The Global Amphibian Decline:
Trends, Causes, and Challenges

Golden mantella
(Mantella aurantiaca)

Introduction

Global Trends
North America
Central and South America
Australia
Europe

Causes
Habitat Modification
Exotic Species
Acidification and Toxic Contiminants
Ultraviolet Radiation
Climate Change
Pathogens

Challenges

Bibliography

Links

Actual and Potential Causes of Declines

Because populations have declined at regional and global scales, researchers have suggested local to global causes for these declines. Local causes include habitat modification, exotic species, acidification, toxic contaminants, and pathogens. Possible causes at the global scale are seasonal increases in UV-B radiation and alterations in local weather conditions as the result of global climate change. Multiple causative factors may contribute to a particular population's decline. For instance, pathogen epidemics may follow reduced immunity due to toxic contaminants, UV-B damage, or stress caused by exotic predators or habitat degradation.