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Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming

Author

Listed:
  • J. Alan Pounds

    (Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and Tropical Science Center)

  • Martín R. Bustamante

    (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador)

  • Luis A. Coloma

    (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador)

  • Jamie A. Consuegra

    (Columbia University)

  • Michael P. L. Fogden

    (Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and Tropical Science Center)

  • Pru N. Foster

    (University of Tokyo
    University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building)

  • Enrique La Marca

    (Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Universidad de Los Andes)

  • Karen L. Masters

    (Council for International Educational Exchange)

  • Andrés Merino-Viteri

    (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador)

  • Robert Puschendorf

    (Universidad de Costa Rica)

  • Santiago R. Ron

    (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
    University of Texas)

  • G. Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa

    (University of Alberta)

  • Christopher J. Still

    (University of California at Santa Barbara)

  • Bruce E. Young

    (NatureServe)

Abstract

As the Earth warms, many species are likely to disappear, often because of changing disease dynamics. Here we show that a recent mass extinction associated with pathogen outbreaks is tied to global warming. Seventeen years ago, in the mountains of Costa Rica, the Monteverde harlequin frog (Atelopus sp.) vanished along with the golden toad (Bufo periglenes). An estimated 67% of the 110 or so species of Atelopus, which are endemic to the American tropics, have met the same fate, and a pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) is implicated. Analysing the timing of losses in relation to changes in sea surface and air temperatures, we conclude with ‘very high confidence’ (> 99%, following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC) that large-scale warming is a key factor in the disappearances. We propose that temperatures at many highland localities are shifting towards the growth optimum of Batrachochytrium, thus encouraging outbreaks. With climate change promoting infectious disease and eroding biodiversity, the urgency of reducing greenhouse-gas concentrations is now undeniable.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Alan Pounds & Martín R. Bustamante & Luis A. Coloma & Jamie A. Consuegra & Michael P. L. Fogden & Pru N. Foster & Enrique La Marca & Karen L. Masters & Andrés Merino-Viteri & Robert Puschendorf & S, 2006. "Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7073), pages 161-167, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:439:y:2006:i:7073:d:10.1038_nature04246
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04246
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    Cited by:

    1. Oli, Madan K. & Loughry, W.J. & Caswell, Hal & Perez-Heydrich, Carolina & McDonough, Colleen M. & Truman, Richard W., 2017. "Dynamics of leprosy in nine-banded armadillos: Net reproductive number and effects on host population dynamics," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 350(C), pages 100-108.
    2. Ana Márquez & Raimundo Real & Jesús Olivero & Alba Estrada, 2011. "Combining climate with other influential factors for modelling the impact of climate change on species distribution," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 108(1), pages 135-157, September.
    3. Chunrong Mi & Liang Ma & Mengyuan Yang & Xinhai Li & Shai Meiri & Uri Roll & Oleksandra Oskyrko & Daniel Pincheira-Donoso & Lilly P. Harvey & Daniel Jablonski & Barbod Safaei-Mahroo & Hanyeh Ghaffari , 2023. "Global Protected Areas as refuges for amphibians and reptiles under climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Diogo Neves Proença & Emanuele Fasola & Isabel Lopes & Paula V. Morais, 2021. "Characterization of the Skin Cultivable Microbiota Composition of the Frog Pelophylax perezi Inhabiting Different Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Tews, Joerg & Ferguson, Michael A.D. & Fahrig, Lenore, 2007. "Potential net effects of climate change on High Arctic Peary caribou: Lessons from a spatially explicit simulation model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 207(2), pages 85-98.
    6. Katja Leicht & Jukka Jokela & Otto Seppälä, 2019. "Inbreeding does not alter the response to an experimental heat wave in a freshwater snail," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, August.
    7. Gregor Devine & Michael Furlong, 2007. "Insecticide use: Contexts and ecological consequences," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 24(3), pages 281-306, September.
    8. Kolbe, Karin, 2019. "Mitigating urban heat island effect and carbon dioxide emissions through different mobility concepts: Comparison of conventional vehicles with electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles and public transport," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1-11.
    9. Marianthi Hatziioannou & Efkarpia Kougiagka & Ioannis Karapanagiotidis & Dimitris Klaoudatos, 2022. "Proximate Composition, Predictive Analysis and Allometric Relationships, of the Edible Water Frog ( Pelophylax epeiroticus ) in Lake Pamvotida (Northwest Greece)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, March.
    10. Manuel Guariguata & Jonathan Cornelius & Bruno Locatelli & Claudio Forner & G. Sánchez-Azofeifa, 2008. "Mitigation needs adaptation: Tropical forestry and climate change," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 13(8), pages 793-808, October.

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