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I know the people who are in denial about climate change happening will have a hard time believing this, but this is the truth.

Amphibians may soon disappear

by: Doug Porter 2 April 2008

The Chinese calendar says 2008 is the year of the Rat, but according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and a host of other worldwide conservation organizations, 2008 should be the Year of the Frog. The reason is that frogs are disappearing from our planet at an alarming rate and in a few years they may all be extinct.

In August 2007, more than 230 delegates representing zoos and aquariums from 35 countries gathered in Budapest, Hungary, to sign a petition calling on governments around the world to help preserve amphibian life. This marks the first time that zoos and aquariums have initiated a global call to action on behalf of an endangered class of animals. Their concern is that one-third to one-half of all species of frogs are in danger of becoming extinct in the near future — which would be the largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs.

Amphibians are severely affected by habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and pesticides. However, while habitat destruction is a major threat, the most immediate cause of the amphibian crisis is a parasitic fungus called amphibian chytrid, a disease that is deadly to hundreds of amphibian species. Currently unstoppable and untreatable in the wild, the fungus can kill 80 percent of a local population of amphibians within months.

About 4,000 species of amphibians exist worldwide and most of them are frogs and toads. The term amphibian comes from the Greek amphibios and means double life, referring to the fact that they begin life in the water as tadpoles and gradually transform themselves into land dwelling creatures with legs. Frogs are “cold-blooded” and rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature. The skin of a frog is moistened by the secretion of numerous mucous glands and plays a vital part in the frog’s water balance, respiration and protection. But since the skin is highly permeable to water, it also makes them highly susceptible to environmental changes.

According to a January 2006 Washington Post article, global warming has allowed the chytrid fungus — which kills frogs by growing on their skin — to thrive in Costa Rica and neighboring countries. The higher temperatures result in more water vapor in the air, which in turn forms a cloud cover that leads to cooler days and warmer nights. These conditions favor the fungus, which grows and reproduces best at temperatures between 63 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. At least 110 species of the vibrantly colored amphibians once lived near streams in the Central and South American tropics, but about two-thirds disappeared in the 1980s and 1990s, including the golden toad. While researchers had previously identified the fungus as a major reason for the frogs’ demise, they have been trying determine why the disease has taken such a major toll in recent years.

According to the AZA, the combined effect of habitat destruction, climate change, pollution and fungus infections cannot be addressed solely in the wild. Captive assurance populations have become the only hope for many species faced with imminent extinction and are an important component of an integrated conservation effort. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, with their demonstrated expertise in endangered species breeding programs, have been called upon to meet this conservation challenge.

The fungus has not yet been found in Southwest Georgia where several species of frogs thrive. The Parks at Chehaw recently conducted a survey on its property and confirmed 18 species of frogs living on the park. This includes chorus frogs, tree frogs, cricket frogs, oak toads, spring peepers and more. As an accredited member of AZA, Chehaw plans to mount a yearlong campaign to educate people, to conserve local frog populations, and even consider an AZA recommended captive breeding program. This campaign will kick-off with an AZA-sponsored, nation-wide education campaign on Feb. 29, which is — appropriately enough — Leap Day. Our hope is that by promoting public education and awareness, we will have a positive impact on this alarming trend and we will keep the evening chorus alive for future generations.

Doug Porter is the executive director of the parks at Chehaw.