Coyote Gulch

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Amphibian Ark: 2008 Year of the Frog

We know that frogs are not directly related to elections and water issues but we felt compelled to let you know that 2008 is the year of the frog according to Tetrapod Zoology (from Science Blogs). We're pretty sure that the pressure on fresh water from agriculture, municipal and industrial uses, along with dams, are helping to cause the declines in populations amongst frog species worldwide. Add to that the destruction of habitat from logging and climate change and the critters need help. From the article:

Herpetologists first started noticing that things were going horribly wrong during the mid and late 1980s. First, populations and, later, entire species started disappearing. In Europe, large numbers of dead, diseased frogs were being found: the sorry corpses had open sores, were bleeding from their orifices, or were missing digits or feet (Pounds 1990, Langton 2002). Deformed frogs [ed. link added to article] and salamanders, usually with missing or extra limbs, began to become commoner and more widely reported in the USA and elsewhere, and the number of cases sky-rocketed after 1995.

Among the lost are the Australian gastric-brooding frogs (Rheobatrachus), the Costa Rican golden toad Ollotis periglenes, an estimated 67% of the 110 harlequin toad species (Atelopus), various of the Australian torrent frogs (Taudactylus), at least 18 Sri Lankan bubble-nest frogs (Philautus), Gunther's streamlined frog Nannophrys guentheri and the Spiny-knee leaf frog Phrynomedusa fimbriata. Populations of common, widespread species, including the Northern leopard frog Lithobates pipiens and Western toad Anaxyrus boreas in North America and the Common frog Rana temporaria in Europe, have plummeted and suffered from numerous local extinctions. While the geological record shows us that extinction is a natural, ever-occurring process, the extinction rate we're seeing among amphibians today appears higher than anything seen before, and even palaeoherpetologists familiar with the amphibian fossil record have gone on record stating that the extinction levels we are currently witnessing are not in the least bit normal (Delfino 2005, Stuart et al. 2005), and are unprecedented in terms of the geological record. It is not in the least bit sensational to presume that we are going to lose about half of all amphibians within the next five to ten years, unless major efforts are made. Given the role that amphibians play in global ecosystems, this is bad news to say the least...

It now seems cliché to refer to amphibians as the canaries in the coal mine, but it is looking increasingly likely that this is the case. Ribeiroia and Bd have become a problem due to changes caused by us, and it now seems that several other parasites of cool and cold climates have modified their life cycles as conditions have warmed, with studies suggesting that detrimental effects on the fecundity and health of various species (including Musk ox Ovibos moschatus and Rocky Mountain pine trees) will result. Because of their (generally) permeable skins, amphibians have proved important in terms of alerting us to problems caused by the absorption of certain herbicides and other chemicals. So amphibians are quite probably the blinking warning light that we really need to pay attention to...

In 2008, lots of people are participating in an effort to do what can be done. There are perhaps about 500 amphibian species that are in such danger of extinction that there is almost certainly not enough time to conserve them in the wild; they can only be saved if we maintain them in captivity. And so the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group Conservation division has set up the Amphibian Ark project. Working in association with zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums all around the world, the aim is to raise $50-$60 million in order to save these 500 species: that sounds like a lot of money, but it works out at $100,000 per species, which is actually incredibly cheap. In theory, a wealthy individual or a company, for example, might single-handedly save a species from extinction.

Read the whole article, the author includes many great photos and detail about the decline. Then go to Amphibian Ark: 2008 Year of the Frog to learn what you can do to help.
"2008 pres"
7:28:21 AM

? for President?
Political Wire: "A new McClatchy-MSNBC poll in Iowa shows a statistical dead heat in the Democratic presidential race and a big shift in the Republican race. John Edwards leads with 24%, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton with 23% and Sen. Barack Obama with 22%. Edwards has the momentum since the last poll in early December gaining 3 points, while Clinton lost 4 points and Obama lost 3 points. Among Republicans, Mitt Romney has regained the lead as Mike Huckabee 'has lost momentum and support, even among evangelical Christians who had propelled him into the top spot just weeks ago.' Romney now leads with 27%, followed by Huckabee at 23%, Fred Thompson at 14%, and Sen. John McCain at 13%. Huckabee is down 8 points since earlier this month, while Romney is up 7 points."

Political Wire: "The first Reuters/C-Span/Zogby tracking poll in Iowa is out this morning and confirms the findings of several polls last week that show an extremely tight presidential race for both Democrats and Republicans. The telephone poll was conducted 12/26 thru 12/29. On the Democratic side, there is a three-way statistical tie with Sen. Hillary Clinton leading with 30.7% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 26.8% and John Edwards at 24.2%. The poll's margin of error is 3.3%...On the Republican side, there is also a tie for first place. Mike Huckabee leads with 27.7%, followed by Mitt Romney at 26.6%, Sen. John McCain at 10.9%, Fred Thompson at 7.8% and Rudy Giuliani at 7.3%. The poll's margin of error is 3.4%. One interesting finding: Democrats think Republicans will choose Huckabee as their nominee; Republicans think Democrats will choose Obama."
"2008 pres"
6:58:33 AM