[permaculture] BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Bleak outlook for Europe's toads

Lawrence F. London, Jr. lflj at intrex.net
Thu Sep 25 17:37:46 EDT 2008


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7635714.stm
Page last updated at 21:05 GMT, Thursday, 25 September 2008 22:05 UK
Bleak outlook for Europe's toads
By Mark Kinver
Science and environment reporter, BBC News

Common toads in a mating ball (Image: Trent Garner/ZSL)
Even common toads are feeling the heat, researchers warn

More than half of Europe's amphibians could be extinct by 2050, a team of UK researchers has warned.

Climate change, habitat destruction and disease were the main factors threatening the species' long-term survival, they 
added.

Scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said creatures in Italy and Iberia were at most risk.

A recent global assessment found that a third of all amphibians were at risk of being wiped off the face of the planet.

The findings were presented at an event hosted by naturalist Sir David Attenborough to highlight the plight of Europe's 
amphibians.

"Amphibians are the lifeblood of many environments, playing key roles in the functions of ecosystems," Sir David said.

"It is both extraordinary and terrifying that in just a few decades we could lose half of all these species."

Bleak outlook

Outlining the team's findings, ZSL research fellow Trent Garner said climate change was likely to have a dramatic impact 
on the conditions the creatures needed to survive.

"Published projections show that climate change alters amphibians' habitats, so we expect a large number of species to 
be faced with loss of habitat and, ultimately, extinction," he observed.

Dr Garner added that species in Italy, Iberia and the Mediterranean region would bear the brunt of changes to the 
climate, but amphibians in all parts of Europe would be affected.

"In the UK, we are already seeing common toads losing condition and experiencing reduced survival.

"As climate change continues to impact habitats, the situation gets far worse for these native species."

As well as the climate threat, the researchers warned that two infectious diseases - a chytrid fungus and ranavirus - 
were also a serious threat to the animals' long-term survival.

Helen Meredith, amphibians co-ordinator for ZSL's Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) programme, 
warned: "There is no time to waste if we are to prevent further species loss.

"We need to reduce carbon emissions, but also address other pressing factors including habitat destruction and spread of 
diseases."

SEE ALSO
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12 Sep 08 |  Science & Environment
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Bacteria could stop frog killer
06 Jun 08 |  Science & Environment
Frog killer fungus 'breakthrough'
30 Oct 07 |  Science & Environment
'Fewer leaves' behind frog demise
17 Apr 07 |  Science & Environment
Climate culprit for frog deaths
11 Jan 06 |  Asia-Pacific

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
ZSL
ZSL EDGE programme
Global Amphibian Assessment
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