"We don't know what species are getting hit, and the trade might be increasing on these species," agreed co-author David Bickford of the National University of Singapore. The potential for frog population collapse from over harvesting is similar to what has happened with the world's marine fisheries, Bradshaw said. "We should have learned our lesson from fish, and exactly the same thing is happening with frogs." The threat from human consumption sits against the background of global amphibian decline. At least 30 percent of all amphibian species are threatened with extinction. In an earlier study, the researchers analyzed data showing that habitat loss is by far the greatest contributor to decline. Disease and global warming are additional threats. But the contribution from hunting has been underestimated, the researchers suggest. "The first and foremost [contribution] is habitat loss, and harvest comes in a close second," Bradshaw said. Trade alone may not be enough of a problem to drive frog species to extinction, but when added to other threats the frogs face, the combination may be enough tip some species over the edge. "It's rarely a single thing that drives things to extinction," Bradshaw noted. "We're losing species faster than you can say 'boo' in the amphibian world." Related Links: |
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