Frogs are amphibians that have been around for over 360 million years. However, within recent years, frogs and other amphibians have had an alarming decline in species. While the reason behind this decline cannot be determined to just one thing, there are still ways that we can fix the problem.
Before a solution can be proposed, the causes of endangerment need to be analyzed. Many case studies have led to different conclusions, complicating the situation. A case study in the North American Rocky Mountains shows that while the Leopard Frog’s population has decreased, the Wood Frog has remained unaffected. (“Adopt a Pond”) although this is not the only case of rise and decline found, as there are many such cases.
The Giant Cane Frog, native to South America but later introduced to Australia, has been rising rapidly in population as well. Now while some frog species are on the rise, the majority is doing just the opposite. The Golden Toad in Costa Rica has disappeared from a protective habitat. The Gastric Brooding Frog in Australia and the Cricket Frog in North America have also done a vanishing act. These are only a few examples of the dangers frogs face. The greatest threat they face is the destruction of their wetland habitats. While amphibian populations fluctuate, this rate of this decline is unheard of. (“Adopt a Pond”)
Humans, whether it be known to them or not, are killing amphibians. Between the destruction of their habitats and the use of pesticides and harvesting, while exact cause of the population downturn is unknown, people can still help to reduce waste and preserve and restore the wetlands. Back when the media was hyped-up about global warming, the environmental changes had taken a turn for the better...
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...- Cloning - 2(2):79." An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. .
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Humans have driven many animals extinct, but should we bring them back is the question. Geneticists, biologists, conservationists and ethicists gathered to discuss the controversies. Some people say in doing this we are playing God, while others say we did by killing them. Other scientist say that it may be beneficial because it will add biodiversity, and medicinal properties back to the ecosystem. It is only possible to bring species back from around 10 thousand years ago. Recently scientists have vastly improved the cloning process. We can now coax adult animal cells into any type of cell, including eggs and sperm, then manipulating them into full-fledged embryos, which has led to the ideas and developments of reviving many other species including mammoths, frogs and
As the human population of the world continues to increase the flora and fauna of the planet are becoming an increasingly smaller part of the picture. Environmentalist and conservationists all over the globe are working hard to find strategies and methods for the preservation of disappearing creatures and species. An increasingly popular idea that would allow for great benefits in the field of conservation became apparent in 1996 with the cloning of sheep by the name of Dolly. Since then the scientific debate on the relationship between cloning and conservation has ensued. Although the answer to that question remains on the horizon, cloning for helping endangered species is a process that may become a frequent procedure in the future.
As if there weren’t enough problems for scientists trying to save the Great Lakes Eco System. Many non-native species have entered the eco system and many of them are harmful. Every species in itself has played a role in the eco system. These non-native species make it increasingly difficult for the Great Lakes Eco System to be regulated.
The Gray Tree Frog can be found anywhere ranging from southern Ontario in Canada to the southern coast in the United States. Usually it is not found west of Texas or Manitoba, Canada. The can be found at Rice Creek Field Station. The best habitat is shallow water situated close to diverse stands of willows, oaks, and pines (Craighead, 2004, p. 2). The location of water and plenty of vegetation, which not only shades the forest but also covers the ground with broken brushwood, is what needed for the frog’s ultimate survival is.
Weise, Elizabeth. USA Today: The crËme of the clone crop. September 28, 2003. 18 September 2003 http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-09-29-clone-table.htm
In the world, there are approximately 4,740 species of frogs that can most likely be found in warm, tropical regions near the equator (). Frogs mostly remain near water or moist areas because they are amphibians. Frogs breathe and absorb water through their skin to collect vital nutrients that they need to survive. A frog is important to an ecosystem because they serve as a predator and prey, but what will happen to the ecosystem if all the frogs are extinct? Over 100 different species have gone extinct, and approximately 287 species of amphibians around the world have been detected with the newly found fungus known as Chytrid ().
Oftentimes, though, the clones die upon birth. In 2003, the first de-extinct animal was born- a type of ibex that went extinct in 2000 (BBC). The baby died minutes after birth due to an abnormality in the lungs, but the scientists weren’t concerned; after dissecting the baby to see what went wrong, they decided to start all over again.
