Here are the previous issues of Nature Corner
MAY 2005
This month's page is a description of the Common Frog and the Bluebell. Frogs are very common in the hills and wetlands of Clonaslee. At present the woodland areas around Clonaslee are carpeted with pretty Bluebells.
THE COMMON FROG
You may have noticed tadpoles in little ponds on your travels. If you frequent the Slieve Blooms, you can’t help but see a multitude of tadpoles in little pools of water. Frogs are amphibians which is a Greek word meaning "living a double life," which reflects the two stage (biphasic) life cycle of frogs.
The Common Frog is the only species of frog found in Ireland. The skin colour and markings of the Common Frog vary enormously. The basic colour ranges from a pale green-grey through yellow to a dark olive-coloured brown. The only regular markings are the dark bars across the limbs, and streaks behind and in front of the eyes.
A frogs diet consists of slugs, worms, flies and other insects. They can be found in damp vegetation, camouflaged ponds and hedges. Frogs breed around February and spawn around March. Tadpoles hatch and grow from April to May. Tadpoles metamorphose into froglets, and leave the pond in June/July.
Frog Life Cycle
When the adults emerge from hibernation they migrate to congregate at various breeding sites. They may travel up to half a mile to find a site where they gather in large numbers. The males always arrive first and strike up a chorus of loud croaking to attract females. Frogs do not have any elegant courtship rituals; the eager male simply grabs the nearest female as she arrives at the spawning site.
Spawning itself lasts only a few seconds. The female lays over 2,000 black eggs while the male releases sperm. The eggs are fertilised immediately and before their gelatinous capsules absorb water, swell and rise to the surface. After spawning the female usually leaves the pond, while the male often goes on to search for another mate.
Both male and female frogs return to the same pond year after year, probably recognising it from the smell of the water and algae.
Eggs & Frog Spawn
Each frog egg is 2-3mm is a diameter and is enclosed in an envelope of jelly. When the egg is deposited in the water the jelly swells to a diameter of 8-10mm insulating the eggs from the water. The egg develops into a tadpole in 10-21 days (the higher the temperature the shorter the development time).
Tadpole
The tadpole digests the spawn jelly using a special secretion and hatches. Specific adhesive organs fasten the newly hatched tadpole to other spawn or plants in the pool. At this early stage tadpoles have no mouth, and until its mouth organs form it feeds on an internal yolk sac attached to the stomach. At approximately 2 days old the external gills, mouth and eyes are formed. At this stage it moves like a fish and begins to eat algae. At 12 days spiracles and internal gills are formed. At 5 weeks the hind legs are showing and the lungs are forming. It then has to swim to the surface of the water to gulp air. The tadpole has fleshy lips with rows of teeth for rasping away at water plants and by seven weeks it also eats insects and even other tadpoles.
Froglet
At 10 weeks the forelegs are growing. The hind legs are fully grown and the tail is reducing. At 14 weeks the tail is nearly fully absorbed. At this stage the froglets are usually starting to spend time on rocks or in nearby damp grass.
In winter frogs hide in frost-free refuges, under tree stumps, in stacks of turf, or in rock piles to hibernate until the following spring.
Young frogs usually double in size by the following autumn and they reach sexual maturity in their third year. They can live for 7-8 years.
Frogtastic Facts
Ø Frogs lay up to 4,000 eggs at one time. The jelly around the eggs helps to keep them warm. The temperature inside a clump of eggs is often much higher than the temperature of the pond water around them.
Ø Frog bones form a growth ring every year when the frog is hibernating. Scientists can count these rings to discover the age of the frog.
Ø Amphibians must shed their skin as they enlarge in size. The old skin is discarded and is usually eaten.
Ø Frogs absorb water through their skin so they don't need to drink and can live equally well in water or on land.
Ø A frog can change the colour of its skin depending on its surroundings.
BLUEBELL
Hyacinthoides non-scriptus
·Bell-shaped, deep blue flowers
·A tall stem
·Often grow so closely together they form a unique carpet - one of nature’s most stunning displays.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Hyacinthaceae
Genus: Hyacinthoides
Species: H. non-scripta
Binomial name
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Where found
· All over the country, in woodland, grassland, heath, scrub and hedgerows.
