Biology 3315 Assignment 2

Answer the following questions based on what you read at: http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/aw/declines/diseases.html (and after reading this page, click on "Declines", "Species numbers" and "Amphibian facts" found on the left side of the page). Your answers should be in two, typewritten pages. This assignment is due at the beginning of class on 13 October 2004 (5 pts).

 

1) How many species of amphibians have been described? Where on the planet do you find the highest density of amphibians?

2) What is the largest genus of frogs? Where are they found? What do you call a group of frogs?

3) Where in the world do we find the highest number of extinct, endangered or critically threatened amphibians?

4) Briefly describe at least four (4) different reasons for the decline in amphibian populations.

5) After reading this information, comment on what was new to you. What difference does it make if frogs and other amphibians are in decline and/or go extinct?

 

(If you want, you can read a technical paper entitled "Emerging Infectious Diseases and Amphibian Population Declines" by Daszak et al at:http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no6/daszak.htm)