ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <title>Western Leopard Toad 2010 Action</title> <link href="W_L_T.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> </head> <body> <table width="800" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td height="200"><span class="bold"><a name="top" id="top"></a></span><img src="images/gen/WLT-Logo.jpg" width="413" height="200" align="right" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="background-image:url(images/gen/bgline2.jpg)"><p class="boldwhite">CALL THE WLT HOTLINE: 082 516 3602</p></td> </tr> </table> <table width="800" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="200" rowspan="3" valign="top"><a href="index.html" class="navigation">Home</a> <a href="2011_Action.html" class="navigation">2011 Action</A> <a href="2011_Diary.html" class="navigation">2011 Diary</A> <a href="Identification.html" class="navigation">Identification</a> <a href="volunteer_groups.html" class="navigation">Volunteer Groups</a> <a href="what_to_do_if.html" class="navigation">What To Do If...</a> <a href="toads_and_pets.html" class="navigation">Toads and your pets</a> <a href="research.html" class="navigation">Research</a> <a href="WLCC.html" class="navigation">WLT Conservation Committee</a> <a href="faq.html" class="navigation">F.A.Q.</a> <a href="gallery.html" class="navigation">Gallery</a><a href="Links.html" class="navigation">links</a></td> <A id=top1 name=top1></A> <TD vAlign=top width=420> <p></p> <p>Here we summarise the activities of the Volunteers for 2010 in the different groups. Results are for two types of work: <a class=anchors href="#rescue1">Rescue Work </A> <A class=anchors href="#monitoring2">Monitoring</A> If your group is not here then <A class=link href="#whynot3">WHY NOT?</A> Or if you would like to see past years then look at our <A class=link href="#history4">history.</A> </p> <A id=top2 name=rescue1></A> <br> <p><b>The 2010 Breeding Season: Progress</b></p> <p>Historically, feeding activity lasts for a week to a month before breeding begins (see <A class=link href="2008_9_season_Bergvliet.html#history4">Bergvliet history.</A>). The toads are actively feeding and in wet weather they feed from the roads, where snails, slugs, earthworms and other delectables are easily seen. This is also a period in which many deaths occur as most toad groups are not ready with their campaigns yet. </p> <p>Theories about the toads breeding (or triggered to breed) at Full Moon or with lots of rain are thus all out of the window. The toads that have bred so far have done it in dry weather at near New Moon. Obviously we need lots more data before we can understand what makes a toad breed!</p> <p>This year has been unusual in that there has been so little synchronicity between the different breeding areas. Any theory as to breeding being caused by global effects such as the moon or rainfall or temperature are thus unlikely, with local (micro-) temperatures and rainfall, and other local effects such as water tables, food resources, pond levels and chemistry being far more likely. But it is still to early to know: we need lots more data before we can start unravelling our toads.</p> <p>Take a look at the sex graphs for Die Oog and Bergvliet where volunteers have been recording the state of female toads as well. There is a clear pattern of males arriving first, followed by females full of eggs, after which the empty females leave, after which the males leave. The Die Oog team has also been recording if toads are arriving or departing, and the results are spectacular: as you would expect, but with enough exceptions to get one thinking! Keep it up!</p> <p>Here are the daily sightings of toads by the different groups over the breeding season so far:</p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/dailytotalgroups.png" height=370></P> <br> <p><b>Rescue</b></p> <p>Each group consists of volunteers who patrol the streets on dark rainy nights, and even many other nights during the breeding period. The total time spent on rescuing toads is often not appreciated. Here are the man-hours spent patrolling by the different volunteer patrols to date this year:</p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/rescuehourspergroup.png" height=370></P> <br> <p>Here are the numbers of toads saved by each patrol this year:</p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/totalrescuegroup.png" height=370></P> <p> Note that some areas are busier than others. Our goal is to ensure that we have enough volunteers to keep down the death rates. These data also allow us to plan for the hotspots next year.</p> <br><p>In addition to rescuing toads, volunteers usually take their photographs. This is done carefully with a ruler in a standard pose. Toads' markings are like fingerprints. This allows toads to be compared from year to year, and thus estimates of age, distance moved and population size to be calculated. For more, and to put your own garden Western Leopard Toad onto the database, please see:<A class=link href="http://bgis.sanbi.org/uploadyourtoad"> upload your toad.