FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a tadpole and a frog? I've seen some dead frogs in my local wetland...should I report them here?

Tadpoles are the aquatic larvae form of adult frogs. Tadpoles are aquatic, free swimming larvae with distinctive head and tail regions. As tadpoles develop towards adulthood they develop hind legs. Soon afterwards, their forelimbs emerge and their tail begins to atrophy and begins to look like a small stub. Lastly, the tail is fully reabsorbed and the metamorphosis is complete. Although deaths within adult frog populations are of concern to biologists, it is well outside of the scope of this project which focuses on tadpole die-offs only. Information submitted regarding adult frog deaths will be forwarded to the appropriate organization.

How important is it for me to provide my contact information?

The only individuals who will have access to your contact information is the research team and no one will contact you about anything unrelated to the research. There is a field on the form you submit
which allows you to choose if you would like to have contact with the researchers. If you select 'yes' the researchers may contact you for clarification or more information regarding the die-off. The researchers need to arrive at the die-off site as early as possible and you may be contacted for information regarding the exact location you observed the die-off to better facilitate researchers in the field. Selecting 'yes' also means that we can keep you up to date regarding the status of your die-off report.

If you select 'no' or do not fill in the contact information fields then we will not contact you in any way. If you do not wish to be contacted we still encourage you to submit the information if you observe a die-off.
The information you submit will be pursued and we will attempt to gather information from the field however, we can not guarantee that we will be able to thoroughly investigate the die-off if we have
difficulty locating the site and are unable to contact you for further details.

What if I don't know specific information about the weather and/or pond?

The fields on the reporting form are not all mandatory. If you are unsure of the water temperature or depth feel free to leave these fields blank. Alternatively, providing us with an estimate is fine. You don't need to provide 100% accurate physical data for your report to be useful to us.

What is the difference between a temporary and permanent pond?

A temporary (vernal) pond is one which is full of water for only a couple months of each year. Typically, these ponds accumulate water from snow melt or precipitation in the early spring and then dry up in the summer months. These ponds are vital breeding grounds for many amphibian species. In contrast, permanent ponds are full of water for the entire year.

How do I know what species (type) of tadpoles are effected?

In order to determine what species of tadpole has been effected in the die-off you are reporting use the tadpole identification chart. This chart provides details on how to tell tadpoles apart from one another
and includes images of species commonly found within Ontario.

How do I know what stage of development the tadpoles are at?

The stage of development tells us the age of the tadpoles effected in the die-off you are reporting. Please use the stage of development chart to determine the age range of the tadpoles. The chart contains drawings of tadpoles at different stages of development from very young tadpoles (hatchlings) to animals right on the verge of becoming froglets (metamorphs).

What are the characteristics (signs and symptoms) of this pathogen that I should look for in the tadpoles on my property?

Dr. Michael Berrill and his associates have been collecting data regarding the signs exhibited by tadpoles found at die-off sites. Please check our list of signs and symptoms to find out what sorts of indicators we are looking for. If your tadpoles are not exhibiting any of these signs but you are observing a population crash at your site please submit a report regardless. At this point there is little known about the pathogen we believe is causing these deaths and therefore, the indicators may be different. Use the signs and symptom page as a guide only. We would appreciate any information which may be linked to amphibian deaths as a result of a pathogen.