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Decline in South American Tree Frogs Due to Global Warming
November 21, 2007 at 5:06 PM
Environmental Health
These frogs prefer to live on leaves and branches high above the ground, when they are in their natural habitat.
They also enjoy basking in the hot sun, which is unusual because frogs normally avoid prolonged exposure to high levels of light due to the risk of overheating and dehydration.
Now being studied at the University of Manchester, the decline of the tree frogs is largely being attributed by researchers to global warming.
According to the research team, global warming is leading to more cloud cover in the frogs' natural habitat. This, in turn, is denying them the opportunity to 'sunbathe' and kill off fatal Chytrid fungal infections, leading to many species dying out.
To prove the new theory, researchers have used a technique called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to investigate the properties of the tree frogs' skin.
In their work so far, the team has observed that the skin of basking tree frogs sometimes undergoes a visible change and becomes almost metallic in texture. When this happens, the level of absorption and reflection and the skin temperature also changes.
The Manchester team believes tree frogs are able to bask happily under the sun because they have the ability to regulate their body temperature and prevent overheating through the unique structure and properties of their skin.
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07/31/2010
It's a real shame. They say that when habitat is in trouble the first animals to suffer are frogs. they are a key indicator of how healthy an area is. If frogs are declining other species wont be far behind.
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