March/April 2002

Did You Know?

GASPAR CORTE REAL

The statue of Gaspar Corte Real located by Prince Philip Drive across from Confederation Bldg was donated to the Province by the Government of Portugal in 1964. Gaspar Corte Real was a Portugese navigator who explored Newfoundland in the early 16th. Century. The statue was donated in recognition of the long-standing tradition of friendship between the two peoples in the shared hazards of the traditional fishing industry on the Grand Banks.

A NEW DIGITAL FLORA
For those with access to the Internet check out the website for the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador. John Maunder, Curator of Natural History at the museum has created a website on Newfoundland wild flowers. The address is www.nfmuseum.com/flora.htm Entitled A Digital Flora of Newfoundland of Newfoundland and Labrador Vascular Plants, this work in progress will "accumulate digital images of many of the over 1300 vascular plant species listed in the "Annotated Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Newfoundland and Labrador" by Susan J. Meades, Stuart G. Hay and Luc Brouillet. This is both to assist in their identification and to provide intimate views of the flora not often seen by the casual observer."

The checklist documents over 1300 taxa of plants known to occur in the province and includes scientific names, English and French common names , key synonyms, range and specific habitat preferences and notes on scarcity, notable range extensions, questionable reports and taxonomic problems

The Friends of Pippy Park Inc. had their founding meeting on February 29th. 1984 at Queen's College. We don't get many opportunities to celebrate on that exact date in the year! The guest speaker at that founding meeting was Joe Moran the Executive Director of the Wascana Centre in Regina on which the Pippy Park concept is loosely modeled.

OBITUARY
Elizabeth Wegenast was active in many organizations including ours and her interest, hard work and good humour are not forgotten. She died in January. She was founding Secretary and later Vice-President of the Friends of Pippy Park "Zib" was very active with the Friends in the early years especially while we were involved with the development of the Scout/Guide Campsite, Children's Farm and similar projects.

Omission !
The sponsor for the January/February edition of the "In Pippy Park" newsletter was the Institute for Marine Dynamics, one of our Pippy Park Promotions Committee member organizations. The recognition was omitted in error from that edition.

MUN FIELD HOUSE - "THE WORKS"
EVERY BODY. EVERY THING
ATLANTIC CANADA'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION PACKAGE

The University has consolidated the administration of all its sports and recreation facilities into one unit now called "THE WORKS". Included in The Works is the new Field House, the Aquarena, MUN Pool/Squash, outdoor sports fields, Strength and Conditioning Centre and Splash Facilities at Long Pond.

The Field House is now available for public use. In the facility is a walking track on the mezzanine floor, a running track on the main floor, Basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton, a weight training and exercise room and many other fitness related amenities.

INDOOR TRACK -
Sprint, run, jog, stroll or roll on the state-of-the-art, 6 lane 200 metre track. Track drop-ins are available for $2 per visit Roll & Stroll Parents ...Go for a stroll with your child on the track. Bring your own stroller or rent ours for $1/hour
Track & Swim Go for a run on the track and then a refreshing dip in the pool. Drop-in fee $4 for track/swimming at MUN pool, $4.50 at the Aquarena

SWIMMING
25 lap swims to choose from, at the 25 yd pool at MUN for a $3 drop-in and 20 lap swims at the Aquarena for $3.50

FITNESS CLASSES
Choose from a wide variety of classes offered. Tae Fit, Step Classes, Salsa Shape Up and On The Ball are just a few of the classes to choose from at the Aquarena and at the Field House. Drop-ins are available for $4.

COURTS
Basketball, volleyball, tennis & badminton court times are offered throughout the day at the Field House. $5 for a 50 minute court time or $3 for High School students to play on the side court nets weekdays from 3-5 p.m.

SQUASH
Get into great shape on the three North American size squash courts at the Field House for a $5 drop-in or the two International size courts at the Aquarena for $5.75 Memberships are also available for each of the options above.

