by Sandy V
Studies done by biologists from the University of California, Berkeley, are now showing that salamander populations have been significantly declining over the years. Biologists compared Central America salamander populations between the years of 1969 through 1978 to populations existing now in present time, 2009, and the results have shown that the common salamander population has drastically plummeted. The article states that two of the three most common salamander species existing near the Tajumulco volcano (West Coast of Guatemala) have completed vanished, while the third was hardly visible. Study leader and professor, David Wake, says that this is the first time that there is solid evidence proving the extreme decline. Wake also believes that global warming is the main reason behind this. These salamanders are being forced to change their habitat to higher and less suitable elevations due to global warming. High elevations are not the type of habitat salamanders can survive in. This notable decline in the salamander population also demonstrates that global warming can and is affecting all types of species, even the little guys.
Source: Science Daily
