Jodi Young and Olivia Barry

Research conducted on 30 ponds on the Baie Verte Peninsula by two honours environmental studies students during the summer of 2020 focused on listening to "anuran species."

Grenfell students Jodi Young and Olivia Barry were supervised by Dr. Christine Campbell of Grenfell's School of Science and the Environment. Their studies feed into a larger project being conducted by Dr. Campbell and Dr. Ian Warkentin.

Ms. Young and Ms. Barry presented their findings at the Science Atlantic Environment Conference.

"Anura" are frogs and toads. There are no species of anurans native to the island of Newfoundland; however, four species have been successfully introduced - American Toad, Green Frog, Mink Frog and Wood Frog – to the Corner Brook region.

Click to download the full poster.

Ms. Young's study is titled "Distribution and abundance of introduced anuran species in ponds on the Baie Verte Peninsula, Newfoundland."

"The extent of the dispersal throughout the island is unknown but habitat factors such as water temperature, water pH, and conductivity, may play a role," said Ms. Young, adding the goal of her study was to explore anuran movement into the unsurveyed Baie Verte Peninsula by monitoring breeding calls Her study shows establishment of introduced Green Frogs and American Toads along the Baie Verte Peninsula, with basic water chemistry likely not the most important factor influencing habitat selection of these species on the island.

Click to download the full poster.

Meanwhile, Ms. Barry's study, titled "Analysis of trace metal concentrations in relation to water quality and anuran distribution in ponds on Newfoundland's Baie Verte Peninsula," assessed the presence and concentrations of a suite of trace metals in the anuran pond habitats on the Peninsula.

"The mining of metals has had an extensive history in Newfoundland, particularly on the Baie Verte Peninsula – heavy metals such as copper and gold have been mined here, as well as asbestos," she said. "These mines are often at the expense of ecological systems; heavy metals such as copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc do not break down easily, and they can build up in aquatic organisms, which poses threats to both ecosystem and human health."

Frogs spend much of their development submerged in water, so they can be directly exposed to environmental pollutants through their permeable eggs and skin, as well as orally, said Ms. Barry.

While her analysis did not show any strong relationship between anuran distribution and the presence of the measured trace metals, Ms. Barry plans to further her research of anuran movement in Newfoundland in relation to pond water chemistry.

"This research is important because it can further understanding of the environmental impacts of mining, particularly in aquatic habitats," she said.

More information about the School of Science and the Environment is available here.