Why should we care about the global amphibian decline?

There are several reasons to conserve frogs and other amphibians from environmental, economic, and intrinsic standpoints.

Environmental Importance

Frogs are indicators of the health of the overall environment. According to mongabay.com, amphibians are more susceptible to pollution than either birds or mammals because of their permeable skin. Several species of frogs, salamanders, and newts lack lungs and have evolved to breathe and drink through their skin. Unfortunately, this adaptation also means that toxins can easily enter their bloodstream.

Kevin Zippel, director of the Amphibian Ark Program, stated, “For every one species of bird or mammal in trouble, there are two to three amphibian species on the brink of extinction.” Indeed, 165 amphibians have gone extinct already, and 130 more species are believed to be extinct. A nonprofit organization called Save the Frogs said that in total, nearly 2,000 amphibian species worldwide are on the verge of extinction. Director Zippel likened the possible mass extinction of amphibians to that of the dinosaurs in scale.

In a book called Extinction in Our Times: Global Amphibian Decline, James Collins and Martha Crump explain that all amphibians are extremely important members of the food web in their ecosystems. Because it does not take much energy to sustain frogs and other amphibians, they play a key role in energy flow and nutrient cycling. Declining frog populations will harm the predators that rely on them as a food source including fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Perhaps more important than their role as prey is what the frogs themselves consume. Excessive algal growth is extremely problematic because the algae blooms block sunlight from reaching subaquatic vegetation or SAVs. As lower layers of algae and underwater plants die from lack of sunlight, the decomposition process removes oxygen from the water. The lack of oxygen can kill fish and other marine life, leading to large dead zones such as those found in Virginia and Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. Frogs help because tadpoles eat incredibly huge amounts of algae. This reduces excessive algal growth and helps to prevent deadly oxygen depletion.

Economic Importance

For those who may be looking for an economic reason to care about the global amphibian decline, frogs and other amphibians are important from a medical perspective. Venom and other parts of amphibians can be used in medications such as pain killers. Chemical components isolated from the frogs’ skin have led to the development of new drugs useful to humans. Large quantities of frogs are also used in medical research and for educational purposes such as frog dissection.

Intrinsic Importance

Even if frogs and other amphibians had no economic and environmental importance, we would still have an ethical obligation to protect them. All wildlife is intrinsically important whether it be plants, insects, fish, crustaceans, reptiles, amphibians, birds, or mammals. As humans, it is our job to protect the biodiversity of this planet. To do this effectively, we must stay informed about the issues at hand.

In the face of economic difficulties and the importance of job creation, it can be easy to overlook wildlife and think that other issues are more important. However, once our natural treasures have disappeared, they are gone for good. Once extinct, the animals will never come back. There are no second chances, so we need to take the time to care, to educate ourselves, and to get it right the first time.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments.

Help for Hummingbirds

Each year in the spring, certain species of hummingbirds return to the United States after their winter hiatus in South or Central America. When they return, my mom and I are ready for them, filling our red hummingbird feeders with batches of sugar water and hanging them outside to attract the birds. We love to watch them flit from feeder to flower, their tiny wings quivering as they stop mid-flight and hover a few feet away, eyeing us watchfully. Sometimes as many as five appear in our yard at once. This year, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds will be the first to return, arriving around April 13.

In terms of their conservation status, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are doing just fine. Other east coast hummingbirds are also listed as “of least concern.” But there are many other species throughout Central and South America considered “critically endangered” or “endangered” as a result of toxic pesticides and loss of habitat as the rainforest is destroyed.

According to the Hummingbird Society, hummingbirds are only found in the Americas and the Caribbean islands. They are our natural treasures, and we have the responsibility of protecting them. As the only U.S.-based organization working to save bird habitats across the Americas, the American Bird Conservancy said, “We should no more allow the loss of natural life than destroy a masterpiece of art.” Signing up for the ABC’s e-newsletter will bring petitions and the latest information right to your inbox.

The hummingbirds listed as “critically endangered” have a 50% chance of extinction in ten years. Take a look because this may be your only chance to see them while they are still living:

Marvelous Spatuletail (By: David Cook, Source: Flickr)

Sapphire-Bellied Hummingbird (By: Fredy Gomez, Source: sentidonatural.org)

Short-Crested Coquette (By: Ryan Shaw, Source: Flickr)

Honduran Emerald (By: Dominic Sherony, Source: Greenfudge.org)

Chestnut-Bellied Hummingbird (By: Jorge Parra, Source: ibc.lynxeds.com)

Thanks for reading! What are you going to do to help endangered hummingbirds? Tell me in the comments section!