Global warming linked to Spanish frog decline
Some frogs are in decline in Spain 'due to global warming'
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Wednesday, 25, Oct 2006 12:41
Rising temperatures due to global warming have been linked to a decline in amphibian species in highland areas of Spain.
Amphibians have been undergoing "precipitous" declines on a global basis; the recent Global Amphibian Assessment found that out of 5,743 species, 1,856 (32.5 per cent) are globally threatened.
This decline has been attributed to problems such as habitat loss, but a large number of the losses are classified as 'enigmatic' as they have no identifiable cause.
In the latest study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences journal, researchers from Spain and the Imperial College London claim that global warming could be the answer to this enigmatic puzzle.
The infectious disease Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which is caused by the chytrid fungus, has already been shown to have increased in Central and South America due to warming temperatures.
By analysing 242 ponds that are breeding grounds for ten amphibian species in a central Spanish montane region - highland areas located below the timberline which generally have cooler temperatures than adjacent lower areas - the scientists discovered that the midwife toad, Salamandra salamandra and Bufo bufo have all "dramatically declined".
Publishing their results today, the researchers argued: "Our analysis shows a significant association between change in local climatic variables and the occurrence of chytridiomycosis within this region.
"Specifically, we show that rising temperature is linked to the occurrence of chytrid-related disease, consistent with the chytrid-thermal-optimum hypothesis."
The researchers conclude that their study illustrates an "urgent need" to assess the generality of their findings and to "determine whether climate-driven epidemics may be expected to impact on amphibian species across the wider region".