The Amphibians are looking for help.

Amphibians are species that require our help. Will we have the ability to help them?

Did you know that the Amphibian class plays a vital role in ecosystems? First, to coexist on the planet, these species had to adapt when moving from water to land, and in the process different changes occurred, for example: (1) the skeletal and locomotor systems adapted to the lack of support, (2) the respiratory organs were adapted to breathe gaseous oxygen and (3) their skin was adapted to conditions to withstand desiccation. However, these species still depend on water to be able to carry out their reproduction process.

These small species are necessary to maintain the food chain of species such as birds or carnivores, amphibians are also very important bioindicators to assess the quality of ecosystems because their skin is permeable, and these species are very susceptible to contaminated environments or altered product of chemicals or other anthropogenic factors.

A beautiful amphibian posing for the camera.

Moreover, the accelerated deforestation and fragmentation of forests to carry out agricultural practices often makes these species, and their genetics disappear without first being documented by experts. Species such as frogs or lizards have been greatly affected over time. For this reason, it is necessary that the authorities, in coordination with the owners of private land, be able to implement management strategies prior to deforestation to have the opportunity to document or even safeguard some type of species at risk that is found in situ.

Striped rocket frog (Litoria nasuta).

Although these species are considered key in ecosystems because their activity allows the determination of the structure of biological communities, more and more actions, and new management strategies are required to conserve the genetic diversity of species such as amphibians.

Cecilias Orden Gymnophiona.

Today climate change and unsustainable bad practices by humans are putting at risk the existence of many species such as amphibians and many more species. But the good news is that there are opportunities for improvement and change, what we need is greater environmental awareness on the part of human beings and thus create new methods of conservation for the environment and all species on the planet, including human beings. Could you help us?

By Costa Rica Conservation.

Source:

Barrientos, L. Z. (2008). Zoología General – 1. reimp. de la 1. ed. – San José, C. R.: EUNED.

Hidalgo Penninger, J. (2009). Estudio herpetológico comparative en tres ecosistemas diferentes en la hacienda Cacao. Esmeraldas – Esmeraldas. [Versión de Adobe Acrobat Reader]. Recuperado de https://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/bitstream/123456789/472/3/Hidalgo%20Penninger%20Jean%20Paul.pdf