Amphibian Decline

Changing Climate Equals Decline

While many causes have been implicated in the decline of certain amphibian species, including loss of habitat, pesticides and over-collection, declines have also been found globally in the most pristine environments, seemingly untouched by human hands. What could be causing species to disappear even in protected areas?

Photo: USFWS - Charles H. Smith  Global climate change, changes in the temperature and weather patterns on Earth, may be affecting amphibian populations. As heat-trapping pollution from power plants, motor vehicles and other sources continues to build up in the atmosphere, global warming and associated climate changes threaten wildlife, wild places and our quality of life.

Threats to Amphibians
Amphibians, such as frogs and toads, have unshelled eggs and porous skin that makes them especially sensitive to changes in their environment. In addition, their life cycle requires both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, leaving these vulnerable creatures among the first to suffer the consequences of environmental threats.

Amphibians breed at certain times during the year based on cues from the environment. When temperatures and moisture levels reach a specific point, amphibians reappear after a period of inactivity and breeding quickly begins. With changes in climate, the timing of this fundamental yearly activity may be pushed earlier and earlier as increases in the average global temperature continue. Changes in regular weather patterns may also directly affect amphibians. More frequent occurrences of droughts and severe frosts have been related to declines and possibly even extinctions, especially in the tropics.

Make a Difference
The subtle implications of climate change on amphibians and their decline are likely very complex and still require a great deal of additional research. While there is limited information about the effects of climate change on amphibians, long-term monitoring programs, such as Frogwatch USA, will provide a large amount of data on the timing of breeding activity that can contribute to this research.

In addition to continuing to monitor frogs and toads, you can also help to reduce this threat to amphibians by supporting legislation that addresses the causes of climate change. The Climate Stewardship Act (CSA) is an action plan that would require power plants, oil companies and factories to collectively reduce their global warming pollution to what they emitted in the year 2000. Help make history by urging your members of Congress to support this much-needed legislation.