On day three of our Costa Rica journey, we had the pleasure of receiving a lecture from world renowned scientist, Alan Dr. Pounds. He discussed issues concerning climate change and amphibian extinction and how these effects can be seen directly in Costa Rica and to the endemic species which survive there. To begin, Dr. Pounds discussed the dramatic temperature increases since around the 1970′s, leading to the hottest years on record globally, the 2000′s. Also, he noted the distinct correlation between the rise in temperatures and anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. Additionally, he noted associations with rises in temperatures such as precipitation, winds, cloud behavior, atmospheric moisture, specie distribution and abundance, phenology, and interactions between species. For example, effects of increases in variability of precipitation include changing day to day water patterns, clouds forming at higher altitudes and the warming of the planet which increases the capacity of air to hold water longer. Furthermore, Dr. Pounds noted the correlation between climate change and an increased probability for disease. Thereafter Dr. Pounds /lecture focused on how living organisms relate to the environment and more specifically areas in Costa Rica, as well as the consequences of our non-hinderance in the climate change issue has on the environment.
If things maintain the same way as they are now, Dr. Pounds predicts outcomes such as the extinction of many species. He proposes that maybe one-fourth of species could disappear in terrestrial regions due mostly or in part to range of territory or range of area that they can climatically survive. In short, as that range dissolves, so will the population, thus increasing the probability for extinction.
One example he used to demonstrate this relates to the Cloud Forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Here, regular distribution of mist is necessary to the cloud forest and is subject to temperature change. Another example can be seen in the disappearance of the golden toad and certain species of the harlequin frog, both of which are endemic to the cloud forest. Forty percent of amphibian species disappeared from this area in the 1980′s. Additionally, over 130 species of harlequin frogs, which is over two-thirds, have vanished throughout the Andes. It appears that during this time there was a rapid die off of the amphibians rather than a gradual die off. Other affected animals in this area include birds and mammals which are changing elevations, an example of extending temperature ranges associated with climate change. Moreover, there is a significant correlation between temperature changes and species extinctions and or decline.
Clearly, most of these extinctions occurred during levels or times with higher temperatures or unusually warm years. “Amphibian losses portend a planetary scale mass extinction in the making unless humanity takes immediate action to stabilize climate, while also fighting biodiversity’s other threats a multitude of species is likely to vanish.” Dr. Pounds reminds us that it is important to remember that science is a process and not to be discouraged. “We have to think about what’s really important, and to the planet.”
(written by Jamie Schlosser)
I thought finding this would be so aroudus but itÂ’s a breeze!
Now I feel stupid. That’s celraed it up for me