The Cost of Inaction

Species Extinction – The Extinction of 32% of the World’s Amphibian Population

Photograph by Kevin Chodzinski, My Shot. National Geographic

The Wood frog can go into complete hibernation for the winter

months, and proceed to "thaw out" in the spring.
http://www.royalroads.ca/news-release/1-million-awarded-royal-roads
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There are visible signs across the world that mankind is on a path of unsustainable development. Clear cut landscapes, the increasing rate of desert encroachment due to drier and hotter climate conditions as well as human activity, and the increased extinction rate of amphibians. The latter was first noted in 1989 the First World Congress of Herpetology in Canterbury, England. A decline in researchers study populations was noted, however no action was taken. Now, 20 years later, over 200 amphibian species have experience population decline, as well as reports of at least 32 species extinction (http://www.nzfrogs.org/Amphibian+Extinction+Crisis.html).

Amphibians are very versatile creatures, having survived mass extinctions, surviving through droughts and extreme temperature increases, and surviving without food for many years. They are responsible for keeping invertebrate pests under control, and play a large role in the global ecosystem. They are both predator and prey, as well as food source in some parts of the world. Studies have been done on many species, identifying some chemical compounds produced by the frogs as medically beneficial to humans.

So what is causeing the decline of such a resisliant species?

NZ frog attributes human activity as the main cause of declining amphibian populations. Habitat destruction due to human population results in fragmentation of the world’s landscape. Pollution causing increased acidity of breeding fresh water pools, and climate change results in increase temperatures. Breeding times for frogs are influenced by environmental temperatures, potentially moving the frogs breeding season to earlier in the year. Predators and predation, and overexploitation of frogs for commercial food use are also contributors to population declines.

Our continued activities of unsustainable development will continue to affect the amphibian populations across the world. In essence we are destroying a wonderful creature’s habitat, in an effort to benefit ourselves. When stated like this, it seems that we are a very self centered species, only concerned with actions that will bring us the greatest benefit.

A decline if amphibian populations was first seen 20 years ago, and no action was taken at that point. Now, we have lost 32 species to extinction, and countless other animal, plant and invertebrate species due to our actions. Society realizes that our actions are detrimental, however actions to address this and alter our behaviour is only being taken by a small few. We need to make an effort as a society to repair the results of inaction.

Small groups have formed to help save the frog, such as NZ Frog (http://www.nzfrogs.org/NZ+Frogs/Save+the+frogs.html)  and The Amphibian Survival Alliance (http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2009/2009-08-26-02.html).

For more information of the decline of the amphibian population, please visit NZ Frogs at http://www.nzfrogs.org/Amphibian+Extinction+Crisis.html, as well as an article by the BBC at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8292690.stm