Check out Jane’s interesting observation’s in today’s comment.
She has kept the ice open in both 2009 and 2010 winters.
Last year, no problem.
This year: amphibian mortalities.
I suspect the harsh weather is the problem here: the longer the ice cover, the more oxygen levels are reduced, until frogs simply run out of oxygen. The icy weather went on for much longer this year than last.
But we are still largely in the realm of speculation. For example, what, if any, is the role of ‘toxic gases’ in this. Do ice holes make any difference at all? Could they let air-breathing creatures get to the surface for a vital gasp of air? Are frogs running out of fat reserves before running out of oxygen? How are the other animals surviving all this? Would it be better just to run the pump, even in a wildlife pond?
All of these are hot questions with no definite answer yet.
And the differences between one pond to another are likely to be tremendously important too. There’s probably not going to be a one rule fits all answer.
January 23, 2010 at 4:29 pm |
I kept an ice cream tub in both ponds during the big freeze. The ice formed around, but not under the tubs. Upon lifting one of them out of the ice one morning I saw a newt near the surface of the water. Might have just been coincidence or it may have been coming up for air.
January 23, 2010 at 5:18 pm |
Hi Helen
Sounds possible – I’ve had two or three comments now on animals possibly coming up for air so will bring them together, along with other interesting stuff, soon.
Jeremy
June 24, 2010 at 10:07 pm |
hi what i did is two empty 2litre plastic bottles filled to different levels in the pond bobbed up and down therefore creating a slight wash which stopped any ice forming i found this methed totally reliable and the cost was nil glad to offer my way and hope this helps many more thanks Derek