PARKING AT THE WORKS
Aquarena; Two hour free parking is available in the main parking lot in front of the building.
Field House. Two hour free parking in the parking lot at the south end of the building facing Elizabeth Ave

Amphibians at the Fluvarium
By Llewellyn Thomas, Environmental Educator

Frogs and toads are not native to Newfoundland. The first frogs arrived on the island in the 1860's, having been brought here by settlers and visitors who wanted something familiar in this strange new land. Toads arrived much later, around 1960, as an apparent (albeit not technically legal) experiment to see how they would do in Newfoundland's climate. Neither species was capable of crossing the salt water surrounding the island, and thus were never able to migrate here on their own.

Green frogs (Rana clamitans) have successfully settled just about everywhere on the island. They provide, among other things, food for local wildlife, an effective biological predator of insects (said mosquitoes and black flies), and of course, endless hours of joy and wonderment to those of us who just enjoy watching frogs in their natural environment.

American Toads (Bufo americanus) are located in several areas of the island, mainly near the Corner Brook area, and north into the Gros Morne National Park area. There are several small populations near St. John's. They too consume huge amounts of insects, slugs, spiders and other crawly things. Great for all the gardeners who dread the onslaught of slugs and other garden pests after the spring planting.

Both frogs and toads are amphibians, which, in ancient Greek, means "two lives". One in the water, as a tadpole, and the other on land, as an adult. The whole transformation period is truly one of natures wonders, as the young tadpole grows legs and loses it's tail, to become a frog or toad. Salamanders also belong to Amphibians; however, there are none on the island, but they are found in Labrador.

Frogs are usually green, brown, or a combination of both, with a smooth, shiny moist skin, and long legs for jumping and escaping danger. They use their mouth to actually catch the prey, and not always their tongue, as we are taught in school and on TV. Toads are generally more stout and stocky than frogs, even though they have the same basic body shape. Their legs are a little shorter, so that they actually hop instead of jumping. Toads skin is rough, covered in little bumps. As a result they are much easier to hold on to. And no, one does not get warts from handling frogs or toads.

Frogs tend to stay put during the day, waiting patiently for food to walk or slither by. Toads, on the other hand, are very active hunters, who patrol their territory in search of food, hiding under rocks or logs when there is danger around.

While frogs use their color and leg/swimming power to evade predators, toads have something different. Toads have poison sacs behind their eyes, and should a predator grab the toad, the toad will emit the poison into the animal's mouth. The taste from the poison is so bad tasting that 99% of animals will drop the toad when poisoned. The toad can then hop away to safety.

Here at the Fluvarium, we have recently upgraded the Amphibian exhibit, so that it now has recessed aquariums, lights and better signage. The adult frogs have their own enclosure; the young frog shares a tank with more tadpoles. The adult toads have a very large aquarium just for them, allowing them much needed space and territory. There is also a tank for the young toad (approx. age 7 months). This toad is so small it would fit on a child's pinky fingernail. As we feed it, it should get bigger and eventually move into the large tank with the adults. We also have, as part of the Pond Display, an aquarium with some 30 green frog tadpoles, donated to us by Charlie Horwood from the Provincial Department of Works, Services and Transportation. These are well on their way to developing into 30 little green froglets.

Interest in amphibians is always growing, especially in light of the fact that populations all over the world are declining. Perhaps it is due to pollution, habitat loss, or even ozone depletion and increased UV light levels. No one really knows, not even the scientists. It is always a relief to see one or two frogs or toads in the wild, or at least hear their mating calls in the spring. Many older Newfoundlanders mention to us (Fluvarium Education staff) that when they were young, there used to be many frogs, but now there are none. Or we get the common "There were none around when I was young, but now they seem to be everywhere". Either way, it is refreshing and encouraging that so many people are interested in these wonderful, ancient creatures that light up our world with their timeless energy, not to mention the fact that they eat many of our most despised of pests, those mosquitoes and black flies.

Llewellyn Thomas is an Environmental Educator at the Fluvarium. He is also the webmaster of the Fluvarium's website, located at www.fluvarium.ca. He can be reached by calling 754-FISH (3474) or by emailing him at fluvarium@thezone.net. His favorite animal is, of course, the frog.