 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Amphibians as environmental omens disputed
Vermillion, S.D. (UPI) Nov 17, 2009 A coalition of scientists from three U.S. universities is questioning the theory that amphibians are a leading indicator of environmental degradation. Researchers from Yale University, the University of South Dakota and Washington State University said they reviewed more than 28,000 toxicological tests before challenging the prevailing view that amphibians, with their permeable skin and aquatic environment, are particularly sensitive to environmental threats. "The very simple message is that for most of the classes of chemical compounds we looked at, frogs range from being moderately susceptible to being bullet-proof," said Yale Professor David Skelly, a member of the research team. "There are lots of other kinds of environmental threats that have led to their decline, including habitat conversion, harvesting for food and the global spread of the Chytrid fungus, which is mowing down these species in its path." The team, led by University of South Dakota Assistant Professor Jacob Kerby, said it based its analysis on information gleaned from the Environmental Protection Agency's Aquatic Toxicity Information Retrieval database, examining 1,279 species, among them segmented worms, fish, bivalves such as clams, insects and snails. "What our results suggest is that all animals are susceptible to chemical stressors and that amphibians are potentially good indicators," said Kerby. But, he added, "There isn't any evidence that they're a uniquely leading indicator." The research is to appear in the journal Ecology Letters. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com
Warm-Blooded Dinosaurs Worked Up A SweatSt. Louis MO (SPX) Nov 12, 2009 Were dinosaurs "warm-blooded" like present-day mammals and birds, or "cold-blooded" like present day lizards? The implications of this simple-sounding question go beyond deciding whether or not you'd snuggle up to a dinosaur on a cold winter's evening. In a study published in the journal PLoS ONE, a team of researchers, including Herman Pontzer, Ph.D., assistant professor of anthropology ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook