The Perilous Impact of Heatwaves and Droughts on Amphibian Populations
Intense heatwaves and dry spells intensify problems faced by amphibian species. - Intense heatwaves and prolonged droughts escalate challenges for frog populations
Heatwaves and droughts pose a grave threat to numerous amphibian species worldwide, particularly in regions such as Europe, Madagascar, and more. Here's a lowdown on the tough times true salamanders in Central Europe and other amphibians face in the face of climate change:
Central Europe: The Salamander Struggle
True salamanders native to Central Europe are facing an uphill battle against increasing exposure to drought periods. With things predicted to get drier, around half of these critters could face even more hardship in the future, according to Lisa Schulte, a co-author from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt [1]. Species like the fire salamander, alpine salamander, and the common newt are feeling the heat.
The Worsening Worldwide Web of Woe
Evan Twomey, the lead author from the same uni, and his team analyzed data spanning 40 years for heatwaves, cold snaps, and droughts across the globe to understand their impact on over 7,000 amphibian species, along with their IUCN Red List threat status. They found that wherever heatwaves and droughts increased after 2004, the threat status of amphibians escalated significantly as well [1].
These creatures rely heavily on breeding in temporary wetlands. Heatwaves and droughts can prematurely dry these wetlands, leading to reduced reproduction rates and increased disease vulnerability [1]. Around 40% of the world's amphibian species are currently classified as critically endangered, with climate change, habitat loss, diseases, and pollution playing significant roles [1].
- Amphibians
- Climate crisis
- Heatwave
- Drought
- Extreme weather events
- Central Europe
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
- Europe
- Madagascar
[1] "Climate Crisis Threatens Species: Heatwaves and Droughts Worsen Amphibians' Plight," Science Today, August 12, 2021, https://www.sciencetoday.com/news/item/climate-crisis-threatens-species-heatwaves-and-droughts-worsen-amphibians-plight/
[2] "Impact of Heatwaves and Droughts on Amphibian Species," Global Wildlife Conservation, July 7, 2021, https://globalwildlife.org/impact-of-heatwaves-and-droughts-on-amphibian-species/
[3] "Amphibians as Climate Change Indicators," World Wildlife Fund, n.d., https://www.worldwildlife.org/topics/amphibians-climate-change-indicators
- The community policy should address the urgent need for environmental protection, particularly focusing on the impact of heatwaves and droughts on amphibian populations, such as the true salamanders in Central Europe.
- In the face of climate change, it's crucial to consider the health and safety of amphibians, especially in relation to medical-conditions associated with extreme weather events like heatwaves and droughts.
- As climate change continues to pose a grave threat to amphibian populations worldwide, understanding the impact of environmental science factors like heatwaves and droughts on their health and well-being becomes essential for health and safety at work in environmental-science research and conservation efforts.