</A> For lots of toads it is better to submit a CD of photos see <a class = link href="guidelines.html">Guidelines for Data Collection</a>. Here are the numbers of photographs taken by each patrol this year:</p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/totalphotos.png" height=370></P> <br><p><strong>Status</strong></p> <p>Action by volunteers consists of three activities: 1) rescuing toads crossing roads; 2) collecting killed toads; and, 3) noting other toads not rescued or killed. (For our purposes, we consider injured toads to be rescued, unless we know that they have died, in which case they are "dead")).</p><p> The daily rescued/killed/noted toads for each group can be seen here. </p> <p>Choose a group for the status of toads over time in an area:</p> <SPAN class=titles> <A class=titles href="tony/stateberg.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>BERGVLIET <BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statecycl.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>CYCLE TRACK<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statedieo.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>DIE OOG<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statefish.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>FISH HOEK<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/stateglen.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>GLENCAIRN<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statehout.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>HOUT BAY<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statekeni.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>KENILWORTH<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statekirs.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>KIRSTENHOF<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statekomm.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>KOMMETJIE<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statelake.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>LAKESIDE<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statemari.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>MARINA DA GAMA<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statemuiz.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>MUIZENBERG<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statenoor.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>NOORDHOEK<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/stateobse.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>OBSERVATORY<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/stateprin.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>PRINCESSVLEI<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statestra.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>STRAWBERRY LANE<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statesunv.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>SUNVALLEY<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/statetoka.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>TOKAI<BR></A></SPAN> <BR><BR><A class=anchors href="#whynot3">WHERE IS YOUR GROUP?</A> <BR> <p>Updates will be posted here!</p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/stateover.png" height=370></P> <br> <br><p><strong>Summary of Roadkills</strong></p> <p>Here is the proportion of toads killed in the different regions in 2010. Noordhoek (18% kill rate, 72 killed) has been surpassed by Tokai (29% kill rate, 37 killed) as the leading hotspot. The other hotspots are Kirstenhof (5% kill rate, 36 killed) and Bergvliet (3% kill rate, 23 killed)</p> <p>Anything above a 15% kill rate is probably not sustainable. (It is difficult to give a sustainable rate as dead toads wait to be picked up, but live toads move off, so the actual mortality rate is much lower than the "kill rate" (toads killed <em> versus </em> toads rescued + killed).</p> <IMG src="tony/WLTHotSpotsS.jpg" height=300><SPAN class=titles> <A class=titles href="tony/WLTHotSpots.jpg" target=_blank><BR><BR>HOT SPOTS <coming soon> click to enlarge<BR></A></SPAN> <br> <br><p><strong>Sexes</strong></p> <p>When rescuing toads volunteers collect demographic statistics. This is simply are the toads: Male, Female (in eggs {plump, on the way to breed}, without eggs {finished breeding or not breeding, often thin}, breeding state unknown), Sex unknown, Juveniles (less than 75 mm long) and Toadlets (less than 15 mm long). Toadlets are not usually seen during the breeding season, and Juveniles do not normally migrate to the breeding ponds, but are sometimes encountered. It is important to note if the Females are full of eggs and going to the ponds to breed, or if they are thin and finished breeding. As a rule Females migrate en mass to the ponds, but then sneak back home afterwards, so that most Females rescued are in egg. The categories Unknown are difficult to tell cases, beginner volunteers still finding their feet, and heavy workloads where numbers overwhelmed the volunteers. Sex statistics collected by the different volunteer groups can be found here.</p> <p>Choose a group to look at the sex ratios over time for an area:</p> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexberg.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>BERGVLIET <BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexcycl.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>CYCLE TRACK<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexdieo.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>DIE OOG<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexfish.