Amphibians dying off at alarming rate [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Amphibians dying off at alarming rate
Dan Vergano, USA TODAY5 p.m. EDT May 22, 2013

Amphibians have roamed the Earth for 350 million years, but many species face extinction, a trend seen in a new federal survey of wildlife habitats nationwide.

Federal wildlife scientists report Wednesday that frogs, salamanders and toads are dying off at alarming rates nationwide, with the declines most dire among threatened species.

Mandated by Congress, the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative team report summarizes hundreds of studies conducted over the past decade into declines in amphibians. The study published in the journal PLOS One and led by Michael Adams of the U.S. Geological Survey finds that even in national parks thought to be islands of conservation, amphibians are dying off.

"This analysis suggests that amphibian declines may be more widespread and severe than previously realized," concludes the study. It finds that overall numbers of frogs and their kin drop 3.7% every year, meaning they could disappear in half of the habitats they now occupy nationwide in 26 years. For 12 threatened species, things are even worse, with their numbers dropping 11.6% every year.

Worldwide, nearly a third of amphibian species are threatened with extinction, the report notes. Habitat destruction and a spreading fungal syndrome are seen as leading causes.

More:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2013/05/22/frog-usa-amphibian-dying/2351875/