It Ain't Easy Bein' Green: traffic din could be ruining the sex lives of frogs
While the automobile's total impact on the environment remains up for discussion, it's apparently pretty clear that cars and frogs don't really mix. Well, not if you're a male frog trying to get your croak on, at least. Scientists in Melbourne have found that due to traffic and machinery, a male frog's call can't be heard at great distances by female frogs. That's cutting down on the amount of frog sex to be had, and that, in turn, is cutting down on the number of frogs.
In the worst case cited, the popplebonk frog can normally be heard more than a half a mile away when there's no noise. But around busy roads you can't hear the popplebonk more than 46 feet away. Scientists said that animals are adapting to the noise of traffic, such as British birds that sing at night instead of the day. Don't ever doubt what Kermit said: it ain't easy being green.
[Source: Google | Image: moffoys | Image License: CC 2.0]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
waiownsyou 3:39PM (8/23/2009)
Now if we can only get rid of those damn crickets and cats at night
Reply
Farmboy 3:40PM (8/23/2009)
Don't forget about the domestic abuse 2 houses down.
Ripper 4:07PM (8/23/2009)
we need to stop this! I don't want to live in a world without the goodness that is frog legs!
Reply
JD 4:45PM (8/23/2009)
+1 on the picture!
Reply
BigWill 5:02PM (8/23/2009)
Someone needs to get those poor frogs some Courvoisier and a few Barry White CDs.
Reply
Vlad 8:05PM (8/23/2009)
Retired gay frogs are not a concern here. They are talking about frogs trying to hook up with the fertile chick.
BigWill 10:14PM (8/23/2009)
Gay? Saturday Night Live. The Ladies' Man. Look it up.
Vlad 11:01PM (8/23/2009)
oops, clicked the wrong button or something. So I'm saying I'll check this movie out because night at roxbury is so awesome.
Aloysius Vampa 5:37PM (8/23/2009)
That's it. Ban cars now. All of them.
Reply
Vlad 7:24PM (8/23/2009)
They should make signs on the roads. I got nothing against frogs so I would totally slow down if knew I'm in a way of them having sex. On the other hand it might be better for frogs not to hear those across the road so they don't try to get there. People give animals a lot of crap.
Reply
mastodon_rage666 10:32PM (8/23/2009)
Jonathon Ramsey must get fired from this site
Reply
Vlad 10:52PM (8/23/2009)
Ok, I'm downloading it. If its anywhere near as awesome as night at roxbury, thanks for advise.
Reply