For those of you who have studied at and/or visited La Selva. Thanks.
Mike Nolan
Costa Rica: Collapse in biodiversity in protected Costa Rican rainforest =
Source: Guardian News Service (in The Hindu, India, 17 April 2007)
A protected rainforest in one of the world's richest biodiversity =
hotspots has suffered an alarming collapse in amphibians and reptiles, =
suggesting such havens may fail to slow the creatures' slide towards =
global extinction.=20
Conservationists working in a lowland forest reserve at La =
Selva in Costa Rica used biological records dating from 1970 to show =
that species of frogs, toads, lizards, snakes and salamanders have =
plummeted on average 75% in the past 35 years.=20
Dramatic falls in amphibian and reptile numbers elsewhere in =
the world have been blamed on habitat destruction and the fungal disease =
chytridiomycosis, which has inflicted a devastating toll across central =
and South America. But scientists hoped many species would continue to =
thrive in dedicated reserves, where building, land-clearance and =
agricultural chemicals are banned.=20
The new findings suggest an unknown ecological effect is =
behind at least some of the sudden losses and have prompted scientists =
to call for urgent studies in other protected forest areas. The =
researchers, led by Maureen Donelly at Florida International University, =
believe climate change has brought warmer, wetter weather to the refuge, =
with the knock-on effect of reducing the amount of leaf litter on the =
forest floor. Nearly all of the species rely on leaf litter to some =
extent, either using it for shelter, or feeding on insects that eat the =
leaves.=20
The researchers also analysed weather records for the =
region, which revealed a rise of more than 1C in temperature over the =
35-year period and a doubling of the number of wet days. The study was =
published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences =
yesterday. "All of the falls recorded elsewhere have been in high, =
mountainous regions and those have mostly been driven by the spread of =
fungus. All of the tests we've done for the fungus here have been =
negative," said Steven Whitfield, a co-author of the study.=20
The scientists say it is crucial to extend the study to =
other protected forests, such as those in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, to =
assess the populations of amphibians and reptiles there. "If we are to =
design effective conservation strategies, we need to know what's causing =
these declines. If it's down to a link between climate and leaf litter, =
then we need to better understand that," said Mr Whitfield.=20
Amphibians are considered delicate sentinels of =
environmental change. Sudden population collapses were first noticed =
during the 1980s, during which more than 120 species are thought to have =
become extinct.=20
For full story, please see: =
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200704170921.htm
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If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your =
number, best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address.
=20
After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request.
Sincerely,
J. Michael Nolan, Director
=20
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
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