Chytrid and the Frog Population

[Arella]

I've seen a couple of shows on PBS in the past couple of days talking about this fungus chytrid and the damage and devastation it is causing to the frog population. Frankly, it's frightening. There are certain species of frogs that have gone extinct due the spreading of chytrid.

It makes me wonder how much longer until enough animals (or plants) are lost to extinction that irrevocable damage is done to the ecosystem. What is going to happen to us as humans and to the planet as a whole?

The one show was even discussing the various coral reefs and how so many are dying. There's so much damage being done to the earth, and the majority of it is caused by us. Will we learn to change before it's too late? Or is it already too late?

Amphibian Decline Cause for Concern

Northern Corroboree Frog: Rescue Mission in ACT to Boost Dwindling Population

Number of Threatened Coral Species Jumps from 2 to 22

[anunitu]

Re: Chytrid and the Frog Population

Also add the white fungus killing bats...

http://www.latimes.com/science/scien...101-story.html

[Arella]

Re: Chytrid and the Frog Population

Geez, it just doesn't stop, does it, anunitu? Seriously, I think we're all screwed.

[anunitu]

Re: Chytrid and the Frog Population

As we effect the environment,changing the levels of elements we change the chemical mix that may increase some life forms while killing off others. Higher carbon may allow for a certain life form to grow out of control,like algae blooms that cause fish to die.

[thalassa]

Re: Chytrid and the Frog Population

Honestly...the same thing that has happened in any other mass extinction event.

And don't fool yourself, we are in the middle of the 6th mass extinction--the only difference between this one and the last 5 is that this one is caused by a single species.


Some species will survive. Some will not. Life will change, but it will go on.


Whether or not we are here to see it...yet to be determined.

[loststarshine]

Re: Chytrid and the Frog Population

the honey bees are are endangered.

http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp

http://www.globalresearch.ca/death-a...e-bees/5375684

[Heka]

Honestly...the same thing that has happened in any other mass extinction event.

And don't fool yourself, we are in the middle of the 6th mass extinction--the only difference between this one and the last 5 is that this one is caused by a single species.

Some species will survive. Some will not. Life will change, but it will go on.

Whether or not we are here to see it...yet to be determined.

I think this is very cool and interesting. I wonder how many different animals would have gone extinct in the last 100 years if we weren't so nuts about keeping them around. Watched a show that included the India Desert Lion last night, got me thinking about this.

[Watchful Wanderer]

Re: Chytrid and the Frog Population

I think this is very cool and interesting. I wonder how many different animals would have gone extinct in the last 100 years if we weren't so nuts about keeping them around. Watched a show that included the India Desert Lion last night, got me thinking about this.

I wonder how many wouldn't if we all went extinct early, which frankly would be the best case scenario. But there is still time and this species has the blood of countless non-human beings on their hands.