Endangered and Cold-Blooded
Amphibians are special four-legged vertebrates that can survive on land as well as in water. They are cold blooded and take on the temperature of environment. Born with gills, these creatures develop lungs on maturity, and the most amazing part is that they can breathe through their thin skin. However, the number of amphibians have reduced considerably over the past few years. The extinction of amphibians in certain local areas is of great concern because this directly affects global biodiversity. Their extinction can directly or indirectly affect the lives of other animal species as well. The exact reason for amphibian extinction is not known.
However, the factors that have spearheaded their extinction are brought about by humans. Destruction and modification of their habitats (rapid urbanization), depletion of the ozone layer, increasing levels of environment pollution, change in global temperature, etc., brought about by man has caused the amphibian number to decline. Besides man-made reasons, certain natural reasons such as diseases and introduction of new species to their environment has also contributed to the depletion of these amphibians. Today, one third of the approximately 6000 amphibian species comes under the endangered animals category and are on the verge of facing extinction. Some of the different endangered amphibians are as follows: Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum) This salamander species was placed on the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species in 1997 It is a very rare species residing in the environs of Barton Springs in Austin, Texas. This salamander is adapted to the warm waters of the Barton Springs.
However, since scores of people use the Barton Springs for swimming, the natural environment of the salamanders is degrading. Urbanization has caused the Barton Springs to become polluted, and at the rate it is continuing soon there won't be any Barton Springs Salamanders left. Blanchard's cricket frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) This tiny, non-climbing member of the tree frog family were found commonly dwelling in the ponds of southwestern Wisconsin prior to 1970. However, during the 1980s their population rates reduced rapidly and scientists were shocked to find that cricket frogs had disappeared completely from certain areas where they were found abundantly. According to a survey conducted a decade later (1991), it was found that out of 40 cricket frog resident places, only 19 housed cricket frogs. It is believed that these cricket frogs cannot survive in polluted water which is the main reason for their decline. They were put on the Wisconsin Endangered Species List in 1982 .
Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis) Houston Toad, discovered in the late 1940s lives exclusively in the pine or oak forests. These toads are found mostly in Bastrop County, Texas after they were completely eradicated from the Houston area in the 1960s. This toad was federally listed as an endangered species in 1970, and the most immediate reason for its decline is habitat loss, however, factors such as pesticides, automobiles, predators and drought are also some of the other reasons. Bastrop State Park, the only public land that supports large number of Houston Toads reveals that their numbers are declining very rapidly. However, the Environmental Defense has enrolled three land owners in Bastrop to restore and protect the Houston Toad's habitat. California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) California Tiger Salamander, a native of Northern California is a large and secretive amphibian.
Historically, this species ranges from Sonoma County (near Santa Rosa) to Santa Barbara County (near Lompoc). They depend on vernal pools for reproduction and dwell mostly in large fish-less vernal pools or water bodies. The population of these salamanders is known to have reduced by 50% of its historic range. In 2004, the California Tiger Salamander was listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened. However, they were returned to the endangered category in 2005. Habitat destruction by human interaction and interference has resulted in the depletion of this salamander species. Sierra Nevada Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana muscosa) Natives of Sierra Nevada Mountains, these frogs love mountain creeks and lakes, especially isolated pools, sunny river banks, streams and lake borders.
Once upon a time these frogs were very abundant in the Sierra Alpine Lake, with scores of them running all over the place. However, today 93% of this frog population has disappeared. One reason is the introduction of non-native trout by the California Department of Fish and Game to the high Sierra lakes. Since these frogs were adapted to high elevation habitats in the absence of aquatic predators, they were not adapted to fight predators. The trout feed on these tadpoles and juvenile frogs, and if this continues, soon these mountain yellow frogs will disappear forever. Though this species is nearing extinction, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is refusing to place this species under the endangered species list and protect it. The Center for Biological Diversity is continuously trying to get the US Fish and Wildlife Service to place this species under the endangered category. Several ecologists believe that their decline may have severe implications on the world's environment. Since amphibians possess highly permeable skin, and because they spend their lives both in water and on land, they are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Their health indirectly indicates the health of the ecosystem.
As their numbers decline, ecologists are wondering which other animal species will follow them to extinction. Amphibian population is declining rapidly and if we don't do anything about it, they will soon disappear from our planet altogether.
Amphibians are special four-legged vertebrates that can survive on land as well as in water. They are cold blooded and take on the temperature of environment. Born with gills, these creatures develop lungs on maturity, and the most amazing part is that they can breathe through their thin skin. However, the number of amphibians have reduced considerably over the past few years. The extinction of amphibians in certain local areas is of great concern because this directly affects global biodiversity. Their extinction can directly or indirectly affect the lives of other animal species as well. The exact reason for amphibian extinction is not known.
However, the factors that have spearheaded their extinction are brought about by humans. Destruction and modification of their habitats (rapid urbanization), depletion of the ozone layer, increasing levels of environment pollution, change in global temperature, etc., brought about by man has caused the amphibian number to decline. Besides man-made reasons, certain natural reasons such as diseases and introduction of new species to their environment has also contributed to the depletion of these amphibians. Today, one third of the approximately 6000 amphibian species comes under the endangered animals category and are on the verge of facing extinction. Some of the different endangered amphibians are as follows: Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum) This salamander species was placed on the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species in 1997 It is a very rare species residing in the environs of Barton Springs in Austin, Texas. This salamander is adapted to the warm waters of the Barton Springs.
However, since scores of people use the Barton Springs for swimming, the natural environment of the salamanders is degrading. Urbanization has caused the Barton Springs to become polluted, and at the rate it is continuing soon there won't be any Barton Springs Salamanders left. Blanchard's cricket frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) This tiny, non-climbing member of the tree frog family were found commonly dwelling in the ponds of southwestern Wisconsin prior to 1970. However, during the 1980s their population rates reduced rapidly and scientists were shocked to find that cricket frogs had disappeared completely from certain areas where they were found abundantly. According to a survey conducted a decade later (1991), it was found that out of 40 cricket frog resident places, only 19 housed cricket frogs. It is believed that these cricket frogs cannot survive in polluted water which is the main reason for their decline. They were put on the Wisconsin Endangered Species List in 1982 .
Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis) Houston Toad, discovered in the late 1940s lives exclusively in the pine or oak forests. These toads are found mostly in Bastrop County, Texas after they were completely eradicated from the Houston area in the 1960s. This toad was federally listed as an endangered species in 1970, and the most immediate reason for its decline is habitat loss, however, factors such as pesticides, automobiles, predators and drought are also some of the other reasons. Bastrop State Park, the only public land that supports large number of Houston Toads reveals that their numbers are declining very rapidly. However, the Environmental Defense has enrolled three land owners in Bastrop to restore and protect the Houston Toad's habitat. California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) California Tiger Salamander, a native of Northern California is a large and secretive amphibian.
Historically, this species ranges from Sonoma County (near Santa Rosa) to Santa Barbara County (near Lompoc). They depend on vernal pools for reproduction and dwell mostly in large fish-less vernal pools or water bodies. The population of these salamanders is known to have reduced by 50% of its historic range. In 2004, the California Tiger Salamander was listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened. However, they were returned to the endangered category in 2005. Habitat destruction by human interaction and interference has resulted in the depletion of this salamander species. Sierra Nevada Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana muscosa) Natives of Sierra Nevada Mountains, these frogs love mountain creeks and lakes, especially isolated pools, sunny river banks, streams and lake borders.
Once upon a time these frogs were very abundant in the Sierra Alpine Lake, with scores of them running all over the place. However, today 93% of this frog population has disappeared. One reason is the introduction of non-native trout by the California Department of Fish and Game to the high Sierra lakes. Since these frogs were adapted to high elevation habitats in the absence of aquatic predators, they were not adapted to fight predators. The trout feed on these tadpoles and juvenile frogs, and if this continues, soon these mountain yellow frogs will disappear forever. Though this species is nearing extinction, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is refusing to place this species under the endangered species list and protect it. The Center for Biological Diversity is continuously trying to get the US Fish and Wildlife Service to place this species under the endangered category. Several ecologists believe that their decline may have severe implications on the world's environment. Since amphibians possess highly permeable skin, and because they spend their lives both in water and on land, they are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Their health indirectly indicates the health of the ecosystem.
As their numbers decline, ecologists are wondering which other animal species will follow them to extinction. Amphibian population is declining rapidly and if we don't do anything about it, they will soon disappear from our planet altogether.
