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This benchmark volume documents in comprehensive detail a major environmental crisis: rapidly declining amphibian populations and the disturbing developmental problems that are increasingly prevalent within many amphibian species. Horror stories on this topic have been featured in the scientific and popular press over the past fifteen years, invariably asking what amphibian declines are telling us about the state of the environment. Are declines harbingers of devastated ecosystems or simply weird reflections of a peculiar amphibian world? This compendium—presenting new data, reviews of current literature, and comprehensive species accounts—reinforces what scientists have begun to suspect, that amphibians are a lens through which the state of the environment can be viewed more clearly. And, that the view is alarming and presages serious concerns for all life, including that of our own species. The first part of this work consists of more than fifty essays covering topics from the causes of declines to conservation, surveys and monitoring, and education. The second part consists of species accounts describing the life history and natural history of every known amphibian species in the United States.
Amphibian populations across the United States are experiencing a rapid and alarming decline, raising critical questions about environmental health. This comprehensive volume investigates the scope of this crisis, detailing the widespread developmental abnormalities and population drops observed in amphibian species. The author, a recognized expert in the field, synthesizes new data, reviews current literature, and presents detailed species accounts to argue that amphibians serve as a crucial indicator for the overall state of the environment. The book posits that the alarming trends in amphibian health presage serious concerns for all life, including human well-being.
This benchmark volume is regarded as a critical resource for understanding the widespread environmental crisis of amphibian declines. It consolidates extensive data and expert analysis, reinforcing the scientific consensus that amphibians are sensitive indicators of ecosystem health. The work is noted for its dual approach, offering both broad thematic essays and detailed species-specific accounts, making it valuable for researchers, conservationists, and policymakers alike. The alarming implications for broader ecological stability and human well-being are a recurring theme in its reception.
Page Count:
1094
Publication Date:
2005-06-15
Publisher:
University of California Press
ISBN-10:
0520235924
ISBN-13:
9780520235922
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