The Top Ten List

1. Why are frogs frequent literary characters or symbols?

A: We think frogs make good literary characters because frogs are well known, get attention, and make learning and reading with them more interesting and fun, and because they are well known in fairy tales and myths. (Amanda F, Ann S, Tim D, Ryan W, and Adam P, Roseville)
A: Because they are very unique animals and they live all over the world so everyone has seen them. (Lindsay Schmidt, Minnesota New Country School)
A: Because they leap forward to learn more about what is going on around them. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: Because they have very unique characteristics and a unique build. (Clayton Public Schools)

2. What is your hypothesis for the deformities now found in Minnesota's frogs?

A: Pollution or depletion in the ozone layer. (Alex, Alyssa, Tyler, and Catherine, Roseville).
A: Because of all the chemicals in lakes and streams. The chemicals will help contribute to deformity at birth. (Ryan, Katie, and Jeff, Roseville).
A: Farmers put a chemical on their crops to keep bugs away. That stuff leeks into the water and seeps through the frog's skin. (Kacie Karels, Minnesota New Country School)
A: There is a chemical in the water that the frogs absorb through their permeable skin. The chemical then passes on to their eggs and the offspring. Even if the chemical didn't show up in their parents it is likely that the offspring will have some sort of deformity because the chemical will effect the eggs. (Olivia Gillham, Erica Ferguson, Beth Maxey, and Nick Norman)
A: Because companies are using wetlands and other habitats for frogs as a garbage disposal site. They are dumping chemicals in to the water and other areas that frogs live. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: Because of chemicals that are being spilled into the swamps and lakes. There has been a high amount of pollution in the air and in water. (Clayton Public Schools)

3. Is it appropriate to use frogs in science dissection classes? Defend your position.

A: I think its just plain wrong to sacrifice frogs for the mere purpose of a small science activity when there are many computer programs that can do the exact same thing. (AWESOME800@aol.com)
A: Yes, because there are so many of them we can afford to use a few of them. (Shaun Willson, Minnesota New Country School)
A: No. I think that it's mean to do that to something that is helpless. (Lindsay Schmidt, Minnesota New Country School)
A: No.It's just plain gross to kill a living thing for the purpose of looking inside them. We wouldn't like it if we were in the frog's position. (Kacie Karels, Minnesota New Country School)
A: I think it would be okay if frog breeding farms were formed. So the frogs would only be dissected when they died naturally. (7th grade ecology group, Minnesota New Country School)
A: No, because frogs are helpless to stop us from dissecting them. If a greater race of life forms were to come and dissect us, we would most likely be defenseless too. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: No, because frogs are living and breathing creatures just like humans, and to kill them and take out there organs is just mean. (Clayton Public Schools)

4. Propose a Minnesota "State Amphibian." Give a rationale for your choice.

A: I would recommend a frog as the state amphibian because it would symbolize Minnesota taking a leap forward! (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: The Komodo Dragon because it is the last of its kind and it is a sign a majesty. (Clayton Public Schools)

5. Are wetlands adequately protected? Why or why not?

A: I think they are protected a little bit, but they are being destroyed little by little, and one of these days, they are going to be gone all together. (Kacie Karels, Minnesota New Country School)
A: No! They are full of trash and field pesticides because not enough people care about the environment enough to do anything about it. People say they care, but they don't do anything about it. (7th grade ecology group, Minnesota New Country School)
A: I think wetlands are partially protected yet the government could do more. Recently here in Wisconsin when Highway 36 was renovated, wetlands were moved when more space as needed, not demolished. Yet people are still dumping chemicals into the water. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: No, because there are still animals that are dying out in mass quantities. And the forests are also being cut down. (Clayton Public Schools)

6. Why did the frog cross the road?

A: To go to the store to get mineral water. (Shaun Willson, Minnesota New Country School)
A: The frog crossed the road to lay their eggs in the pond they were born in. (Teresa, Becky, Nick, and Blake, Roseville)
A: Because it was turtle's day off. (Lindsay Schmidt, Minnesota New Country School)
A: Because he was going to the doctor to get his third leg removed. (7th grade ecology group, Minnesota New Country School)
A: To get to the other side, of course! (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: Because he was so hoppy! (Alexandra Tansom)
A: Because he wanted to get to the spring! (Neal Boegel)
A: Because it was the chicken's day off. (Billy Barton)
A: Because its tongue got stuck to the back of a truck. (Clayton Public Schools)

7. Why aren't all of Minnesota's frog species found throughout the state?

A: Certain frogs require certain habitats. (River Awareness Group, Minnesota New Country School)
A: Because they can't live where there isn't much water, like a prairie. (7th grade ecology group, Minnesota New Country School)
A: Because some live in different habitats. All of the species of frogs can't all live in the same habitat like we can. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: Because some species tend to be adjusted to different habitats. (Clayton Public Schools)

8. Why do you have some frog species but not others in your area?

A: Because some live in this area, and some in that area. No two frog species are alike! (Kacie Karels, Minnesota New Country School)
A: Same answer as for the last question: because some frog species live in different habitats than other frogs. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: Because different species are adapted to different climates and habitats.(Clayton Public Schools)

9. Why should we care about frog deformities?

A: Because if the frogs deformity killed the frogs, the flies and bugs would over populate. If too many frogs might carry the antidote for diseases from the deformity. (Tim, Adam, Amanda, and Ann, Roseville)
A: Because if there's something in the water, we could be next. (Lindsay Schmidt, Minnesota New Country School)
A: Because what happened to them could eventually happen to us. (7th grade ecology group, Minnesota New Country School)
A: Because frogs are weaker against chemicals and substances in their habitat, and if something is happening to the frogs, the same may happen to us. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: Because there might be a disease that could kill frogs and people. It could kill tadpoles. (Jessica Slagle)
A: Because the frogs might die out and fish might die without frogs to eat. (Travis Auge)
A: Because there could be diseases in the water and if we swam in the water we could get a disease. Maybe the frogs will all die out and there won't be anymore frogs. And if the frogs have a disease and a fish eats it and then we eat a fish, we could die. (Erin Hiti)
A: Because if deformities are starting in little creatures, they will eventually move their way up to big creatures. (Clayton Public Schools)

10. How can we adequately survey frog populations?

A: Inject a metal piece into the frog that can be picked up by a radar. (Shaun Willson, Minnesota New Country School)
A: By surveying populations of frogs by searching one square mile of wetlands for frogs and multiplying that number by the size of the state in square miles. (David "Netwiz" Rehfeldt)
A: By getting all of the adults and kids in your community to take part in a survey on how many frogs they think they have in the area. (Clayton Public Schools)