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>FISH HOEK<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexglen.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>GLENCAIRN<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexhout.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>HOUT BAY<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexkeni.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>KENILWORTH<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexkirs.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>KIRSTENHOF<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexkomm.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>KOMMETJIE<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexlake.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>LAKESIDE<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexmari.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>MARINA DA GAMA<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexmuiz.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>MUIZENBERG<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexnoor.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>NOORDHOEK<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexobse.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>OBSERVATORY<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexprin.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>PRINCESSVLEI<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexstra.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>STRAWBERRY LANE<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sexsunv.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>SUNVALLEY<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/sextoka.png" target=_blank><BR><BR>TOKAI<BR></A></SPAN> <BR><BR><A class=anchors href="#whynot3">WHERE IS YOUR GROUP?</A> <BR> <p> </p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/sexover.png" height=370></P> <BR> <A id=top3 name=monitoring2></A> <br> <p><b>Monitoring</b></p> <p>Monitoring involves visiting the ponds and recording breeding activity. The location of known breeding ponds is shown here.</p> <IMG src="tony/WLTbreedsitess.jpg" height=255><SPAN class=titles> <A class=titles href="tony/WLTbreedsites.jpg" target=_blank><BR><BR>BREEDING SITES click to enlarge<BR></A></SPAN> <SPAN class=titles><A class=titles href="tony/WLTbreedsitesAgul.jpg" target=_blank><BR><BR>Click to see the Agulhas Sites<BR></A></SPAN> <br><p>It is also important to note when there is no activity. Many groups are routinely visiting their ponds, monitoring when breeding begins and ends: the manhours for the different groups are shown here.</p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/surveyhourspergroup.png" height=370></P> <br><p>Activity over the season in the different pools is shown here.</p> <P><IMG align=top src="tony/pondsactivitybyday.png" height=370" height=370></P> <A id=top6 name=where></A> <br><p> Herewith is a summary of the activity to date. The map below shows the last ponds to breed during the 2010 season (outlined in blue and yellow). Those active earlier in the season are shown as red logos. </p> <p>The highest numbers recorded in 2010 were 200 toads in Die Oog. </p> <IMG src="tony/WLTPondStatusS.jpg" height=300><SPAN class=titles> <A class=titles href="tony/WLTPondStatus.jpg" target=_blank><BR><BR>CALLING SITES click to enlarge<BR></A></SPAN> <br><p>Eggs were recorded from most ponds where breeding took place, and a few groups (e.g. Kirstenhof and Noordhoek) monitored tadpoles.</p> <br><p>Toadlets will be mentioned here. </p> <br><br> <A id=top4 name=whynot3></A> <p><Strong>Cannot find your data here? </Strong> </p><p>Did you send it through to us? Please use the <A class=link href="pdf/WLT_Summary_Form.pdf" target=_blank> SUMMARY DATA FORM </a> and email your data before 08h00 if you want it included here. See <a class = link href="guidelines.html">GUIDELINES FOR DATA COLLECTION</a> on what needs to be done.</p> <A class=link href="#top1">return to top</A> <A id=top5 name=history4></A> <br><br><p><strong>HISTORY</strong></p> <p>Interested in what happened in previous years?</p> <p><a href="2010_Diary.html" class="navigation">2010 Breeding Season</a> </p> <p><a href="2009_season.html" class="navigation">2009 Breeding Season</a> </p> <p><a href="2008_season.html" class="navigation">2008 Breeding Season</a> </p> <p><a href="2007_season.html" class="navigation">2007 Breeding Season</a> </p> <br><p>Regional Reports</p> <p><a href="2008_9_season_Bergvliet.html" class="navigation">2008/9 Bergvliet</a> </p> <p><a href="2004_7_season_Bergvliet.html" class="navigation">2004-7 Bergvliet</a> </p> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=420>&nbsp;</TD> <TD vAlign=top width=180>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=800> <TBODY> <TR> <TD height=24> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=800> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD class=bolder height=24>Website design and hosting donated by Julie Anderson of <A class=bolder href="http://www.jproductions.co.za/" target=_blank>J Productions</A><BR>Information compiled by Tony Rebelo, August 2010</A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></BODY></HTML>