There were 5 mass extinctions in the past, with the latest one more known to man, the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction that caused the wiped out of the dinosaurs. Though the latest one happened 65 million years ago, something representing this phenomenon of mass extinction is underway in our era. While past mass extinctions were caused by natural forces, and asteroid, climate change and sea level’s changes were thought to be the culprit, this time the actor behind is not natural, and it is us Human Beings. It might occur to many that the current trend of animal extinction has no consequences on us, but in fact it is not true. Many of the endangered species does matter to us significantly. In this paper, using examples of some neglected critical endangered species as main headings, I will look into different forms of human activities that had led to their losses, and also more importantly how these losses could have impacted on us.
When researching the population decline of amphibians as a global issue, it is evident that there have been drastic changes in the past 30 years. Mike Lannoo from the U.S. Declining Amphibian Task Force says that there have been significant losses in amphibian populations for an extensive period of time (No Single Reason, 1999). Stuart et al. (2004) stated that according to scientists at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 427 species, roughly 7.4%, are at a dangerously high risk of extinction (Kaylor, 2006). The problem of amphibian decline cannot be linked directly to one single cause (No Single Reason, 1999). Instead, scientists have related the decline to disease, habitat loss, changes in climate, and pollution (Hayes, Falso, Gallipeau, Stice, 2010; Brooks et al., 2002; Dunson et al., 1992). It is concluded that many of these factors are related to and possibly caused by human interaction (McCallum, 2007). The declines could be caused by pathogens, climate change, or wildlife toxicology, says Dr. Ashley Mattoon from the Worldwatch Institute (Kirby, 2000).
One of the most important factors influencing amphibian decline is habitat loss. In an attempt to mitigate the adverse effects, new wetlands and vernal pools are created to make up for lost natural ones (Denton, R. D., & Richter, S. C., 2013). However, vernal pools and wetlands can be extremely difficult to replicate because of their hydroperiods and their complex ecosystems (EPA, 2009). In addition, numerous variables must be thought of in advance in order to ensure stability.
"The Consequences of Global WarmingOn Wildlife." Consequences of Global Warming. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. .
In another case study relating to amphibians, scientists exposed species tolerant Bufo americanus (American toad) and the not tolerant Rana sylvatica (wood frog) to pond sediments in laboratory microcosms. Microcosms are experimental ecosystems created to simulate and predict the behavior of natural ecosystems under controlled conditions. The ecosystems had elevated sediment metal levels and chloride water concentrations. The reason for this experiment was to look at issues in rapidly urbanizing areas and the potential impact of stormwater runoff to natural bodies of water. Roof tops, roads, and parking lots are just a few examples of the typical urban and suburban areas that collect a wide range of pollutants such as metals, salts, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Councell et al., 2004; Davis et al., 2001; Marsalek, 2003; Pitt et al., 1995; Van Metre and Mahler, 2003). The stormwater ponds are a common feature in stormwater management plans, and are designed to detain (detention ponds) or retain (retention ponds) stormwater runoff, allowing pollutants like metals, sediments, and nutrients to be removed from the runoff and reducing the impact of flooding on natural bodies of water (Novotny, 1995; US Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). Since stormwater ponds often have plants and vegetation, they are important in that they often provide habitat for
Since the 1980’s scientists have noted the decline of many frog species. People do not know for certain what has caused these declines. A possible factor is pollution, disease, habitat destruction, and acid rain. Another factor may be the thinning of the earth’s protective ozone layer, which allows more harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun to reach the earth. Because frogs have thin, moist skin and an aquatic tadpole stage, they are easily affected by pollution and changes in the environment.
That one tiny frog has a life and should be able to live it and not be worried about be just another dead frog. We don’t say that when humans die, so why should we with the frogs? All living organisms on this planet matter. If frogs go extinct it would throw the whole food chain into disruption. Insects would start eating all the plants. Humans wouldn’t be able to eat the plants; other animals wouldn’t be able to eat the plants. Then the humans would start to rely more on animals for food. We would burn right though the animals without having fruits and
Shah, Anup. Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions. Global Issues, 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.