41% of amphibians threatened with extinction, new assessment finds
According to a global assessment that reviewed 8,000 species of amphibians, 41% are now being threatened with extinction. Compared to 2004, about 39% of the species were threatened.
prativad 
Amphibians, the vertebrates that inhabit both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, are facing a grim future, with 41% of species now threatened with extinction. This is the finding of a new global assessment unveiled by conservationists on Wednesday of 8,011 species of amphibians.
The state of the world's amphibians is more dire now than at the time of the first such assessment in 2004, when 39% of species were threatened, according to updated data for that period.
Human activities and climate change are to blame for this dramatic decline. Habitat destruction, disease, and climate change are pushing amphibians closer to the brink of extinction.
Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these threats because of their unique biology. They have permeable skin, which makes them susceptible to pollutants and diseases. They also rely on both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, which means they are vulnerable to changes in both environments.
The amphibian assessment involved a worldwide collaboration by over 1,000 experts. Finding a species to be threatened with extinction means it has been evaluated as "critically endangered," "endangered," or "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) "red list" of threatened species, the global authority on wildlife extinction risk.
Here are some of the key findings of the assessment:
- 41% of amphibian species are now threatened with extinction.
- This is a significant increase from 39% in 2004.
- Habitat destruction is the biggest threat to amphibians, followed by disease and climate change.
- Amphibians are declining at a faster rate than any other vertebrate group.
The assessment also highlights a number of specific threats to amphibians, including:
- Chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease that has killed millions of amphibians worldwide.
- Climate change, which is causing habitat loss, changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and increased risk of disease.
- Pollution from agriculture, industry, and urban development.
- Overexploitation for food, pets, and the pet trade.
The assessment also includes a number of recommendations for how to conserve amphibians, including:
- Reducing habitat loss and fragmentation.
- Controlling chytridiomycosis and other diseases.
- Mitigating climate change.
- Reducing pollution.
- Managing the exploitation of amphibians.
Amphibians play an important role in ecosystems. They help to control insect populations and are a food source for other animals. They are also indicators of environmental health. The decline of amphibians is a sign that something is wrong with our planet.
We must take action to protect amphibians and their habitats. We can do this by reducing our impact on the environment, supporting conservation organizations, and educating others about the importance of amphibians.
