to impress females from March. Similar to Common Frogs male Natterjack Toads croak loudly from March onwards. While between March and June Common Toads fight to secure dominance and breeding Common Toad opportunities with females. Image: Niall M. Tail or Not The Smooth Newt is the only Amphibian in Ireland with a tail.

Skin The Common Frog has smooth, moist shiny skin, whereas both the Common and Natterjack Toads have warty skin. Smooth Newts have smooth skin in water and rough skin on land. 12 How to Frog Watch

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

n Adults seen in pond n Main spawning time n Tadpoles seen in pond n Other times tadpoles and adults may be seen in pond

Here are 8 tips to help you find and the frog. record frogs safely. 5 So that we can see how successful different places are for 1 Young people should always go breeding frogs we would like you frog watching with a parent or to re-visit (if possible) the place guardian. Make sure you are where you found spawn and tell us dressed for the weather. Ponds if tadpoles develop and what stage can be cold and deep so be they reach. Even if no froglets or careful. Don’t stand or wade into tadpoles are seen we would like water. Never splash other people. you to tell us on the survey sheet - Cover any cuts or scratches with it will help us to decide which are waterproof plasters. Don’t get the best and worst breeding water, or anything that has been in habitats for frogs. the water in your mouth. It could 6 You can visit and record more than make you ill. Take all litter home one pond - just make a photocopy with you. of the survey sheet opposite for 2 You should start looking for frog each site you visit. spawn from the middle of 7 If you want the latest January onwards. Small information about the Hop To It tadpoles can be found from the Irish Frog Survey please visit end of February onwards. www.ipcc.ie . You can print off 3 Ponds, pools and stagnant water extra survey sheets and access a are the best places to look for frog lot more information about frogs spawn - but you could find it in on the web site. You can also streams, bog pools or even in an submit your frog records online. old bath tub. 8 Take Care of Frogs - don’t move 4 When you find spawn or frogs or frog spawn from one pond tadpoles, fill in the frog survey to another. This can transfer from opposite and post it to IPCC, disease. Take care not to disturb Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare the edge of the pond - it’s the R51 V293. Remember to tell us frog’s home. where and when you found the different stages in the life-cycle of 13 Hop to It Irish Frog Survey Recording Sheet Become a Citizen Scientist. Please tell us where you have seen frogs or any of the stages in the frog’s life-cycle for our on-going Hop To It Irish Frog Survey. Please photocopy a new page and complete for every site where you find frogs. Thank you. Name of Frog Site Location:...... Nearest Town: ...... County: ......

Grid Reference for Site: ...... (Can be found on www.biology.ie) Location of Frog Site: ❑ inner city ❑ city suburb ❑ country

Numbers Seen: Please record the date and the number of clumps of frog spawn, individual tadpoles, froglets and adult frogs seen using the following codes: A: 1 B: 2-9 C: 10-29 D: 30-100 or more Frog Life Cycle Stage Date Number Seen 1 Frog spawn clumps 2 Swimming tadpoles 3 Tadpoles with back legs 4 Froglets with four legs and stumpy tail 5 Adult Frogs of Site: ❑ Pond (please give diameter: ...... m) ❑ Bog Pool ❑ Ditch or Drain (please indicate whether water is ❑ still or ❑ moving) ❑ Stream ❑ Other ...... (please specify) Habitat Surrounding Breeding Site: ❑ Garden/Park ❑ Woodland/Forest ❑ Sand Dune ❑ Farmland/Grassland ❑ Bog/Heathland ❑ Lake/Marsh ❑ Other ...... (please specify) Potential Threats: ❑ ❑ Pollution ❑ Habitat drying out ❑ Fire (e.g. deliberate burning of bogs) ❑ Habitat loss ❑ Evidence of disease/infection ❑ Tick if this is the first record you are sending in for this site. Name:...... qTick if you would like to Address:...... receive a digital Hop to It E-mail:...... Citizen Scientist certificate Telephone:...... of participation Please return to IPCC, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare R51 V293 or submit your record online at www.ipcc.ie 14 R c C C a i t f H i t f H C o N

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