The Decline of Amphibians

Essay # 45478

Biology > Ecology
Biology > Zoology
Environmental Studies > Wildlife Protection

A look at the reasons for the decline of amphibians around the world and methods of conservation.

2,474 words () | 18 sources | MLA | 2002 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how amphibians have not been exploited by humans like other animals have, they are kept as household pets and in some countries their flesh is seen as quite a delicacy. It therefore attempts to understand why are so many amphibian populations are in decline around the world. It shows how in some areas of the globe the decline is evidently due to loss of habitat but how in other areas, the reasons could be attributed to factors such as the depletion of the ozone layer or pollution. It looks at the advantages of amphibians to humans such as their use as environmental indicators and the use of their toxins as pain killers and covers methods of conservation.

From the Paper:

"Habitat loss seems to be a significant cause of the diminishing amphibian populations over much of the world. Human population growth has led to many of the wetlands that are essential for amphibians to be drained for agriculture, filled in or paved. In Britain alone, many years of draining wetlands in order to improve crop yields has resulted in the destruction of 82% of marshland. Now, only isolated patches remain. Deforestation is an added strain on amphibians as the dense canopy provides shelter and protection for not only the adult amphibians but also their developing young, from predators and ultraviolet light."