· In Clonaslee, Bluebells can be found in Brittas wood.
· Bluebells are a perennial, flowering in April and May
BLUEBELLS
Bluebells are a common woodland Spring flower in Ireland. They are easily recognizable by the spike of blue bell shaped flowers, which is where they get their name. Bluebells die down following flowering and store their energy in a bulb ready to grow again the following spring. The Bluebell flowers when there is light available in woodlands, before the trees fully develop their leaves.
Bluebells have long narrow leaves, about 25-45cm long and about 7-15mm wide. They normally have blue bell shaped flowers although they can be occasionally white or pink.
When to look for Bluebells
Bluebells can usually be seen flowering between April and June. They are normally most abundant and spectacular in May.
Where to look for Bluebells
Bluebells are mainly found in shady habitats such as woodland, scrub or hedgerows. They can also be found in habitats such as heaths and grassy banks, where there were bushes or trees. Bluebells are usually associated with broadleaf woodland.
When you are looking at Bluebells please do not trample on them too much and PLEASE DO NOT PICK them. Leave them for other people to enjoy and allow them to flower for several more years to come.
What is threatening Bluebells?
The main threat to Bluebells is the destruction of their habitat. The removal of habitats such as hedgerows, scrub and woodland often leads to a loss of the Bluebells.
Ireland and Britain are home to a very significant proportion of the Bluebell population in Europe.
Climate threat
Some ecologists predict that the bluebell could slip into decline as global warming alters the pattern of our seasonal climate. The bluebell's success stems from its ability to bloom early and then grow rapidly and produce a new bulb before the tree canopy closes and shades the woodland floor. But if the predicted mild winters materialise - and all the signs are that they're already with us - the bluebell will lose its competitive edge over other woodland species, as their period of rapid growth shifts closer to that of the bluebell. That could mark the beginning of the end for the annual spectacle of a bluebell wood in full bloom.
Habitats
Deciduous woodland
Grassland
Heath
Hedgegrows
Scrub
MAY 2005
This month's page is a description of the Common Frog and the Bluebell. Frogs are very common in the hills and wetlands of Clonaslee. At present the woodland areas around Clonaslee are carpeted with pretty Bluebells.
THE COMMON FROG
You may have noticed tadpoles in little ponds on your travels. If you frequent the Slieve Blooms, you can’t help but see a multitude of tadpoles in little pools of water. Frogs are amphibians which is a Greek word meaning "living a double life," which reflects the two stage (biphasic) life cycle of frogs.
The Common Frog is the only species of frog found in Ireland. The skin colour and markings of the Common Frog vary enormously. The basic colour ranges from a pale green-grey through yellow to a dark olive-coloured brown. The only regular markings are the dark bars across the limbs, and streaks behind and in front of the eyes.
A frogs diet consists of slugs, worms, flies and other insects. They can be found in damp vegetation, camouflaged ponds and hedges. Frogs breed around February and spawn around March. Tadpoles hatch and grow from April to May. Tadpoles metamorphose into froglets, and leave the pond in June/July.
Frog Life Cycle
When the adults emerge from hibernation they migrate to congregate at various breeding sites. They may travel up to half a mile to find a site where they gather in large numbers. The males always arrive first and strike up a chorus of loud croaking to attract females. Frogs do not have any elegant courtship rituals; the eager male simply grabs the nearest female as she arrives at the spawning site.
Spawning itself lasts only a few seconds. The female lays over 2,000 black eggs while the male releases sperm. The eggs are fertilised immediately and before their gelatinous capsules absorb water, swell and rise to the surface. After spawning the female usually leaves the pond, while the male often goes on to search for another mate.
Both male and female frogs return to the same pond year after year, probably recognising it from the smell of the water and algae.
Eggs & Frog Spawn
Each frog egg is 2-3mm is a diameter and is enclosed in an envelope of jelly. When the egg is deposited in the water the jelly swells to a diameter of 8-10mm insulating the eggs from the water. The egg develops into a tadpole in 10-21 days (the higher the temperature the shorter the development time).
