occupancy of remote aquatic hibernacula

[Fred Schueler]

Everyone,

I snagged the term "remote aquatic hibernaculum" (RAH) from a paper
about Green Frogs, and this is one of the conspicuous features of the
upper Kemptville Creek watershed, where the creek goes anoxic in many
winters. Many frogs don't take their chances with this, and try to
over-winter in small roadside holes and ponds, with their chance of
freezing solid.

Our little (2.5m) lined Waterlilyed Firepit Pond was a watering hub for
Green & Leopard frogs through the drought, but the other nearby RAH, the
roadside hole in the ditch at the Pentecostal culvert, has been empty
until recent rain.

Yesterday, under skims of ice, there were two small frogs that ducked
into the Firepit Waterlilies before I could be sure of their species,
and a fair-sized Bull Frog in the Pentecostal culvert, so both RAH are
occupied, and we'll have to see how the winter goes.

fred.
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Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
Fragile Inheritance Natural History - https://fragileinheritance.ca/
2024 annual letter: https://clt1233162.bmeurl.co/11E63979
6 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44.87156° N 75.70095° W
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