The Future of Amphibians Does Not Look Bright    [25-11-2011] A recent study showed that amphibians may soon be extinct. Frogs, salamanders and those alike are in danger because of climate change, habitat loss, and a deadly fungus. Computer models predict that in about 70 years, these three threats will spread to all corners of the Earth and wipe frogs off the planet. Scientists in the U.S. are very concerned and are meeting to control the situation and find out how to reverse the problems. One-third of the world’s amphibian species are endangered and 159 of them are already extinct. The animals are quickly disappearing because of three different factors. Christian Hof, a researcher at the Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, led the study. He said that if one of the threatening events overlaps with another, then there would be a huge decrease in the number of frog species. Climate change serves as the biggest danger to frogs and other amphibians. Amphibians that live in tropical Africa, northern South America, and the Andes Mountains are in the most danger. More than 160 species are at risk of extinction in the Andes Mountains. The chytrid skin fungus is also killing many amphibians around the world. The fungus gets in contact with the animal’s skin, where it then blocks the flow of nutrients. The frog is then either poisoned or goes into cardiac arrest, causing its heart to stop. Many scientists believe that studying amphibians and the threats they face is important to save them.     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)