Harlequin Frogs Near Extinction as Temperatures Rise
- van: Care2
- ontvanger: Costa Rica's Ambassador to the US, H.E. Luis Diego Escalante
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve of Costa Rica, there were so many harlequin frogs that it was hard not to step on them when walking alongside streams. But today, they have vanished.
About two-thirds of harlequin frogs disappeared in the 1980's and 1990's -- the culprit? Climate change. Research done in Costa Rica shows that global warming makes clouds form higher above the forests where they cannot bring as much moisture to the ecosystems below. Dry spells are getting longer and in turn, many species are disappearing.
Rising temperatures also shrink the cloud forests, which forces species to live more densely, causing the spread of disease and a fungus that kills some frogs. The harlequin frog is on its way to extinction and we need to act now to reduce the harmful effects of global warming on our valuable ecosystems.
Urge Costa Rica's Ambassador Escalante to do everything in his power to save this colorful little frog, along with many other endangered species affected by climate change.
Dear Ambassador Escalante,
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve of Costa Rica, there were so many harlequin frogs that it was hard not to step on them when walking along streams. But today, they have vanished.
About two-thirds of harlequin frogs disappeared in the 1980's and 1990's -- the culprit? Climate change. Research done in Costa Rica shows that global warming makes clouds form higher above the forests where they cannot bring as much moisture to the ecosystems below. Dry spells are getting longer and in turn, many species are disappearing.
Rising temperatures also shrink the cloud forests, which forces species to live more densely, causing the spread of disease and a fungus that kills some frogs. The harlequin frog is on its way to extinction and we need to act now to reduce the harmful effects of global warming on our valuable ecosystems.
[Your comments here.]
Please do everything in your power to save this colorful little frog, along with many other endangered species affected by climate change.
