AMPHIBIANS

1. AMPHIBIANS BY: Amna, Kathy,

2. Is it a Phylum or a Kingdom? • Amphibian is a phylum and it belongs the animal kingdom. What is it? The word amphibian means two lives and amphibians can live in water and land. Amphibians are characterized as vertebrates and are cold blooded which means their body temperature varies with the surrounding of air or water temperature. This includes frogs, toads, newts and salamander. The amphibians are found anywhere in the forest, woodlots, meadows, springs, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps and farmlands. All amphibians begin their lives in water with gills and tail; they later on develop lungs and legs to go on land. Amphibians are eukaryotic; eukaryotic are organisms that are made up of cells that have a membrane bound nucleus that holds genetic materials. Amphibians are heterotrophs because they need carbon to grow, develop and reproduce. These organisms that are heterotrophs can ingest other organisms and obtain carbon from the organic material which makes up the other organism. All animals are heterotrophs because they need to reproduce and develop in order to make generations. There is no cell wall in amphibians because animals do not have a cell wall. Animals have a eukaryotic cell that is enclosed by a plasma membrane and it contains a membrane bound nucleus and organelles, which cannot have a cell wall.

3. Organisms Darwin's Frog (Rhinoderma Darwinii) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class:Amphibia Order:Anura Family:Rhinodermatidae Genus:Rhinoderma Species: Darwinii Darwin's Frogs were discovered by Charles Darwin. They are native to the forest streams of Argentina and Chile and can be found living near and in slow streams and swamps. Darwin's frogs are green, brown or tan in colour and live for about 10-15 years. Their predators include: rodents, snakes and birds. When threatened, they simply roll over and play dead or remain very still on the forest floor looking like a dead leaf. The Darwin's frog is a carnivorous animal that uses it's long, sticky tongue to catch insects, worms, snails and spiders. They are well known for the way in which they takes care of their young. The female lays her eggs, which are then guarded by the male for about 2 weeks. Once hatched, the male Darwin's frog carries the developing tadpoles in a pouch in his throat until they have developed into little froglets and are able to hop away.

4. Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Epidalea Species: Calamita The Natterjack has a loud raspy mating call made by the male from the edge of a pond at night during the breeding season (April - July). Spawn is laid in strings and the tadpoles are small and black. They develop quickly and the yellow dorsal stripe is clearly visible on the young toad lets (they are distinguished from Common Toads by a yellow line down the middle of the back). They are found in southwest and central Europe, southwest Ireland, but are rare in Britain. In Britain the Natterjack is almost exclusively found confined to coastal sand dune systems, coastal grazing marshes and sandy heaths. It likes sandy habitats because any ponds that form tend to be shallow and very warm and the Natterjack needs warm water in which to breed. They have short limbs which mean they can't leap very far, and usually only do so as a startle response before going into their normal running gait. Natterjacks are poor swimmers and drown in deep water if they can't get ashore. They eat small insects.

5. Importance to society Amphibians are regarded as good ecological indicators due to their high degree of sensitivity, either during their tadpole stage or as adults (they respond to very slight change in the environment). Such responses have been used to indicate habitat fragmentation, ecosystem stress, impact of pesticides, and various anthropogenic activities. - More than 73 amphibian species are known to have some kind of medicinal values. The skin of frogs and toads has been used for medicine by many cultures since ancient times to heal wounds or to cure infectious diseases from wild animals. - Newts and salamanders have the ability of regrowing tissues and organs such as complete limbs, jaws, and tails. In a newt or salamander, following the loss of a limb, a new one can be grown in about three months. Many genes that control this process have been identified also in human beings. They may offer a great hope for understanding how we may be able to unlock our own latent ability to regenerate lost cells, tissues, and maybe even organs. - Five species of frogs are known to survive after being frozen solid. The frog’s capability to survive frozen environment has drawn the attention of scientist involved in human organ transplantation.

6. Impact of human activity and climate/environmental changes 1 in 3 amphibians are at risk of extinction. Possible factors include: - UV-B radiation. This damages DNA and/or kills cells, causing egg mortality, lesions, and increased susceptibility to disease and low ph. - Climate change. The changes in the climate (due to global warming) can lead to decreased depth of pond water and increased intensity of UV-B radiation. This ultimately reduces the immune system of amphibians. Hence they will be more prone to diseases. - Acidic precipitation and soil. The toxins create barriers to dispersal and cause high egg and larval mortality. - Pesticides, fertilizers and chemical contamination. The toxins cause direct mortality of eggs and adults, mimic endocrine hormones and reduce the prey. - Deforestation - Removal of amphibians. This can lead to an increase in insect populations. - Some frogs are caught for food. - Small frogs are used for fishing bait. - Bullfrogs and leopard frogs are used in university and high-school dissection and experimental physiology.

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9. Amphibians Bibliography http://animals.about.com/od/animal-facts/a/animal-characteristics.htm http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/amphibia.htm BBC Nature - Darwin's frog videos, news and facts. (n.d.). BBC - Homepage. Retrieved October 30, 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Darwin b) Darwin's Frog (Rhinoderma Darwinii) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links. (n.d.). A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links. Retrieved October 30, 2011, from http://a-z-animals.com/animals/darwins-frog/ c) BBC Nature - Natterjack toad videos, news and facts. (n.d.). BBC - Homepage. Retrieved October 30, 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Natter d) The Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita). (n.d.). The Herpetological Conservation Trust. Retrieved October 30, 2011, from http://www.herpconstrust.org.uk/animal ) http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/amphibians/ecological.htm b) Endangered Species International. (n.d.). Endangered Species International. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from http://www.endangeredspeciesinternati c) Amphibian - The Canadian Encyclopedia. (n.d.). The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=a1ARTA0000188