amphibians

Low concentrations of pesticides can become toxic mixture

harminka — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:09:38 -0600

Ten of the world's most popular pesticides can decimate amphibian populations when mixed together even if the concentration of the individual chemicals are within limits considered safe, according to University of Pittsburgh research published Nov.

Study rules out inbreeding as cause of amphibian deformities

harminka — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:02:54 -0500

Although research has linked inbreeding with elevated rates of deformity in a wide variety of animals, a new study finds it plays no part in the high incidence of malformation among salamanders.

Amphibians' ability to predict changes in biodiversity

harminka — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:50:14 -0500

Biologists have long suspected that amphibians, whose moist permeable skins make them susceptible to slight changes in the environment, might be good bellwethers for impending alterations in biodiversity during rapid climate change.

New findings on immune system in amphibians

harminka — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:39:52 -0500

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes produce proteins that are crucial in fighting pathogen assault. Researchers from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) characterized genetic variation and detected more than one MHC class II locus in a tailed amphibian.

New study reveals large scale conservation essential

harminka — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:20:40 -0500

Scientists were surprised with findings of a recent study that reveals many animal species believed to persist in small contained areas actually need broad, landscape level conservation to survive.

Priority regions for threatened frog and toad conservation in Latin America

harminka — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:30:02 -0500

Nearly 35% of all amphibians are now threatened of extinction raising them to the position of the most endangered group of animals in the world. Decline of amphibian populations and species is ongoing due to habitat loss, fungal disease, climate shift and agrochemical contaminants. These impacts are even worse to frogs that reproduce in water bodies such as streams and ponds.

Amphibians respond behaviorally to impact of clear cutting

harminka — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:01:01 -0500

The number of amphibians drastically decreases in forest areas that are clearcut, according to previous studies. A University of Missouri researcher, however, has found that some animals may not be dying.

Amphibian Skin May Offer New Therapy Against Bacterial Infections

harminka — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:37:31 -0600

Researchers from Italy found that a naturally occurring agent in frog skin may inhibit multi-drug resistant bacterial strains associated with hospital-acquired infections. They report their findings in the January 2008 journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Ancient Amphibians Left Full-Body Imprints

harminka — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:50:48 -0500

Unprecedented fossilized body imprints of amphibians have been discovered in 330 million-year-old rocks from Pennsylvania. The imprints show the unmistakably webbed feet and bodies of three previously unknown, foot-long salamander-like critters that lived 100 million years before the first dinosaurs.

Amphibians in losing race with environmental change

harminka — Tue, 01 May 2007 11:46:20 -0500

Even though they had the ability to evolve and survive for hundreds of millions of years - since before the time of the dinosaurs and through many climatic regimes - the massive, worldwide decline of amphibians can best be understood by their inability to keep pace with the current rate of global change, a new study suggests.

Salamanders suffer delayed effects of common herbicide

harminka — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 06:40:59 -0500

Pollution from a common herbicide might be causing die-offs in stream salamanders, according to biologists who say findings from their long-term study raise concerns over the role of atrazine in global amphibian declines.

Leeches ferry infection among newts

harminka — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:49:06 -0600