Amphibians at risk over climate change, habitat loss: Scientists

General Science / Biology

Climate change, habitat destruction and disease threaten to wipe out over half of Europe's frog, toad and newt species by the middle of the century, the Zoological Society of London warned Thursday.

In a speech at London Zoo, ZSL research fellow Trent Garner said a recent study had shown that warmer winters in southern England had affected the hibernation of toads, forcing them to use more of their energy reserves and resulting in them emerging from winter in poor health.

Garner said that survival rates among female toads were dropping. "The number one threat has been and will be habitat loss, and there's also threats from pollution and introduction of new species," he said.

"There's now evidence coming out that climate change is having or will have a strong impact, while the other thing that is a problem is infectious disease."

Overall there are over 80 species of amphibian in Europe, a large proportion distributed around the Mediterranean basin, he said, adding that some may find themselves trapped on islands or peninsulas due to climate change.

As conditions change many specialised amphibian species, or those who cannot move to other habitats for example because they live on islands, would be unable to adapt, he said.

"If their habitat no longer exists where they live, they're in real trouble," he said.

He recommended legislation be introduced to stop the spread of disease, and said captive breeding programmes were needed in zoos around the world to boost the numbers of those amphibians at highest risk of extinction.

Š 2008 AFP

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