Frogs and toads hibernate

Frogs, toads and newts in the pond to help hibernate


green frog
Depending on the design of a garden and its location in a particular landscape, it is possible that various amphibian species to establish if there is a garden pond is present. An amphibian pond invites out, if the water is not too small and there is enough real water plants, floating plants and marginal plants are present. The closer the pond in natural amphibian habitat is, the greater the chance to get frogs, toads and salamanders to be seen.
Frogs and toads
Bufo bufo.Path with warts



Common Frog
The common toad (Bufo bufo) is the most common garden resident. Because they lead a hidden life, she is rarely seen. Also, Bufo calamita (natterjack toad) and Alytes obstreticans (the Midwife) are sometimes in gardens. Toads and fire-bellied toad (Bombina variant with yellow belly) in the dry winter in caves and under rocks, roots, etc.
Frogs, toads, unlike, dagactief. They are from spring until October (and sometimes mild weather in November) and the pond to find. It may Rana esculenta (green frog), Rana temporaria (the frog), Rana arvalis (the moor frog) and Rana lessonae (the little green frog) are. Frogs hibernate on land or in water. R. lessonae and R. esculentae usually overwinter in the water, in shelters on the bottom. The animals that hibernate on land, do so in caves, under rocks and wood and compost heaps. The other two species of frogs overwinter mainly on land.
Because amphibians breathe through lungs, the question is how long they can survive under water. At 5 ° C cold water, the animals reduced the extent of their metabolism, breathing lung that she could switch on skin respiration. The heart rate has only 4 beats per minute.
Help overwinter in the pondNature lovers in their gardens can do much to help amphibians hibernate. For wintering in the pond must be at least 80 to 100 cm deep. Place piles of stones or wood on the bottom. You could also concrete or clay pipes, 5 to 10 cm diameter, diagonal or straight up in the pond lay. Like many amphibians hibernate in a dark place. Is not present on the soil, then they might find a dark spot on too shallow along the lake shore. There, the animals freeze.
Aerating the pond is recommended, as long as the surface is not completely frozen. By the surface motion is a total freeze on the surface postponed. Once the surface is completely frozen, cut through the (air) pump off. Now the air present under the ice is enough to the animals to hibernate. The whole can be repeated if the surface is temporarily thaws. If the water in the pond 4 ° C. , it has its smallest volume. The air between water and ice acts as a cold insulation. Also snow on the ice acts as an insulator, so that thickening of the ice is slowed or stopped.
Help overwinter in the pondAlso on the land hibernating animals, we can lend a hand. Particularly moist garden areas or places with pristine vegetation to attract amphibians. Also among piles of wood, stone or in the aforesaid pipes is like overwinters.
Lay the pipes and tilted 30 to 40 cm deep into the earth. It is often impossible to amphibians from vertically placed tubes to crawl. Cover the entrance with leaves, so it is dark inside. Do all this well before winter begins.
SalamandersNewts hibernate on land under wood or rocks and in caves. But there are exceptions.
Typically the adult newts leave their offspring in the late summer water. Some crested newt (Triturus cristatus), however, live their entire lives in water. Also, larvae of this species sometimes not fully developed in the second year and then they leave the water. A few remain throughout his life, "larva", ie with external gills. This is called neotenie.
Salamanders in the water over winter, this doing in muddy soil and are mostly left on skin respiration. Those salamanders that breathe through lungs, have occasionally to the surface for air. In the summer this happens very frequently and rapidly, in winter there are large intervals between the slow and done. The metabolic rate is heavily reduced. Neotenie also occurs in Triturus vulgaris (the common, or newt) Triturus alpestris and (Alpine newt) for.
These two species overwinter on land, as Triturus helveticus (the vinpootsalamander). The fire salamander (Salamandra Salamandra), a real land salamander hibernate out of water. They often hibernate in groups in caves and under rocks and wood.
Dead animals in the springPond enthusiasts sometimes see that after their monarch dead amphibians in ponds float. This is caused by lack of oxygen and is found mainly in foil ponds. If the fish have survived, the cause of death had been an infectious disease.
In natural clay or loam soils are organic substances mainly through the soil. In a particularly sour leaf waste pond water and extracts very much oxygen. It is therefore recommended for winter leaf litter from the pond to get. Also is seen in the autumn with a net over the pond, catch the falling leaves. No nature lover, this failure may be a good winter for amphibians to deliver.