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Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming
Abstract
As the Earth warms, many species are likely to disappear, often because of changing disease dynamics. Here we show that a recent mass extinction associated with pathogen outbreaks is tied to global warming. Seventeen years ago, in the mountains of Costa Rica, the Monteverde harlequin frog (Atelopus sp.) vanished along with the golden toad (Bufo periglenes). An estimated 67% of the 110 or so species of Atelopus, which are endemic to the American tropics, have met the same fate, and a pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) is implicated. Analysing the timing of losses in relation to changes in sea surface and air temperatures, we conclude with 'very high confidence' (> 99%, following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC) that large-scale warming is a key factor in the disappearances. We propose that temperatures at many highland localities are shifting towards the growth optimum of Batrachochytrium, thus encouraging outbreaks. With climate change promoting infectious disease and eroding biodiversity, the urgency of reducing greenhouse-gas concentrations is now undeniable.
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“Pounds and coworkers (63, 73, 77–79) have presented a wide-ranging body of evidence indicating that climate warming is a central factor promoting outbreaks of Batrachochytrium and the mass die-offs that follow.”
From Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food web (2018) · cites this paper as [73]
In the citing paper
“Most research has focused on the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has precipitated mass-mortality events and catastrophic reductions in over 200 frog species world-wide (63, 73, 74).”
From Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food web (2018) · cites this paper as [73]
In the citing paper
“Numerous studies have documented the impact of the ENSO on all of the major taxa considered here, including invertebrates (116), frogs (63, 73, 77, 117), lizards (1, 5), and birds (118).”
From Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food web (2018) · cites this paper as [73]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Alan Pounds, J., Bustamante, M. R., Coloma, L. A., Consuegra, J. A., Fogden, M. P. L., Foster, P. N., La Marca, E., Masters, K. L., Merino-Viteri, A., Puschendorf, R., Ron, S. R., Sánchez-Azofeifa, G. A., Still, C. J., & Young, B. E.
- Affiliations
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (EC)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Universidad de Costa Rica (CR)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- NatureServe (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2006-01
- Volume
- 439
- Issue
- 7073
- Pages
- 161-167
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2014225118
- Cited by
- 1,960
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 37 · 2025: 70 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 75 · 2022: 76 · 2021: 110 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 87 · 2018: 91 · 2017: 86 · 2016: 77 · 2015: 74 · 2014: 94 · 2013: 113 · 2012: 111
- FWCI
- 143.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Keywords
- amphibian extinction, chytridiomycosis, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, global warming, climate change and disease, Atelopus, sea surface temperature, air temperature, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, Costa Rica
- MeSH terms
- Altitude, Amphibians, Animals, Bufonidae, Costa Rica, Humidity, Models, Biological, Population Dynamics, Risk, Temperature, Trees, Greenhouse Effect, Biodiversity
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