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The world's frogs, salamanders, newts, and other amphibians are still in grave danger.
A new global assessment has found that 41 percent of the amphibian species that scientists have studied are threatened with extinction, meaning they are either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. That's up from 39 percent reported in the last assessment in 2004.
"Amphibians are the world's most threatened animals," said Duke University's Junjie Yao, a frog researcher who was not involved in the study. "Their unique biology and permeable skin make them very sensitive to environmental changes."
The study, published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, found that the loss of habitat from the expansion of farming and ranching is the single biggest threat to amphibians worldwide.
They are also at risk because of their delicate skin. Most amphibians absorb oxygen to breathe through their skin; they do not have scales, feathers or fur to protect them. So, chemical pollution, bacteria and fungal infections impact them quickly, as do heightened swings in temperature and moisture levels due to climate change.
For example, frogs are usually nocturnal. If it's too hot, they won't come out even at night because they would lose too much water through their skin, said Patricia Burrowes, co-author and researcher in a study at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid. However, remaining in sheltered resting places limits their ability to eat and breed.
(With input from AP)
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Copyright © 2023 CGTN. 京ICP备16065310号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466