Date: April 12, 2016
Source: University of Georgia
Researchers at the University of
Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory warn that the extinction to two
amphibian species--the southern toad and the southern leopard frog--may be
hastened by the combined effects of climate change and copper-contaminated
wetlands.
Scott Weir, a postdoctoral
researcher who led the study, said copper is naturally found in aquatic
environments and, to some extent, facilitates physiological processes. However,
it is toxic at elevated levels. Seasonal wetlands, which are breeding grounds
for amphibians, often contain copper and other contaminants as a result of
industrial activities and runoff from roads.
Armed with data indicating
warming trends in the Southeastern U.S., where the two species reside, the
researchers saw the need to evaluate the combined effects of copper
contamination and climate change.
"Studies often examine the
impact of single environmental stressors on a species, but, in reality, a
species is often hit by several stressors at once," said study co-author
Stacey Lance, an associate research scientist at the Savannah River Ecology
Laboratory. "It could be multiple types of pollutants or, in this case, a
metal pollutant that accumulates in wetlands along with wetland habitat changes
associated with climate change."
Weir said in addition to the
copper contamination, climate change may increase the frequency of catastrophic
reproductive failure.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
You only need to enter your comment once! Comments will appear once they have been moderated. This is so as to stop the would-be comedian who has been spamming the comments here with inane and often offensive remarks. You know who you are!