Log of the Frogs

Name: Gwendolyn Broderick
Class Year: 2020
Hometown: Oregonia, Ohio
Research Assistant
Gamboa, Panama

Who wouldn't take a selfie with this cutie?

Hey guys! My name is Gwen Broderick and I am currently in beautiful Gamboa, Panama! I am conducting research on Red-Eyed Tree Frogs with Dr. Bouchard and Emma at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (I know super cool). It has been a little over two weeks since we have arrived here in Gamboa. After having a smooth arrival on day one, the next few days turned into unexpected challenges. I am by far not the most fluent Spanish speaker, so it is very beneficial to have Emma along for the ride with me. Thanks to Emma's super Spanish skills, she was able to make me a doctors appointment when I came down with strep on day three. Thankfully everything worked out fine and most importantly, both experiments got set up on time! I am so thankful to be working with Dr. Bouchard and Emma who, without asking or questioning, stepped up to make sure everything would be done in time while I had to take a sick day.

Smithsonian style housing

I did not really know what to expect going into this experience. I had only traveled out of the country once before and never for this long. As the days go on, I am so glad I decided to come. It is amazing how many different people that I have met that all share this amazing passion about animals (especially frogs) here in Gamboa. Since we are at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, you can imagine there is tons of research students. Which is true, and it is so great to hear all about their work and how they love to hear about mine! Oh ya, my research! I can't wait to tell you guys all about it.

The first couple of days consisted of rinsing, scrubbing, filling, collecting leaf litter, stuffing bags of leaf litter, creating predator cages, cutting the netting, and securing the netting (for cages and tanks). This doesn't sound like much, but when you have 28 small tanks, and 16 large, along with very low water pressure, it turns into a multiple day process. All while happening it is 90+ degrees with over 95% humidity. But it is so worth it when you look at your little tadpole babies every morning you go out.

Counting out hundreds of tadpoles

Counting out tadpoles was a fun way to start out our experiments. My experiment requirement 280 tadpoles while Emma needed 400, so you can imagine the amount of counting required. We discovered that the pros of the frog industry, cut the tips off of small pipettes and use that to suck them up and place in their designated areas. We found it easiest to do them in groups of 5 and then combine them when done. Tadpoles are very slippery and fragile, so you had to make sure to be gently while transporting them. According to my mom, "they look like pop-its" (yes those ones you through at the ground at 4th of July).

Belostomatid in his cage

Now to the viscous predators. This little guy is a Belostomatid, or toe bitter. They are a large aquatic beetle that feeds on tadpoles by piercing them with their proboscis and injecting a toxic that causes the insides to turn to mush. This is something Emma was not aware of when she was collecting them for me from Quarry pond. The role of the predators in my experiment is to cause "stress" on half of my tanks. Fourteen of my twenty-eight tanks contain one of these bad boys. Each Belo is fed everyday. We feed them feeder Red-Eyed Tree Frog tadpoles (I know so sad). When the Belo eats the tadpoles, those tadpole release a chemical into the water that warns all the tadpoles in the area. My goal is to see if the presence of a predator has an effect on the growth and development of the Red-Eyed Tree Frog tadpoles in my experiment. I also have high and low densities, so essentially I have 4 treatments with 7 replicates.




I really appreciate you guys taking the time to read my post and learn about the amazing research experience I am having. Be sure to check-in for my next post! I will leave you with some pictures of the cutest frog around.