Tropical Rainforest Project |
R-Selected species: FLyinG FROG
Name: Flying Frog (Rhacophorus Nigropalmatus)
Also Known As: Parachute Frogs Group: Army Type: Amphibian Diet: Carnivores Size: Grow up to 4 inches, or 10 centimeters Red List Category: Least Concern -Four webbed feet -Can glide up to approximately 50 feet -Oversized toe pads to help them land softly and stick to trees -Bright green with yellow sides |
Size relative to a tea cup
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Community Description- Flying Frogs eat an array of insects and beetles. The predators of Flying Frogs include animals such as bats, snakes, and birds. However, beetles, birds, and other organisms may feed on the unborn eggs, and also the tadpoles, of Flying Frogs.
Population Description- Wallace's flying frogs inhabit the dense tropical jungles of Malaysia and Borneo. They live almost exclusively in the trees, descending only to mate and lay eggs. When threatened or in search of prey, they will leap from a branch and splay their four webbed feet. The membranes between their toes and loose skin flaps on their sides catch the air as they fall, helping them to glide, sometimes 50 feet (15 meters) or more, to a neighboring tree branch or even all the way to the ground. They also have oversized toe pads to help them land softly and stick to tree trunks.
Population Size- Approximately 350 billion worldwide
Population Density- Approximately 175 per hectare
Population Sex Ratio- More males than females-Approximately 2:1 ratio
Population Age Structure- The population age structure is shaped like a pyramid: a wide base and narrow top. When a Flying Frog lays its eggs, it lays hundreds. Most of these eggs will not survive, and even if they do produce tadpoles, not all of them survive in their young years. Therefore the lower ages (during times in the egg and tadpole stages) are more plentiful than the adult Flying Frog stages.
Density-Dependent Factors- Density-Dependent Factors for Flying Frogs include the insects needed to provide them enough nutrition to survive, grow and reproduce. Also, if more predators of the Flying Frog arise, the population will shrink, giving the population a greater chance to obtain the food that is needed.
Density-Independent Factors- Natural disasters, floods, and other climatic events are some density-independent factors in the life of Flying Frogs. For example, if there is too much precipitation, certain insects may not survive, causing less obtainable food for the Flying Frog population.
Limiting Resources- The limiting resources for Flying Frogs are fairly stereotypical. Flying Frogs must always have a source of water in which they can lay their eggs. The tadpoles will then develop and grow into frogs in the water. Also, the various insects that the frogs eat will also act as a limiting resource because they cannot survive without proper nutrition. The trees in the forests can act as a limiting resource as well because the frogs spend so much time in the trees and rarely submerge onto the ground.
Carrying Capacity (K)- Similar to most other R-Selected Species, the Flying Frog does not normally remain near its carrying capacity. The carrying capacity would two, however, the population normally increases rapidly, far surpassing the low carrying capacity.
Intrinsic Growth Rate- Intrinsic Growth Rate is the particular maximum potential for growth within a species. The Flying Frog's intrinsic growth rate is extremely high. If the Frogs have enough recourses available to them, they number of deaths will begin to decrease.
Population Overshoot and Die-Off- Overshoot and Die-Off comes as a result of the Flying Frogs not staying relatively near their carrying capacity. For example, if the predators of Flying Frogs were to feed on other types of Frogs, the population of Flying Frogs would increase to the point where there would not be enough insects to feed the entire population, and therefore there would be parts of the population that would die due to lack of resources.
Resource Partitioning- Resource partitioning may occur between Flying Frogs and other insect eating animals. For example, other types of frogs, such as the red eyed tree frog or toads, may need to find their food in insects just like the Flying Frogs do. This in turn causes a competition for insects. This concept leads in to the natural selection process: the species that cannot survive and reproduce, or the "loser" when competing, will not be favored in natural selection.
Influence Of Latitude, Time, Habitat, Size, and distance From Other Communities- Flying frogs are found in areas like Malaysia and Indonesia. These areas are extremely close to, if not directly on, the equator. The climate near the equator plays a crucial part in the life of the flying frog, as the areas near the equator are hot and moist, with a lot of precipitation.
Predation- True predators-Mostly consume various insects in order to fulfill their dietary needs
Mutualism- Mutualism is the interaction in which both parties are benefited by the relationship. The Flying Frogs eat insects. Insects play an important part in the growth and reproduction of various plants in the Tropical Rainforest.
Commensalism- Flying frogs have a relationship with trees in the forest in which the frogs are benefiting and the trees are neither helped nor harmed. Flying frogs live in trees and descend only to mate and lay their eggs.
Competition- Competition for limited resources within the population, as well as with other populations. Also, competition for mating partners between male and female Flying Frogs.
Parasitism- Flying Frogs are very susceptible to parasitism. Other insects, as well as worms, carry infectious disease that can cause sickness or even fatalities within the Flying Frogs populations.
