Endangered Cricket frog

Northern Cricket Frog

Features: Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitanis) is a small, rough-skinned member of the Tree Frog Family. The toe pads which are a characteristic of tree frogs are not well developed in this subspecies. It is normally brown or gray in colour and has a distinctive V-shaped marking between the eyes. The call is said to resemble the sound of "pebbles clicking together." This subspecies is more highly aquatic than other North American tree frogs. After the breeding season, it remains in shoreline areas of marshes, ponds and streams, and can often be found in emergent aquatic plants bordering these sources of permanent water.
Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally
Range: This subspecies has an extensive distribution in its United States range, which extends from Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky west to South Dakota, and south through Texas into northern Mexico. Although considered abundant in parts of this range, it has declined in some areas. The subspecies is likely extirpated in Ontario. Confirmed records for the province exist from Point Pelee, Essex County, where the first Ontario specimen was taken in 1913, and from Pelee Island. Range Maps
Threats: Habitat loss resulting from drainage, dredging and landfill was responsible, in part, for the decline of Northern Cricket Frog in Ontario. Natural flooding which occurred over the winter of 1972 was likely responsible for the disappearance of Northern Cricket Frogs at one site, and may have affected other sites on the Island. In addition, introduced, non-native Carp (Cyprinus carpio) which eat Cricket Frog larvae gained access to the frogs' breeding ponds during periods of high water. Since the apparent disappearance of the Cricket Frog on Pelee, the highly predatory Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) has increased dramatically at the last known Cricket Frog site, which decreases chances of a recovery, should a small population remain.
Protection: Northern Cricket Frog is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species and its habitat. A recovery plan, sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, has been developed.

 




 Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is the term used to describe the variety of life found on Earth and all of the natural processes. This includes ecosystem, genetic and cultural diversity, and the connections between these and all species. The different aspects of biodiversity all have a very strong influence on each other. We have only just started to understand the relationships between living things and their environments. It is helpful to think of an ecosystem as a woven carpet; if you pull on a loose thread it might only affect the thread and those closest to it or it might unravel the whole carpet.
Biodiversity also helps us in our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, the greenhouse gases produced by human activities are building up in the atmosphere and causing climate change. Climate change is a major threat to biodiversity.

 The diversity of species on Earth is incredible. Right now, there are more than 1.7 million species that have been discovered and named while scientists think that there are millions more we don’t know about. The different plants, animals and other forms of life interact with each other in so many ways that we are still figuring them out.
Over time, many species of plants and animals have evolved to depend on one another. For example, some plants can only be pollinated by a certain kind of bird or insect. In relationships like these, if one species becomes extinct, the other species could too.
The complex relationships between species are often disturbed when organisms are transported to new places or a new element is introduced (for example, chemicals from pesticides). This can be by accident or on purpose. Sometimes they compete with species that are already there or they prey on them. It is also possible that they may have no effect on the native species.
Here are a couple of tips
• Never introduce an invasive plant species into an area it does not naturally exist
• Never release your exotic pets, including fish or turtles, into the wild
• Plant only native species
• Avoid using pesticides or chemicals on your lawns or in your garden.