Thursday, January 12, 2006

Early Victims Of Global Warming: The Frogs

Global warming has aided the growth of a fungus that caused the extinction of as many as 70 species of brightly colored South American frogs, according to a study to appear in the Jan. 12 issue of the journal Nature.

Several species of frogs including the brightly coloured golden toad have become extinct.

Here is what happens. The clouds create a mix of warmer nighttime temperatures that help the fungus grow on the frogs and cooler daytime temperatures that prevent the frogs from seeking the warm spots that could help them fight infection, according to the study. Scientists are now hopping and hoping to find ways to prevent the outbreak of the fatal disease.

For now what we know is that disease is killing frogs and global warming has unleashed havoc. The effect of any chain reaction on our biodiversity will be disastrous and hopefully we can get out of a death trap which the human species has unwittingly brought about.

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