Endangered Species Survey: Missing Frogs Found, Others Feared Extinct

findi

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
698
Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career spent at several zoos, aquariums, and museums, including over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. In 2010, 33 teams of researchers set out across 21 countries to search for the hundreds of amphibian species that may have been driven to extinction in recent years. A “100 Most Wanted” and a “10 Ten” list was compiled, and the public’s help was sought. Now, 4 years later, we have both discouraging and promising news, with some lost species “resurrected”, several new ones described, and no sign at all of many.
I’ve written about the global amphibian decline, spurred by an emerging disease (Chytrid fungus outbreak), habitat loss, and other factors, in several articles (please see Further Reading, below). The current search for survivors is also covered in the recently-published book In Search of Lost Frogs. Today I’d like to summarize recent reports from the field. Most of the good and bad news centers on frogs…the status of many salamanders, which are less well-studied and harder to find, remains unknown. Read the rest of this article here http://bit.ly/1sdWEHu
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj and Facebook http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp

Best Regards, Frank
 

awiec

Arachnoprince
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Messages
1,325
I remember seeing something about this. If I recall frogs are considered bio-indicators as they are sensitive to air and water pollution, so in light of what has been happening in the world I am not surprised many have perished.
 

findi

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
698
I remember seeing something about this. If I recall frogs are considered bio-indicators as they are sensitive to air and water pollution, so in light of what has been happening in the world I am not surprised many have perished.
Yes..literally hundreds of species gone in past 20 years, but this does not get the general attention generated by elephants, pandas etc...very serious; amphibs absorb water, oxygen through skin, and so are very good early indicators of problems...if we pay attention! best, frank
 
Top