Competitive Exclusion Principle- The Flying Frogs often have to compete with other types of Frogs in the area in order to obtain enough insects and food to survive. Also, the predators of the Flying Frogs include bats and snakes, who have to compete in order to consume the Flying Frogs.
Population Description- Wallace's flying frogs inhabit the dense tropical jungles of Malaysia and Borneo. They live almost exclusively in the trees, descending only to mate and lay eggs. When threatened or in search of prey, they will leap from a branch and splay their four webbed feet. The membranes between their toes and loose skin flaps on their sides catch the air as they fall, helping them to glide, sometimes 50 feet (15 meters) or more, to a neighboring tree branch or even all the way to the ground. They also have oversized toe pads to help them land softly and stick to tree trunks.
Population Size- Approximately 350 billion worldwide
Population Density- Approximately 175 per hectare
Population Sex Ratio- More males than females-Approximately 2:1 ratio
Population Age Structure- The population age structure is shaped like a pyramid: a wide base and narrow top. When a Flying Frog lays its eggs, it lays hundreds. Most of these eggs will not survive, and even if they do produce tadpoles, not all of them survive in their young years. Therefore the lower ages (during times in the egg and tadpole stages) are more plentiful than the adult Flying Frog stages.
Density-Dependent Factors- Density-Dependent Factors for Flying Frogs include the insects needed to provide them enough nutrition to survive, grow and reproduce. Also, if more predators of the Flying Frog arise, the population will shrink, giving the population a greater chance to obtain the food that is needed.
Density-Independent Factors- Natural disasters, floods, and other climatic events are some density-independent factors in the life of Flying Frogs. For example, if there is too much precipitation, certain insects may not survive, causing less obtainable food for the Flying Frog population.
Limiting Resources- The limiting resources for Flying Frogs are fairly stereotypical. Flying Frogs must always have a source of water in which they can lay their eggs. The tadpoles will then develop and grow into frogs in the water. Also, the various insects that the frogs eat will also act as a limiting resource because they cannot survive without proper nutrition. The trees in the forests can act as a limiting resource as well because the frogs spend so much time in the trees and rarely submerge onto the ground.
Carrying Capacity (K)- Similar to most other R-Selected Species, the Flying Frog does not normally remain near its carrying capacity. The carrying capacity would two, however, the population normally increases rapidly, far surpassing the low carrying capacity.
Intrinsic Growth Rate- Intrinsic Growth Rate is the particular maximum potential for growth within a species. The Flying Frog's intrinsic growth rate is extremely high. If the Frogs have enough recourses available to them, they number of deaths will begin to decrease.
Population Overshoot and Die-Off- Overshoot and Die-Off comes as a result of the Flying Frogs not staying relatively near their carrying capacity. For example, if the predators of Flying Frogs were to feed on other types of Frogs, the population of Flying Frogs would increase to the point where there would not be enough insects to feed the entire population, and therefore there would be parts of the population that would die due to lack of resources.
Resource Partitioning- Resource partitioning may occur between Flying Frogs and other insect eating animals. For example, other types of frogs, such as the red eyed tree frog or toads, may need to find their food in insects just like the Flying Frogs do. This in turn causes a competition for insects. This concept leads in to the natural selection process: the species that cannot survive and reproduce, or the "loser" when competing, will not be favored in natural selection.
Influence Of Latitude, Time, Habitat, Size, and distance From Other Communities- Flying frogs are found in areas like Malaysia and Indonesia. These areas are extremely close to, if not directly on, the equator. The climate near the equator plays a crucial part in the life of the flying frog, as the areas near the equator are hot and moist, with a lot of precipitation.
Predation- True predators-Mostly consume various insects in order to fulfill their dietary needs
Mutualism- Mutualism is the interaction in which both parties are benefited by the relationship. The Flying Frogs eat insects. Insects play an important part in the growth and reproduction of various plants in the Tropical Rainforest.
Commensalism- Flying frogs have a relationship with trees in the forest in which the frogs are benefiting and the trees are neither helped nor harmed. Flying frogs live in trees and descend only to mate and lay their eggs.
Competition- Competition for limited resources within the population, as well as with other populations. Also, competition for mating partners between male and female Flying Frogs.
Parasitism- Flying Frogs are very susceptible to parasitism. Other insects, as well as worms, carry infectious disease that can cause sickness or even fatalities within the Flying Frogs populations.
Competitive Exclusion Principle- The Flying Frogs often have to compete with other types of Frogs in the area in order to obtain enough insects and food to survive. Also, the predators of the Flying Frogs include bats and snakes, who have to compete in order to consume the Flying Frogs.
Population Distribution: Flying frogs are mostly found in the tropical jungles of Malaysia and Borneo, near the equator.
Survivorship Curve: The Flying Frog would be categorized as Type III
Logistic Growth Rate
Carrying Capacity