Climate change and amphibian declines: is there a link?

摘要: Abstract. Global climates have been changing, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, throughout the evolutionary history of amphibians. Therefore, existing amphibian species derived from those that survived major climatic disturbances. Although recent global climate change has resulted in warming many regions, temperatures some areas to date not changed measurably, or even cooled. Declines populations correlated with events, but demonstrations direct causal relationships need further research. Data are available indicating indirect effect on initiation breeding activities amphibians occur earlier than previous springs, costs benefits these changes just beginning be investigated. Climate may also play an role facilitating epidemics infectious disease. Regardless played past current declines, future shifts climate, should they prove as dramatic predicted, will certainly pose challenges for surviving successful recovery efforts suffered declines.