Tadpole
The tadpole digests the spawn jelly using a special secretion and hatches. Specific adhesive organs fasten the newly hatched tadpole to other spawn or plants in the pool. At this early stage tadpoles have no mouth, and until its mouth organs form it feeds on an internal yolk sac attached to the stomach. At approximately 2 days old the external gills, mouth and eyes are formed. At this stage it moves like a fish and begins to eat algae. At 12 days spiracles and internal gills are formed. At 5 weeks the hind legs are showing and the lungs are forming. It then has to swim to the surface of the water to gulp air. The tadpole has fleshy lips with rows of teeth for rasping away at water plants and by seven weeks it also eats insects and even other tadpoles.
Froglet
At 10 weeks the forelegs are growing. The hind legs are fully grown and the tail is reducing. At 14 weeks the tail is nearly fully absorbed. At this stage the froglets are usually starting to spend time on rocks or in nearby damp grass.
In winter frogs hide in frost-free refuges, under tree stumps, in stacks of turf, or in rock piles to hibernate until the following spring.
Young frogs usually double in size by the following autumn and they reach sexual maturity in their third year. They can live for 7-8 years.
Frogtastic Facts
Ø Frogs lay up to 4,000 eggs at one time. The jelly around the eggs helps to keep them warm. The temperature inside a clump of eggs is often much higher than the temperature of the pond water around them.
Ø Frog bones form a growth ring every year when the frog is hibernating. Scientists can count these rings to discover the age of the frog.
Ø Amphibians must shed their skin as they enlarge in size. The old skin is discarded and is usually eaten.
Ø Frogs absorb water through their skin so they don't need to drink and can live equally well in water or on land.
Ø A frog can change the colour of its skin depending on its surroundings.
BLUEBELL
Hyacinthoides non-scriptus
·Bell-shaped, deep blue flowers
·A tall stem
·Often grow so closely together they form a unique carpet - one of nature’s most stunning displays.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Hyacinthaceae
Genus: Hyacinthoides
Species: H. non-scripta
Binomial name
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Where found
· All over the country, in woodland, grassland, heath, scrub and hedgerows.
· In Clonaslee, Bluebells can be found in Brittas wood.
· Bluebells are a perennial, flowering in April and May
BLUEBELLS
Bluebells are a common woodland Spring flower in Ireland. They are easily recognizable by the spike of blue bell shaped flowers, which is where they get their name. Bluebells die down following flowering and store their energy in a bulb ready to grow again the following spring. The Bluebell flowers when there is light available in woodlands, before the trees fully develop their leaves.
Bluebells have long narrow leaves, about 25-45cm long and about 7-15mm wide. They normally have blue bell shaped flowers although they can be occasionally white or pink.
When to look for Bluebells
Bluebells can usually be seen flowering between April and June. They are normally most abundant and spectacular in May.
Where to look for Bluebells
Bluebells are mainly found in shady habitats such as woodland, scrub or hedgerows. They can also be found in habitats such as heaths and grassy banks, where there were bushes or trees. Bluebells are usually associated with broadleaf woodland.
When you are looking at Bluebells please do not trample on them too much and PLEASE DO NOT PICK them. Leave them for other people to enjoy and allow them to flower for several more years to come.
What is threatening Bluebells?
The main threat to Bluebells is the destruction of their habitat. The removal of habitats such as hedgerows, scrub and woodland often leads to a loss of the Bluebells.
Ireland and Britain are home to a very significant proportion of the Bluebell population in Europe.
Climate threat
Some ecologists predict that the bluebell could slip into decline as global warming alters the pattern of our seasonal climate. The bluebell's success stems from its ability to bloom early and then grow rapidly and produce a new bulb before the tree canopy closes and shades the woodland floor. But if the predicted mild winters materialise - and all the signs are that they're already with us - the bluebell will lose its competitive edge over other woodland species, as their period of rapid growth shifts closer to that of the bluebell. That could mark the beginning of the end for the annual spectacle of a bluebell wood in full bloom.
Habitats
Deciduous woodland
Grassland
Heath
Hedgegrows
Scrub
Nature Archive
