Frogs have existed for tens of millions of years and were well established globally long before the breakup of Gondwana. Throughout this period frog populations have survived natural catastrophes, climate change, desertification and massive changes to waterways, just to name a few! Why then are we suddenly seeing populations of frogs disappearing before our eyes? In Australia alone, 27 frog species (13%) have become threatened, 14 species have declined and eight have disappeared, all in the past 30 years. You should!! Frogs play a very important role in ensuring the healthy functioning of many of the inland waterways in Australia, the very same waterways that we depend on! Frogs also play very important roles in the food chain. They help keep insect populations in check and some of the larger species consume vast quantities of insects each night. Frogs and tadpoles are also an important food resource for other native animals such as predatory birds and snakes. There are many factors that affect the health of frog populations. Serious declines in frog numbers are influenced by many things including:increased exposure to ultraviolet light due to the thinning of the ozone layer; global warming and climate change; emerging diseases; chemical pollution (for example the use of pesticides and herbicides near waterways); deforestation; introduced exotic pests (such as cane toads); water channelling and agricultural expansion; habitat loss for development (residential housing for example); populations of introduced predatory animals (dogs and cats); and lack of sufficient clean fresh water sources (caused by drought and pollution). These factors are all serious issues that need to be addressed. However! they don't help to solve the mystery behind the loss of whole frog populations in pristine natural areas such as the tropical rainforests of northern Queensland. This mystery is of great concern to scientists in Australia, why are we seeing the disappearance of frogs in areas free of pollution and predators? What is even more worrying is that similar declines in frog populations have been reported in North and South America, Europe, New Zealand and South Africa.
Now the Frogs
- Thread starter Christina
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They consume large quanities of inspects every night and as you said, kepps them in check. When frogs go in one area they can also take other animals in thefood chain out with them.
I am sure that it has something to do with our planetary disregard somehow. Even though there are the save the water campaigns and such in our schools, and the promotion of eco-friendliness, and other related "moral" ideals. [rant]As for the wasting of water.... We use it, it either goes back into the ground, or it gets treated and returned to the environment...[/rant]
