Amphibians, we hardly knew you
Threat to Amphibians Rising"Rising" meaning that 1/3 of all known amphibians are endangered.
Almost 150 species of amphibians apparently have become extinct and at least one-third of the rest are facing imminent threats that could soon wipe them out, according to a worldwide assessment by scientists published Thursday.
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Scientists say amphibians serve as sentinels for environmental problems that might be jeopardizing entire ecosystems of animals, even humans. They live mostly in water and breathe through their permeable skin, which leaves them vulnerable to pesticides and changes in climate and water quality.
"Amphibians are one of nature's best indicators of overall environmental health," said Russell A. Mittermeier, president of Conservation International. "Their catastrophic decline serves as a warning that we are in a period of significant environmental degradation."
Um. That doesn't seem good.
* Ray, 10/21/2004 03:16:19 PM
