Frogs and salamanders: 2 thousand species of amphibians are threatened with extinction due to climate change – scientists
[ad_1]
Scientists are concerned that more than 2,000 species of amphibians are at risk of extinction.
The main causes are habitat loss, climate change and disease, according to a study in the journal Nature, CBS News reported.
The number of amphibians worldwide is declining, and 2 out of every 5 species are threatened with extinction.
“We found that amphibians are the most endangered class of vertebrates (40.7% of species are threatened with extinction globally). The updated Red List Index shows that the status of amphibians is deteriorating worldwide, especially for salamanders.” – say the authors of the article.
| Photo: CreativeNature/Depositphotos |
Amphibians are vertebrates such as frogs, newts, axolotls, and salamanders. They can live both on land and in water, and usually breathe through their skin. However, they are increasingly suffering from climate change.
Researchers assessed the status of more than 8,000 amphibian species worldwide for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Species.
They determined that almost 41% of amphibians (2,871 species) are threatened with extinction at the global level.
Since 1980, the number of such species has increased by almost 3%.
“In order to survive in the conditions of a rapidly changing climate on Earth, amphibians must adapt to these changes or move to other places.
In many cases, change is happening too quickly for them to adapt.” says lead study author Kelsey Nim, species coordinator at the NGO Re:wild.
The highest concentration of endangered species is observed in the Caribbean Islands, in Mesoamerica, the Tropical Andes, mountains and forests of western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria, Madagascar, the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.
The disappearance of species is also recorded in southern Brazil, in the eastern mountains of Tanzania, in central and southern China, and in the Annam Mountains.
“The current and projected effects of climate change are of growing concern,” – say the researchers. They call for more investment in species conservation.
It will be recalled that earlier researchers discovered that at least 73 groups of species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians have disappeared on Earth since 1500.
Among the lost species, in particular, the Epiornis birds of Madagascar, the Moa-like birds from New Zealand and the Hawaiian honey-dwelling Moho.
Read also: Lonely rhinoceroses and a parrot that does not fly. What do you know about animals that may become extinct? TEST
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
