|
|
Quick answer
No! There is no such thing as too much spawn or too many
tadpoles, it will naturally balance out over time.
Further information
During spring amphibians return to ponds to breed. It may seem
like the pond is 'overcrowded' or that there is 'too much'
spawn but this is a completely natural phenomenon, typical of
amphibian populations around the world. While some years may be
particularly good for breeding amphibians, many people report
that in subsequent years the numbers are not sustained and they
then drop down.
Large numbers of breeding frogs can result in enormous 'rafts'
or 'mats' of spawn being laid, sometimes covering the whole
surface of the pond. This is natural and will not result in your
pond being 'over-run with tadpoles' or your garden being
'over-run with frogs' later in the year.
Amphibians lay large numbers of eggs as a natural way to counter
the range of predators that eat spawn and tadpoles. It's thought
that around one in fifty of the eggs laid in the pond will
actually make it out of the pond as a froglet. The rest will be
eaten by pond predators that might include fish (if present),
dragonfly larvae and newts. Having large numbers of tadpoles can
also lead to intense competition between individuals for food,
meaning again that numbers of tadpoles will naturally thin out.
Of the froglets that leave the pond, only a handful will make it
to adulthood - the rest will get eaten by other predators
including grass snakes, blackbirds, crows, magpies, hedgehogs,
foxes and badgers. We advise that you refrain from interfering
with the natural events that occur in your pond. Instead, enjoy
it - frog numbers may not be as high in future years.
We advise that you don't move amphibians or their spawn away
from your pond as by taking them to a different pond you may
unwittingly transfer various diseases and invasive plants. Also,
many amphibians may try to return and they will suffer if placed
in an unsuitable area. Do not release spawn, tadpoles or adult
amphibians into the wild or into public water bodies such as
rivers, canals reservoirs or country park/nature reserve ponds.
Native amphibians.
Making your garden frog-friendly.
Keeping tadpoles in captivity.
Should I feed the tadpoles in my
pond?
|