BIOLOGY 287 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2.5: Köppen Climate Classification, Latent Heat, Polar Front
19 Sep 2016
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Case study: deformity and decline in amphibian populations: middle school students found frogs that had a high percentage of deformity, and after reporting their findings, deformed frogs were reported in high numbers around the country and the world. Before the students made their discovery, two scientists found deformed amphibians and attributed the deformation to a parasite, but never tested with the parasite directly. A student linked the findings of both the scientists and students and experimented with the parasite. He found that the parasite lead to deformities and decline of amphibian populations. Other scientists built on these findings and concluded that presence of pesticides with the parasite caused more deformities. It"s all connected: pesticides decrease the efficiency of the amphibians" immune systems, so they are more likely to get infected by the parasite. This causes a decline in the number of amphibians. Other environmental changes also contribute to that (adding nutrients to natural ponds).
